The Best of Both Worlds

Since January 2014, Swordfish Academy in Randpark Ridge, Johannesburg has provided guided tuition.

We offer learners from grade 6 to 12 the best of both worlds:

  • A small, comfortable environment where young people can work in a relaxed way with their tutors. This fosters real learning without stress.
  • The opportunity for live online lessons when the need arises.

Our learners come in every day from 8:00-13:00 (small groups don’t need a long, exhausting day!). Live online lessons are the go-to when a learner needs that option.

We aim to build a school that students look forward to attending in the mornings, leaving each afternoon with a feeling of confidence and accomplishment.

So, whatever is happening, our students continue to learn and grow without interruption.

Our Vision

A centre that students look forward to attending in the mornings, and leave each afternoon with a feeling of confidence and accomplishment.

To do this, we strive to deliver a more interesting and relevant way of presenting ideas and information: modern technology that students are already comfortable with and proficient in, combined with tutoring strategies that inspire communication and learning.

Our Philosophy

Young children have an insatiable thirst to learn. It is a tragedy that school often dampens a child’s natural curiosity. Swordfish Academy uses an enquiry method that works to restore an interest in learning about ourselves, what we can do and how the world around us operates.

Each individual naturally works at their own pace. In order to benefit fully, students need to be in an environment that supports and guides them at a pace they feel comfortable with, without trying to force them to fit a convenient mould.

Our environment supports and guides learning in a dynamic, fluid state without trying to force learners to be rigidly determined academically and emotionally.

Everyone has talents and strengths; they just need to find them. Some people’s talents do not fall within the ambit of traditional schooling, but this doesn’t make them less valuable. They need continuous encouragement and support. Then they can move on to do the things they’re really passionate about.

As Swordfish Academy works with small groups of students, we are frequently able to work on a one-on-one basis with our students. This helps them grow their individual talents and overcome problem areas. We also nurture emotional growth and individual strength so that our students step out into the world as confident adults.

Our Core values

  • Every student is unique.
  • Each individual has talents and strengths that need to be nurtured.
  • Children, like all people, want to be treated with sincerity, respect and understanding, and need to know that they are valued.
  • Children also need to learn to treat others with sincerity, respect and understanding, and value the individuality of others.
  • Every child has the right to be well educated.
  • We do not discriminate against anyone and welcome all students, irrespective of their race, religion, belief, politics, culture or sexual orientation.
  • While the school is run with a Christian ethos, religion is not taught in our classes. All religions and beliefs are welcome.
  • Respect, consideration and care for others are central to the way Swordfish operates. We expect teachers and students to respect one another, irrespective of their race, religion, belief, politics, culture and sexual orientation.
  • We recognise that no two people are identical. It is the aim of Swordfish Academy to allow each student to be the individual they were meant to be, to give them the space to explore themselves and to work towards becoming the best that they can be.

We believe that individuals flourish in an innovative, flexible environment where they can learn in a way that works for them, both intellectually and emotionally. We provide motivation, discipline and structure within a loose framework in order to nurture and support our students, so that they can be confident, happy, capable and successful individuals when they enter the adult world.