From its inception Collegiate has progressed unerringly in its commitment to excellence, a proud tradition handed down by those who served the school.

Collegiate interacts widely with the community and events such as the annual Carol Service, which has been part of Port Elizabeth’s cultural heritage for over Eighty years, the annual Charity Bazaar and the efforts and involvement of the pupils in the Rotary Interact Service Club teach girls that there is great fulfillment and satisfaction to be gained in the service of others.

The active involvement of parents and past pupils, epitomized in the Old Collegiate Girls Guild, has enriched the lives of present pupils in the form of facilities, awards and bursaries and the aesthetically beautiful school buildings in which they work and play.

In doing this, they have also made an invaluable contribution to the success of Collegiate and its ongoing commitment to excellence.

Its headmistresses, its teachers and the young minds entrusted into its care, shape the spirit of the school.

Although the school’s traditions and ethos are based on Christian values and beliefs, there is a full acceptance of and a respect for other religious faiths.

The Lamp of Service represents the ethos of knowledge tempered with honesty, loyalty and service to the community. Presented each year by the outgoing head-girl to her successor, it is a simple oil-lamp, but is imbued with the power of the past that lights up our course into the future.