St Martin’s Pre-Primary School was established in 1975 as an outreach to the Durban North community by the St Martin-in-the-Fields Church.  There was deemed a need for quality pre-schooling in Durban North and this articulated well with the Church’s teaching on mission and evangelism.

The School is situated in the crypt of the Church and in surrounding buildings.

A steering Committee, made up of Church members with relevant expertise, in addition to Noreen Ramsden and Viv Loureiro, pre-primary specialists (who acted as educational consultants), fostered a relationship with the then Natal Department of Education and at inception the School was deemed a “provincially-controlled” school; with the NED being responsible for teacher salaries.  However, with the attrition of the salary subsidy, St Martin’s Pre-Primary became an independent school in 2000 and is completely privately funded.

The Church continues to play an active role in the life of the School. The Governing Body is made up of 50% Church members and 50% parents.  The Rector and the Principal both serve in an ex-officio capacity.

The Rector, or a member of the Church staff, also share Bible stories with the children on a regular basis.

The School delights in celebrating the Christian festivals of Easter, Ascension Day and Christmas.  The Palm Sunday Parade is, in particular, a very special occasion.  The children process with energetic waving of palm fronds and lusty singing and then light a candle to symbolise how they too will share the “light of the world”.

Church support of the School is ongoing, and we are always covered through intercession by the various Prayer Chains, as well as the School’s Parents 4 Prayer Group.