SSET was established in 1990 as a humble Saturday School in
Joubert Park providing extra tuition to children whose learning
had been disrupted through political unrest in the townships.
The successful results achieved at the Saturday School prompted
Jackie Gallagher and a group of 8 passionate teachers together
with support staff to start a full time school in 1993. The
school year began with 150 learners, housed in TEBA, a converted
mining medical centre in Selby, Johannesburg. The full time
school was started simply because a group of teachers and support
staff believed in the power of the individual to make a difference
in the lives of children and communities through education,
a sentiment that has remained with Sparrow Schools throughout
its development.
Initially the school was a bridging facility for grade 1 to
grade 9 learners, the holistic approach to education ensured
that the students leaving Sparrow were successfully integrated
into the mainstream, white education system after the democratic
elections in South Africa. It became evident in the early days
of Sparrow that a number of children with mild and severe learning
disabilities did not have access to remedial education due to
financial constraints. These children fell through the gap in
the education system and would literally drop out of school.
Sparrow, inspired by the biblical reference that “not
a sparrow shall fall” started on a journey to reach out
to learners with mild to severe learning disabilities and special
education needs.
Sparrow School’s growth has always been and will continue
to be determined by the communities that we serve and the gaps
that exist in mainstream education.
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