Paarl Gimnasium
Address
416 Main Road, Northern Paarl Paarl , Western Cape South Africa
Coordinates	33°43′13″S 18°57′31″E / 33.7203°S 18.9586°E / -33.7203; 18.9586
Information
School type	Public & Boarding
Motto	"Sol Justitae Illustra Nos" "Sun of justice, shine upon us "
Religious affiliation(s)	Christianity
Established	1858; 166 years ago (1858)
School district	District 9
School number	+27 (021) 872 1541
Grades	8–12
Gender	1858-1963 boys Since 1964 coeducational
Age	14 to 18
Number of students	1,300 pupils
Language	Afrikaans
Schedule	07:30 - 14:00
Campus	Urban campus
Campus type	Suburban
Colour(s)	Gold   Green   Maroon   White
Nickname	Paarl Gim
Rivals	Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool Paarl Boys' High School Paul Roos Gymnasium
Accreditation	Western Cape Education Department
Website	http://www.paarlgim.co.za

Paarl Gimnasium is a public Afrikaans medium co-educational high school situated in the city of Paarl in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

History

Rev. van der Lingen founded the school in the centre of town in 1858. The school has produced some of South Africa's top rugby players, including Schalk Burger, Jean De Villiers, Marius Joubert, Handré Pollard and De Wet Barry.^{[citation needed]} Other alumni include the theologian Stephanus Jacobus du Toit^[1] and politician Liezl van der Merwe.

The primary school section of Gimnasium was founded in 1858 as a Dutch Christian school for boys, with the high school being founded much later. In the mid-1930s the school's language of education shifted to Afrikaans. After the high school section was completed the school enrolled its first female student.

Paarl Gimnasium High School has a large sporting program and takes part in the interschools tournament against Paarl Boys' High School, an event which attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year.

Notable alumni

Springbok Rugby

Other

• Marciel Hopkins, model and Boer Soek 'n Vrou presenter^[2]
• Marguerite Wheatley, actress^[3]
• Perlé van Schalkwyk, businesswoman and owner of the Lollipop Lounge^[4]
• Liezl van der Merwe, Member of the National Assembly of South Africa^[5]
• Mandy Rossouw, journalist^[6]
• Martelize Brink, author and radio presenter^[7]