Past Learners and a Community Step in to Save Sandringham High School

When a community refuses to look away, magic happens – and a school once falling apart is proudly reclaimed and rebuilt. A group of past learners stepped up to rebuild Sandringham... The post Past Learners and a Community Step in to Save Sandringham High School appeared first on Good Things Guy.

May 26, 2026 - 13:15

Past Learners and a Community Step in to Save Sandringham High School

When a community refuses to look away, magic happens – and a school once falling apart is proudly reclaimed and rebuilt. A group of past learners stepped up to rebuild Sandringham High School, restoring everything from toilets and running water to school pride for 1,200 deserving learners.

Johannesburg, South Africa (26 May 2026) – In the north-eastern suburbs of Johannesburg, something truly wonderful has been taking place. A school that was slowly falling into ruin is being revitalised, thanks to a community that refuses to let it fall through the cracks or allow its learners to struggle without the bare necessities any longer.

Like many public schools across South Africa, Sandringham High School faced growing infrastructure challenges over time. Certain facilities had deteriorated, key spaces required meaningful investment, and there was an urgent need to restore not only physical assets but also pride, identity, and momentum within the school community.

With the school’s swimming pool sitting empty and abandoned, toilets becoming health hazards, and classrooms cluttered with broken desks and chairs, a group of alumni came together to change this and restore their alma mater to its former glory.

Speaking to Good Things Guy, Frankie Coda, Chairman of the Sandringham High School Alumni Association, said the building’s transformation journey has been led by a passionate team of five alumni who came together to establish and formalise the Alumni Association as an NPO.

“This executive team has worked to reconnect and mobilise the broader alumni community, creating support structures that have enabled meaningful collaboration and long-term impact.”

Together, they have already delivered impressive upgrades to the swimming pool, toilets and several classrooms.

What has happened at Sandringham is far bigger than infrastructure upgrades.

“It is a story of community, alumni, partners, staff, parents, the Department of Education and supporters coming together around a shared belief that schools can be revitalised when people choose to invest back into them.”

Frankie says that a major catalyst for change came with the arrival of The Den Gym on the Sandringham school campus. Its establishment created momentum, inspired wider engagement and demonstrated what collaborative investment could achieve. It became the spark that helped unlock a broader vision for renewal.

Rather than waiting for change, alumni, partners, and stakeholders stepped forward and asked: “What can we do together?”

This led to a growing movement of restoration and development projects across the campus.

“Recent projects include the revitalisation of the swimming pool, upgrades to ablution facilities, the installation of a 60,000L backup water system, classroom development initiatives and broader campus improvements.”

One of the most meaningful projects involved the restoration of learner ablution facilities. A plumbing company partnered with the Alumni Association to help return dignity to learners through the installation of modern toilets. Prior to the intervention, the school had approximately one toilet for every 14 learners across a learner population of around 1,200. This project significantly improved access and conditions for learners.

The Team Behind the Transformation

This transformation has been a true collective effort. It has involved the Sandringham High School Alumni Association, the School Management Team, SGB, parents, alumni, donors, the Department of Education and numerous partners who contributed time, expertise and resources.

Some of the organisations and individuals involved include:

EduSafe, who continue to play an important role in transformation and safety support
CAP Security and CAP Green
The Pool Team, who assisted with the remarkable pool restoration project
JoJo South Africa, which supported the installation of the 60,000L backup water infrastructure
Burgess Plumbers, who partnered on the learner ablution upgrades
Contractors, volunteers, donors and alumni who have quietly contributed behind the scenes

“There are many people who have carried pieces of this journey, and every contribution has mattered,” Frankie explains.

Creating an Environment with Learners in Mind

The Alumni Association hopes that these projects create an impact that extends beyond the physical upgrades.

“We want learners to walk into an environment that tells them they matter. A restored pool means opportunities in sport and development. Improved ablutions mean dignity. Water security means resilience. New classrooms mean capacity and future growth. Most importantly, we hope learners see that there is still tremendous pride and belief in Sandringham.”

As the incredible force behind these upgrades puts it, Sandringham now has a canvas to paint on again. Whether it is classrooms, sports facilities, fields, recreational spaces or future developments, this is only the beginning.