Page 34 - Waterfall City Issue 7 July 2025

Waterfall City Advertorial

Inside the St Peter’s Prep Teacher Intern Programme,
a living laboratory for shaping the future of education
A s the morning sun slants generation of South African educators is one of the most dynamic and respected

being shaped, one morning, one lesson,
through the windows at
educator development initiatives in
St Peter’s Prep School in
South Africa. It currently supports 30
one child at a time.
Sandton, a quiet revolution in
learning is taking place. A Foundation From a quiet start to a bold interns and continues to grow. But it’s not
about the numbers, it’s about depth –
Phase teacher stands at the electronic decision developing teachers who are self-aware,
whiteboard, explaining a principle of The story of the St Peter’s Teacher Intern resilient, and ready for the complex
reading and writing with clarity. To the Programme began in 1997, with a demands of South African classrooms.
side of the room, a young woman sits, handful of interns and a deep sense of
absorbing the rhythm of the lesson. purpose. As an Anglican school, there’s Growing the whole teacher
Soon, it will be her turn to step forward always been a desire to give back, and in A commitment to personal development
and take over the class. She, too, is the education business, investing in the is what truly sets this programme apart.
a learner, here to answer the calling development of teachers was the most Interns receive a living stipend, access
that has beckoned her since she left natural solution. to psychological support, mentoring
school, taking the first step towards from staff, and leadership training. Many
her dream career in education. For many years, the programme of our interns come from challenging
remained small, with two or three backgrounds, and we’re helping them
At St Peter’s, the art and science of interns. But in 2015, backed by research build better futures. The psychosocial
learning unfolds as powerfully for the highlighting the critical importance of support is robust, with day-to-day
university undergraduates who will early childhood education, the school guidance, counselling services through
one day stand at the front of their own made a bold decision to place an intern the school’s wellness programme, a
classrooms. Welcome to the St Peter’s in every Foundation Phase classroom. psychologist for trauma support, and an
Teacher Intern Programme, where a new The programme has blossomed into external self-mastery course, ensuring a

32 Waterfall City Issue 7 2025