During November 1868, after a number of unsuccessful attempts, a school was established for the children of the wine and vegetable farmers, the shopkeepers and hoteliers of a little town on the banks of the Kuils River. The following year 38 learners were enrolled – of whom only about 20 attended school regularly. In 1873 this school ceased to function, mainly due to the fact that parents kept chi
ldren out of the school in order to help on the farms. In 1874 the school reopened with great idealism and with the appointment of Mr Charles Villet in 1881, the school and community entered a new era. The gifted Villet family exerted a positive influence on the town, having amongst other things regular music concerts in the school hall. The school grew and in 1897, a new school building (next to the present Shoprite Centre) to accommodate 81 learners, was inaugurated. From 1906 to 1951 the school’s enrolment grew from 118 to 334. A school building, that is at present part of De Kuilen Primary, was occupied in 1939. Nine years later in August 1961, the building complex of the present De Kuilen High School was occupied by senior learners. The school building was extended in 1991 with the addition of a new wing with classrooms, a new staff room and a gallery in the hall. This was followed by 3 new computer classrooms, sport facilities and in 1998, a multi-purpose activity centre. De Kuilen is known countrywide as a school with a proud tradition of academic achievements. Examples of these are matriculants on the merit list of WCED and achievements in the Afrikaans and Mathematics Olympiads. Culturally De Kuilen is also one of the top schools in the Western Cape with many prize winners in eisteddfods in singing, choir and recitation. De Kuilen has also won provincial and countrywide public speaking and debating competitions.
