Science

When the school first opened its doors to 26 pupils in 1910 , it occupied a double storey building in West Street with the kitchen serving as the science laboratory .From these humble beginnings Glenwood, and its Science Department, have grown to become one of the province’s leaders in high school education. Described many years ago as “an academic school with a technical and scientific bias'', Glenwood has continued to provide a steady supply of learners to the engineering and science departments of many institutions of higher learning.
Glenwood has five science laboratories in addition to the newly revamped Science Centre. Thanks to a generous grant from the Victor Daitz Foundation, the school can now boast two fully equipped ‘‘state of the art '' laboratories and a 60 seat lecture theatre. Besides being used by the senior students on a daily basis, these laboratories are used by the ‘‘GAMES'' programme in the afternoons to educate and stimulate an interest in science in primary school learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In addition to the normal curriculum, learners are involved in numerous extra-curricular activities such as the National Science Olympiad, the University of KZN Bridge Building competition and the FFS Science Expo for Young Scientists. Furthermore, top Grade 12 students are involved in a remedial / tutorial programme where fellow students who are struggling with the subject are assisted. There is also an active Science Club that meets most afternoons. In addition to two reptile tanks there is a marine fish tank.
At the present moment in South Africa, there is a dire shortage of qualified manpower in fields requiring a mathematical and scientific background. In the 2011 matric exams, 72 learners passed science with more than 50%, with a similar number in mathematics. Glenwood is one of 92 ‘‘Dinaledi’’ schools in KZN. These are schools that have been specially selected for their outstanding results in Mathematics and Physical Science in the final Grade 12 examinations. In 2011 Glenwood was ranked 3rd in KZN with 26 distinctions.