The Coat of Arms

1946 Version of Coat of Arms

Today I would like to pay some attention to the coat of arms (school badge) of the school. As I have mentioned in an earlier note, the school’s name has changed several times over the last 70 years. The coat of arms, however, remained relatively unchanged with only some cosmetic changes made to it. 

The earliest signs of a coat of arms dates back to 1946. I have found the following two examples of the existence of  a coat of arms:

• A concrete version on the front façade of the original school building which was occupied in 1946. It is still in the original position but needs attention in order to restore it to it’s original glory; and

Invitation Card

• One on the invitation to the official inauguration of the school building on Saturday 9^th March 1946.

The coat of arms consisted of a green shield with a maroon frame around it. On the shield are an open book, the letters H S G (for Hoërskool Goodwood High School) and a rising sun. The letters as well as the rising sun are in gold. Below the shield is a ribbon with the school’s motto: VAARDIGHEID – EFFICIENCY. 

Hand drawn sketch 

 I came across some hand   drawn sketches of the coat of  arms which was used in the design of the cover page of the school’s first annual which was published in 1948. This design was used on all the annuals up to 1965. By that time the first annual was published in 1948, the school was known as Goodwood – Epping High School. This name change was however not reflected in the coat of arms. The only change to the original 1946 version, is an outstretched ribbon below the shield with the motto. 

The school's official 21st Anniversary Program dated 19 October 1962 had an interesting version of the coat of arms on the front. This is the only one which I could lay my hands on which suggests that the school's name is Goodwood - Epping High School. It also boasts a laurel-wreath on the sides above the motto. At the top, above the shield, are two hands locked in  handshake. I could not find any other source which suggests that this was an official change to the coat of arms. 

By 1976 the name of the school has changed to Epping High School.  The program issued at the retirement of Mr. V.A. Espost, a previous principal, in June 1976, shows this change in name but it still shows the original coat of arms which was first used by 1946. 

At some stage in the past, the school's passage floors were covered with lenoleum tiles.  Different colour tiles were used to lay the school's coat of arms in the foyer of the school. About four years ago the tiles in the foyer were lifted and replaced with ceramic tiles. The coat of arms was saved for future generations to come and a thick glass panel was put over it to protect it.  

The Education Department opened new high schools in the Goodwood area and eventually it was felt that the school's name should be changed to Epping High School, resulting in a change in the coat of arms. The G for Goodwood was replaced with an E for Epping. In the material I have available, I could not find an example of the "new" version but I am looking for one to include as an example in this blog.

De Ruyter

When the town was renamed from Epping-Gardens to Ruyterwacht, the school was renamed to De Ruyter High School. The coat of arms had to be adjusted to maken provision for the new name. The design remained unchanged with the E (Epping) replaced by DeR which stood for Hoërskool De Ruyter.  

Goodwood College

By the end of the previous century, the school's curriculum changed to a more vocational curriculum. New college subjects were introduced to prepare pupils for a career. The pupils offered three "school subjects" and three "college subjects." It was felt that it was necessary to change the name of the school to go with the new image of the school. It was decided to change it back to the original name of 1941 but. instead of Goodwood High School, it was renamed to Goodwood College in 1999. The circle has been completed and it became neccessary to make adjustments to the coat of arm once again.  The DeR for De Ruyter was taken out at the bottom and replaced with Goodwood Kollege / College below the rising sun.