About Us
Welcome to Ambleside School of Hout Bay.
At Ambleside our mission is to educate children in a way that equips them to author their own lives.
True education lies in the ability to engage intentionally with what is being taught through careful observation and thoughtful assimilation.
This is why our teaching revolves around living ideas that are taught from classic texts alive in their content, deep in their richness and broad in their information. As our students engage in their work, they discover their unlimited capacity for knowledge.
This curiosity for knowledge and tools with which to embrace life, results in students of character and conviction who are guided, in partnership with parents and caregivers, to reach their highest potential.
Africa
-
Ambleside School of Hout Bay
Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa - The Vine School
Landsdowne, Cape Town, South Africa -
Three Peaks Primary School
Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa -
Ambleside Primary School of Kensington
Kensington, Johannesburg, South Africa -
Biera United Christian Academy
Biera Sofaia, Mozambique - Bethel Academy
Ogun State, Nigeria
Europe
-
Ambleside School of Linz
Linz, Austria -
Ambleside Schule Schweiz
Windisch, Switzerland
Asia
-
The Calcutta Emmanuel School
Kolkata, JK, India
USA
- Rivertree School
Crysal, MN, USA - Ambleside Townhouses
Lancaster, PEN, USA -
Ambleside School of Marion
Marion, IL, USA -
Calvary School of Holland
Holland, MI, USA -
The Augustine Academy
Merton, WI, USA -
Ambleside of Willamette Valley
Newberg, OR, USA -
Ambleside School of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, TX, USA -
Ambleside School of Dallas / Fort Worth
Dallas, TX, USA
-
Ambleside School of Rio Grande
McAllen, TX, USA -
Ambleside School of McClean
McClean, VA,USA -
Ambleside School of San Angelo
San Angelo, TX, USA -
Ambleside School of Boerne
Boerne, TX, USA -
Ambleside School of McLean
McLean, VA, USA -
Ambleside School of Ocala
Ocala, FL, USA -
Rocky Mountain Christian Academy
Niwot, CO, USA -
Ambleside School of Colorado
Centennial, CO, USA - Ambleside at Skylark
Glenwood Springs, CO,USA
At Ambleside we believe strongly in uplifting our community by offering disadvantaged children the gift of a lifetime – a quality education at Ambleside.
Unlike most school subsidy programmes, our qualification criteria are based on need and attitude, rather than on an outstanding ability or talent. In this way, we believe that we are truly empowering our community, as opposed to compounding disadvantage by awarding subsidies to only the very gifted.
We currently have 17 learners between the ages of five and 18 in our programme.
This commitment to social upliftment is based on the philosophies of Charlotte Mason which are very relevant in South Africa today. She believed in an excellent education for all and had the following to say:
“A liberal education is, like justice, religion, liberty, fresh air, the natural birthright of every child,” and, “One of the main purposes of a ‘liberal education for all’ is to form links between... rich and poor in the strong sympathy of common knowledge.”
This belief of Mason’s underpins our vision to offer places to previously disadvantaged children, to the benefit of all our students.
Over 30 years ago there was a move among educators and parents to find a new way to truly prepare and equip children for life. They were seeking a holistic education that prioritised small student-teacher ratios, a safe and nurturing learning environment and a natural integration of the Christian faith into the classroom. It was from this dream that the Hout Bay Christian School was born.
Along the journey, having established a small but strong institute, the school discovered a kindred heart and like-minded partner in the Ambleside International family.
Based on Charlotte Mason’s extensive work and writings, Ambleside International was founded in 1999, with the mission to provide a “living education” for its students. One that equipped children academically but also developed them in character and spirit so that they could take their education and live out life to the fullness of their potential and fulfill the destiny laid out before them.
With this in mind, its founding staff (based in Texas) developed the Ambleside method of education, with author and school principal Maryellen St Cyr spearheading the movement. Ambleside International remains committed to educational renewal, and to building and supporting a worldwide community of schools.
Having realigned our school to create a truly life-giving education for all, Ambleside School of Hout Bay officially launched in 2007. Since then, the school has grown to become a recognised and reputable choice for discerning parents and a diverse range of students alike.
It is the mission of Ambleside School of Hout Bay to provide a “living education” where each child is guided and empowered to author a full and free life; a life rich in relationship to God, self, others, ideas and all of creation.
Therefore, our primary concern is the kind of student each child is becoming, not the mastery of particular data or technique, for we are confident that the student who masters the art of learning will attain his full potential for mastering data and technique. Students who master the art of relating well to God, self, others, ideas, and creation will attain the fullness of life for which they were created.
We believe there is no greater truth than the love of God revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is in the love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit that we discover fullness of life. Thus, parent and teacher have no greater responsibility than cultivating a child’s joyful and obedient relationship with a loving God.
With this in mind, we acknowledge God throughout our school day. Students study the Bible daily, not merely as an academic discipline, but to experience how this holy mystery – God with man – is revealed in the Old and New Testaments.
As parents, teachers and students relate with one another and with their communities, we endeavour to move towards one another in genuine love. Although employees at Ambleside Schools hail from diverse backgrounds, they share a common commitment to Jesus Christ and the central teachings of the New Testament.
Students and families from all faith backgrounds are nonetheless welcome.
All ASI and Ambleside school staff affirm the Nicene Creed and the Ambleside Code of Personal Conduct
