About Our School
Why Buccleuch Montessori?
At BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI SCHOOL, we identify, promote and nurture every child’s individual abilities and talents, instilling a love of learning in beautifully prepared environments that ensure the intellectual, emotional, spiritual and social well-being of each child. Our safe, happy environments promote learning and a positive attitude to work, as well as an ethos based on empathy, co-operation and respect, where children are valued and teaching is inspirational and forward-thinking.

Principals Welcome
Hello, and welcome to BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI SCHOOL. We value you taking the time to find out more about our amazing school. At BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI, we embody all that is Montessori and more, pioneering our own blend of facilities and programs based on the latest ‘cutting-edge’ research in education and child development. Through our very unique approach to education, we achieve remarkable results. Laying strong foundations for our children to go into the world with confidence, enthusiasm, and a powerful urge to learn and achieve more.
BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI has a track record of consistently high standards; over the past 40 years we have had the privilege and opportunity to watch our pupils flourish both during their time at our school and after. Many of our graduates have gone on to obtain scholarships at premier high schools local and abroad, have achieved top accolades in the academic and sporting arenas, scholarships in music and art, and many have become head girl/boy later on in their school careers. We also have several past pupils who have gone on to become doctors, engineers and PhD candidates – all of whom attribute this to their strong foundations at BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI during their most formative years. We endeavour to provide our children with the very best learning experiences to prepare them for a life-time of success!
Why don’t you make an appointment to come and see our school in action for yourself? We guarantee that you will be truly inspired!
Our History
BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI Preschool was founded by Mrs. Sally Wigley in 1984, in Nola Avenue, Buccleuch and was amongst the first Montessori preschools in South Africa. In 1993, Lesley Heywood was introduced to BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI as a ‘parent’. Lesley was truly inspired by the level of learning that took place within this beautifully prepared environment, so much so, that she began to further her studies in child development and Montessori under the careful guidance of Sally Wigley. In 1996, Sally retired and Lesley took over BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI Preschool in 1997.
Lesley has been involved with BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI for 25 years and over and above the Montessori Preschool, she has been instrumental in pioneering the Primary and Toddler groups in the 1990’s enabling the success we have come to enjoy at BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI today. Lesley holds three degrees and four International Montessori teaching diploma’s from birth to age thirteen. It is through her deep understanding of the Montessori Philosophy and the needs of the ‘Child and Parent’, from the perspective of both parent and education leader that BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI has become a special place for all who pass through our doors under her careful guidance.


History
BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI Preschool was founded by Mrs. Sally Wigley in 1984, in Nola Avenue, Buccleuch and was amongst the first Montessori preschools in South Africa. In 1993, Lesley Heywood was introduced to BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI as a ‘parent’. Lesley was truly inspired by the level of learning that took place within this beautifully prepared environment, so much so, that she began to further her studies in child development and Montessori under the careful guidance of Sally Wigley. In 1996, Sally retired and Lesley took over BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI Preschool in 1997.
Lesley has been involved with BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI for 25 years and over and above the Montessori Preschool, she has been instrumental in pioneering the Primary and Toddler groups in the 1990’s enabling the success we have come to enjoy at BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI today. Lesley holds three degrees and four International Montessori teaching diploma’s from birth to age thirteen. It is through her deep understanding of the Montessori Philosophy and the needs of the ‘Child and Parent’, from the perspective of both parent and education leader that BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI has become a special place for all who pass through our doors under her careful guidance.

Academic Quality And Results
At BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI, all our pupils from 4 months to 13 years receive personalised one-on-one individual attention, instilling a strong work ethic that yields exceptional results. We have an enviable record of success, where 100 per cent of our children gain access to their first choice of high school, many with academic, music and sporting scholarships and some with 100% scholarships to prestigious schools across the country. Most of our graduates go on to achieve high distinction matric results and many have gone on to become head-girl or head-boy of their respective high-schools.
While academic results are important to us, at BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI, we place equal emphasis on providing an education that produces children who are emotionally and socially confident. Our children graduate as well rounded individuals with life skills that will ensure a successful future in any field that requires innovators, strong leadership, critical thinking skills, resourcefulness, independence and a very strong foundation in academics, instilling a life-long- love of learning that will sustain them through their school careers and beyond.
Many of our graduates have gone on to study in fields such as medicine, engineering, law, accounting, environmental science and film production to name a few…
Importance of an early start at Buccleuch Montessori School?
At BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI, we understand that the first few years of life are perhaps the most critical part of the education process. Your child’s brain is forming 700 new neural connections per second —there’s no other time in life when their brain will be so open to learning or so influenced by their learning environment. (Harvard’s Centre on the Developing Child)
Harvard’s Centre on the Developing Child calls this stage in brain development a time of “early plasticity.” That means your child’s brain is rapidly absorbing the stimuli around to set up the framework for how it will learn and react for the rest of their life. After the first five years of life, the brain loses its plasticity and it becomes much harder to influence how your child learns.
For this reason, choosing your child’s preschool could be one of the most important decisions that you make about their education. You want to find a program that lays a foundation for a lifetime of passionate learning, one that will nurture and guide your child as they set off on their educational journey.
As a parent, you’ve probably heard about how Montessori education helps children thrive. If you’re trying to decide if this type of education would benefit your own child, read on. We’ve outlined the key characteristics of a Montessori classroom and explain how those characteristics set children up for a life of learning.


Why an early start at Buccleuch Montessori School?
At BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI, we understand that the first few years of life are perhaps the most critical part of the education process. Your child’s brain is forming 700 new neural connections per second —there’s no other time in life when their brain will be so open to learning or so influenced by their learning environment. (Harvard’s Centre on the Developing Child)
Harvard’s Centre on the Developing Child calls this stage in brain development a time of “early plasticity.” That means your child’s brain is rapidly absorbing the stimuli around to set up the framework for how it will learn and react for the rest of their life. After the first five years of life, the brain loses its plasticity and it becomes much harder to influence how your child learns.
For this reason, choosing your child’s preschool could be one of the most important decisions that you make about their education. You want to find a program that lays a foundation for a lifetime of passionate learning, one that will nurture and guide your child as they set off on their educational journey.
As a parent, you’ve probably heard about how Montessori education helps children thrive. If you’re trying to decide if this type of education would benefit your own child, read on. We’ve outlined the key characteristics of a Montessori classroom and explain how those characteristics set children up for a life of learning.
OUR VISION
BUCCLEUCH MONTESSORI cultivates in its pupils …
A great passion for excellence in things that they do.
A deeply internalised set of core values that one lives by when others are not looking.
A sense of being part of the family of humanity – a global understanding.
Commitments of service back to the community and to people known and not yet met.
OUR MAIN AIMS ARE
To facilitate the child’s unique personality.
To help the child to become socially and emotionally well-adjusted and grow up as a physically strong and happy child.
To inspire and empower each individual child with a passion for learning.
To help make it possible for each child to develop to his/her full intellectual potential.