This. Our History.

Wesbank No.1 Primary School was the first architecturally designed school built in 2001 in Wesbank. It was the first of its kind in Wesbank. The learners of the Wesbank area attended schools in neighbouring areas for example Kuilsriver, Blackheath, Melton Rose, Bluedowns and Silversands.

Wesbank No.1 Primary opened its doors in January 2002. Learners were sent to Wesbank No.1 Primary with their teachers from these schools mentioned above. This caused lots of tension as a new identity has to be forged. In essence, it reminded one of the Group Areas Act, where different communities, albeit learners were displaced from their schools, to a new environment with lots of challenges, hoping to forge a new identity.

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Wesbank No.1 Primary had no permanent Principal or any permanent Senior Management Team, until its first permanent principal. Mr Keet was appointed in October 2003.

Despite the many challenges we faced we just had to make this institution work, putting structures and systems in place. All learners and teachers came with high expectations, different cultures and demands.

The constant change at the school hampered the sustainability of our systems and structures. Despite all these challenges, diversity and demands we desperately had to instill an Ethos unique to Wesbank No.1 Primary. This had major implications for all concerned. The credibility of a constant change in principalship often led to a breakdown of trust amongst all stakeholders. That this was a prolonged baptism of fire was very real rather than imagined.

Everyone was forced to continually adapt to many different principals with different leadership and management styles. All stakeholders wanted to lead which often led to strife and emotional challenges, with systems and structures constantly in flux.

In October 2010 finally a second permanent principal was appointed.

                                                                                                                                            - Sarah Kleinsmith (Retired Deputy Principal)