INTRODUCTION
At Hilton College, we celebrate the unique talents of each of our 600 students, believing every boy can positively impact the world. Our focus is on fostering a lifelong love of learning, not just academic achievement. We develop a growth mindset, encouraging boys to strive for their personal best, supported by a team of academic staff, coaches, and mentors.
Boys from across South Africa and beyond come here to experience a blend of opportunities that promote self-discovery, growth, and generosity. We embrace diversity, welcoming boys from various cultures, creeds, and abilities.
Your son's journey is his own, and our role is to guide him with experiences that challenge him to grow into his best self. With over 152 years of tradition, Hilton College nurtures young men of character and integrity, preparing them for the future.
Unique to Hilton, our 650-hectare nature reserve - home to giraffe, zebra, and many other species - is an invaluable resource for exploration and discovery, offering a magnificent, natural space for our boys to enjoy and protect.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Founding Year:
Category:
School Level:
Number of Terms:
Boarding:
1872
All-Boys School
Grade 8 to Grade 12
4
Full boarding school
academics
We inspire a lifelong love of learning, focusing on curiosity and the joy of discovery rather than performance for validation. Encouragement and enthusiasm are key to our learning environment.
Our goal is not just good marks, but fostering understanding, confidence, critical thinking, and a broad worldview. When students love learning, success follows.
With a strong academic reputation, our boys are accepted into top universities worldwide and in South Africa. We take pride in our exceptional staff and world-class Student Development Centre, which provides outstanding support for students with learning barriers.
BOARDING
We foster a sense of family, where honesty, fairness, and kindness create a supportive environment in our seven boarding houses - Churchill, Ellis, Falcon, Lucas, McKenzie, Newnham, and Pearce. Each house has unique features but shares core values. Housemasters and their families live on-site, ensuring a family-like atmosphere.
Boys live in dorms of 16 and 18 per grade, building lifelong friendships as they share their journey for five years. They learn to live with people from diverse backgrounds, strengthening bonds that extend beyond their house.
Grade 12 boys mentor Grade 8s, helping them integrate and feel at home. This brotherhood teaches consideration, mutual support, and the balance between personal needs and the wellbeing of the group.
ARTS AND CULTURE
We inspire creativity and help every boy rediscover the artist within. We nurture problem-solving, critical thinking, and imagination through arts and culture.
Our mission is to reignite natural creativity, encouraging boys to explore new ideas and express unique perspectives in visual arts, drama, and music. This fosters both artistic talent and essential life skills.
The arts help boys understand themselves and others, developing empathy and emotional awareness. Through theatre, music, and visual arts, they learn to express their thoughts, feelings, and grow personally.
Every boy, regardless of ability, contributes to something extraordinary - whether in a theatre production, art exhibition, or music performance. Collaborative experiences teach teamwork, celebrate individuality, and prepare boys for life beyond school. From visual arts to public speaking, debating, and marimba, we challenge boys to experiment, explore, and strive for excellence.
SPORT
We inspire boys to discover their inner grit through discipline, resilience, and a growth mindset. We focus on developing enthusiastic team players who lift each other up, win or lose.
Sports here go beyond individual performance; they foster a love for teamwork, build lasting connections, and create lifelong passion. We prioritize holistic development, supporting mental, emotional, and athletic growth.
We emphasize collaboration over individual talent, where every athlete is valued and encouraged to give their best. Personal responsibility, strong team spirit, and a commitment to collective goals are at the heart of our sports culture.
OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
The transition from boyhood to manhood is nurtured in our nature reserve, offering boys a break from the structured school week. Without timetables, technology, or entertainment, they have the freedom to reflect, dream, and connect with something greater than themselves.
From Grade 8, boys camp up to 5km from campus on weekends. This experience fosters self-sufficiency, confidence, and responsibility as they plan, organize, and care for themselves for up to 48 hours.
Our eco-conscious approach teaches boys about environmental stewardship. With no bins, they take responsibility for their litter, learning the impact of waste. We also highlight local environmental changes, like the decline in water quality in the Umgeni River, and encourage boys to become stewards of our land. Each Sunday, boys engage in estate activities, from guided walks to poetry writing, guided by our conservation staff.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
We teach boys to use their privilege for positive change. We believe privilege isn’t something to be ashamed of but a tool for positive impact. Through empathy, resilience, and humility, we combat entitlement and emphasize that "it is more blessed to give than to receive."
Giving is central to our values. Boys engage in community service throughout their time at Hilton, whether coaching sports at partner schools or spending time with children at local homes. They find joy in these experiences, and we take pride in their initiative, like campaigns such as Tries for Lives and Swim for Lives.
Our Community Partnerships programme focuses on building meaningful relationships between boys and community members, fostering a deep sense of humanity, understanding, and the power of the human spirit.
photo credit: Hilton College