Number of pupils :  713 (403 boys & 397 girls)

School Motto :  As we struggle for the future

This school is important to the local community because it provides the only secondary education in the area. The closest other secondary schools are at Namwendwa, 8km away, or Bulopa, 11km away.  Both are too far to walk twice a day, especially in the rainy season.  Also, it is risky for teenage girls to be walking in the dark.  There are 4 primary schools in the parish that are potential feeders.  We started to work with Nalango Primary and Namwendwa Primary during 2011.

The school started in 1997 with classes being held under mango trees.  The 5.4 acres are owned by the community but granted to the school. It is governed by a board of governors, chosen by the parents, teachers and local councillors, and led by an inspirational head teacher - Paul Kasadha.  The school became registered by the government and received its licence in November 2011.  At the beginning of 2014, the school was granted full USE (Universal Secondary Education), which means the government will give a cash payment per student, this will subsequently pay the teachers’ wages  This will mean that good teachers will be attracted to the school and remain with the school, which will transform secondary education in the region.

In 2007, there were only 3 students.  In 2009, all classes were held under mango trees.  In 2010, the community built one classroom, an office and staff room, all of which lacked doors, windows, cemented floors and plastered walls, but the students enrolled - 120 of them when Senior One class was established.   This was a huge achievement, since the area is incredibly poor with many peasant farmers, high school drop outs and many early pregnancies.  The only latrines available for “short calls” were constructed from banana fibre.  Any “long call” needs meant crossing the road to use the pit latrines at Nalango Primary.

Paul Kasadha, maintains a high level of discipline and morality amongst the students, as well as a close working relationship with parents and local leaders.

Since 2011 this school has been adopted by “One Mile Closer” (OMC).  Please see website for further details.    During 2020 HvSMF constructed a large expensive 5.5 A’level classroom block with funds donated by OMC. This includes 4 classrooms, three of which form a hall, plus a laboratory and prep room. It has gas and water supply systems and was completed to an extra high standard. This building is dedicated to the memory of James Atkinson who in January 2009, along with Rob Gauntlett, lost his life whilst ice climbing at Chamonix in the Alps, in January 2009. They were both aged only 21.

In July 2023 the school became part of the much-coveted Government Grant Aided (GGA) scheme. Thus changing the school for ever. The government is slowly (100 schools per annum) rolling out a scheme to take over one government school in each subcounty, as recommended by the subcounty local government. Grant aid is for the provision of teachers’ wages and students’ capitation grants but does not include development of infrastructure. In Paul’s report of February 2024 he wrote: “The Grant Aiding will proportionally increase the number of learners”.Thanks to OMC’s fundraising the school now has all the necessary facilities. In total £215,298 has been spent on many projects.

This is a school that during the last 13 years has changed beyond recognition. Paul Kasadha has been head teacher throughout the transformation. Congratulations to him and long may he continue as the head.