Merryvale School

Empowering every learner through love, patience, and a nurturing space where individuality is celebrated every day.

About Merryvale

Merryvale School for Specialised Education, located in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa, was established on February 6, 1956, at the St. Columbus Presbyterian Church Hall in North End, initially accommodating 30 to 40 children. The school was founded with the mission of teaching, guiding and educating children with severe intellectual disabilities and significant neural impairments.

Over the decades, Merryvale has grown and evolved, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2016. Today, it continues to provide specialised education and support to learners with severe intellectual disabilities and ASD, offering equal opportunities for every child to succeed.

Our Foundation

Merryvale School was founded in 1956 with the purpose of teaching and educating children with severe intellectual disabilities. We offer a differentiated curriculum tailored to meet the unique learning needs of each learner.

Over the years, we have received vital support from organisations such as the Port Elizabeth Mental Health Society and the Dutch Reformed Church, which served as our sponsoring body from 1978 to 1996.

Merryvale is a public school operating under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education: Specialised Education.

Reimagining Possibilities

At Merryvale School, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. We recognise that some learners and their families come to us having faced setbacks, uncertainty, or even a loss of hope. That’s why we see ourselves as more than teachers — we are restorers of hope and nurturers of potential. We walk alongside our learners and their families as they rediscover their strengths and rebuild their dreams.

Beyond the Classroom

We are committed to empowering each learner in a way that recognises and nurtures their unique strengths and needs. Our holistic approach is made possible through the work of a skilled, compassionate multidisciplinary team. This team includes, therapists and experienced teachers, a dedicated school nurse and visiting medical specialists who consult on a sessional basis.

Merryvale at a glance

The school that strives to make a difference

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OUR ETHOS

At Merryvale, we provide a Christian-based, caring, and supportive learning environment. We cater to learners who present with severe intellectual disabilities, including those with additional physical challenges.

Small class sizes to meet individual learning needs
Specialised staff including class aides, therapists, nurses, etc
Inclusive approach focused on holistic development
We support learners through structured, non-graded, and phased learning programs

OUR VISION

Merryvale is a school for severally intellectually disabled learners, where to strive to empower our learners holistically, to their fullest potential, in order to become meaningful citizens.

OUR MISSION

Our staff commit themselves to their calling with ongoing and meaningful innovation, enthusiasm and empathy, to optimally empower the intellectually disabled learner with basic academic and life skills and positive outlook on life.

“We are more than a school, We are a supportive family where every child is seen, heard, and valued.”