About Us
History of Vista Nova
Established in 1954 by the concerned parents of four children, the school was established with a specific focus on children with Cerebral Palsy.
Initially, the school was located in a home in Rosebank but through government subsidies and generous financial aid the current premises in Rondebosch were acquired with the official opening on the 7 March 1968.
At that time the school also started admitting learners with specific learning disabilities, as no other facility was able to cater for them.
A steady annual increase in learner numbers and a growing waiting list necessitated the establishment of a separate High School campus in 1989. This campus is located in Pinelands.
From humble beginnings in 1954 with only 4 pupils, 2 teachers, a nursing sister and a physiotherapist, Vista Nova has grown to an enrolment of over 420 pupils, some 120 staff members and a full time bus service provided by a fleet of 6 busses.
It is a remarkable story of how a need developed into a necessity.
Governance of the School
Vista Nova is a Public School with an elected Governing Body consisting of seventeen members, representing parents, professional and non-professional staff, learners and organizations for the disabled. The Governing Body governs and manages the school in terms of finance and maintenance of both the grounds and buildings.
The daily management of the school rests with the Principal, who is head of the School Management Team (SMT). The other SMT members are two deputy principals, four academic Heads of Department (HOD), one Therapy HOD, one Psychology HOD, the bursar and the estate manager. They are responsible for the day-to-day running and control of the school and professional and non-professional staff. The Principal is ultimately responsible to, and represents, the Head of Education in the Western Cape.
Staff
Vista Nova has 117 staff members, consisting of educators, psychologists, therapists, medical staff, librarians, administration staff, fundraisers, class assistants, estate manager, drivers, cleaners and groundsmen. Of these only fifty-seven (57) staff members are paid by the Government.
Parents’ Association (PA)
Vista Nova has an active parent body. Fund-raising activities, social and interest meetings for parents are arranged. All parents are encouraged to support their children by assisting in various ways during the course of the year and by attending functions and meetings.
Success at Vista Nova
Due to the nature of our learners success at Vista Nova cannot and is not measured by means of scholastic results alone. Each learner is treated as an individual and is developed to his or her highest potential. Success might be the achievement of good academic results, the development of self-esteem, the ability to relate to others on a social level, the ability to communicate effectively, the ability to walk, the ability to proceed to Further or Higher Education, or the ability to return to a mainstream school.
On average, an annual ten percent of our learners are successfully re-integrated in mainstream schools. Year after year we have a 100% matric pass rate.
