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{{Infobox school
 | name                    = Plumtree School
 | image                   = Plumtree School Crest.png
 | image_size              = 100px
 | caption                 = Plumtree School Crest
 | motto                   = '''Ad Definitum Finem'''
 | motto_translation       = {{langx|la|To a definite end}}
 | established             = 1902
 | type                    = [[State school|Private/Public]], [[Boarding school|boarding]]
 | head_name               = Headmaster
 | head                    = S.Khumalo
 | city                    = [[Plumtree, 
Zimbabwe|Plumtree]]
 | province                = [[Matabeleland South]]
 | country                 = [[Zimbabwe]]
 | pupils                  = 500 (approx.)
 | website                 = https://plumtreeschool.co.zw
}}
'''Plumtree School''' is a [[boarding school]] for boys and girls in the [[Matabeleland]] region of [[Zimbabwe]] on the border with [[Botswana]]. Founded in 1902 by a railway mission, Plumtree School boards 500+ pupils. Recently the school announced it will start enrolling girls as of January 2016.

== Historical background ==
[[File:Sawyer2001-02.jpg|thumb|right|"Tom Sawyer" 2001]]
In 1897 a [[Rail siding|siding]] on the railway line between [[Mafeking, South Africa|Mafeking]] and [[Bulawayo]] was named [[Plumtree, Zimbabwe|Plumtree]]. It lies on the watershed of the Western [[Matabeleland]] Highveld at an altitude of 1389 metres 100 kilometres from [[Bulawayo]]. During that time, the construction of the Cape-to-Cairo railway was underway and around 1902 the railway had just come through what was then the Bechuanaland Border.

The school was founded by the Railway Mission largely to cater for the children of the employees of the old Cape Government Railways at work on the Cape-to-Cairo railway who were resident alongside the line between [[Mafeking, South Africa|Mafeking]] and [[Bulawayo]]. The first classes were held in a rondavel in the garden of Mr. And Mrs. S. J. Smith whose nine children formed the nucleus of the student body. Subsequently, classes were moved to the dining room of the Plumtree Hotel which doubled as the Station Refreshment room. A little later a large room was made available in the customs house.

In 1902 the school moved to the present site. The original {{convert|5|acre|m2|adj=on}} plot was steadily extended so that the school occupied a one square kilometre site bordering on Plumtree village.

In 1906 a much beloved headmaster Robert (Bob) Hammond (known as maTambo) was appointed to take the school from the family enterprise it had been to a school rated in the 1930's as one of the top ten leading schools in the Commonwealth. Under Hammond's guidance over the next 30 years, the character of the school was formed in a similar vein to Gordonstoun and Geelong - determined to produce the best leaders of the future. Due to its remote location, senior boys were allowed to hunt for the school pot, in groups of three plus a young Ndebele tracker. In doing so, they spoke fluent Sindebele, learned the ways of the wild and the culture of its people. During Hammond's time, the school became known not only for the number of Rhodes Scholars it produced, but also for the fact that the major percentage of school leavers opted to work with the Africans within the Native Administration Department, as Native and District Commissioners.

In 2015, the school was granted permission by the government to enrol girls in order to boost lowering enrolment figures. Although a handful of girls were pupils in its founding years, Plumtree School has been known as a boys school for more than a century.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chronicle.co.zw/plumtree-high-gets-greenlight-to-enrol-girls/|title=Plumtree High gets greenlight to enrol girls|date=28 September 2015 }}</ref>

== Houses ==
[[File:GaulHouse.jpg|thumb|right|Gaul House]]

The school is at the edge of [[Plumtree, Zimbabwe|Plumtree]]. It is divided into four [[House system|houses]] and one boarding hall:
{| class="wikitable"
!House
!Year built
!Head of House {{Small|(2018)}}
!Colors
|-
|Milner House
|1911
|L. Kyle
|{{Color box|Purple||}}{{Color box|Black||}}
|-
|Lloyd House
|1924
|Thabo Newson
|{{Color box|Pink||}}{{Color box|Red||}}
|-
|Grey House
|1926
|D. Terrence
|{{Color box|Blue||}}
|-
|Gaul House
|1941
|Everson James
|{{Color box|Orange||}}{{Color box|Yellow||}}
|-
|Hammond Hall
|1976
| N/A
| N/A
|}

== Notable alumni ==
{{See also|Category: Alumni of Plumtree School}}
* [[Ralph Mupita]], MTN Group CEO 
* [[Iain Butchart]], Zimbabwean cricketer
* [[Green Leader|Chris Dixon]] (1943-2011), Rhodesian Air Force pilot, also known as "Green Leader"
* [[Terry Duffin]] ([[headboy]]; 2000), Zimbabwean cricketer; former [[Zimbabwe Cricket]] captain
* [[Adrian Garvey]], Zimbabwean/South African rugby player 
* [[Rollo Hayman]], Rhodesian cabinet minister 
* [[Anthony Ireland (cricketer)|Anthony Ireland]] (1997–2002), Zimbabwean cricketer
* [[David Lewis (cricketer, born 1927)|David Lewis]], Rhodesian cricketer<ref name="Winch">{{citation|title=Cricket's Rich Heritage: a History of Rhodesian and Zimbabwean Cricket 1890-1982|year=1983|author=Winch, Jonty|pages=200–201|location=[[Bulawayo]]|publisher=[[Books of Zimbabwe]]}}</ref> 
* [[Henry Olonga]] (headboy; 1994), Zimbabwean cricketer
* [[Pat MacLachlan]], Rhodesian rugby player
* [[Tony Pithey]], Rhodesian/South African cricketer<ref name="Winch" /> 
* [[David Pithey]], Rhodesian/South African cricketer and [[Rhodes Scholar]]<ref name="Winch" />
* [[Des van Jaarsveldt]], Rhodesian/South African rugby player<ref name="SRRSS">{{citation|editor=[[I.P. Maclaren]]|year=1981|title=[[Some Renowned Rhodesian Senior Schools 1892 - 1979]]|publisher=[[Books of Zimbabwe]]|location=[[Bulawayo]]|pages=219}}</ref>
* Lieutenant-General [[Peter Walls]] (1927-2010), Rhodesian Army Commander
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/special-forces-obituaries/7913263/Lieutenant-General-Peter-Walls.html

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://oldprunitian.rhodesiana.com/ Old Prunitians site]
* [http://www.bulawayo1872.com/pics/plumtree1.htm Old pictures of Plumtree High School, Zimbabwe]
* [https://picasaweb.google.com/115765363027697387836 Recent pictures of Plumtree High School, Zimbabwe (click on each picture for more)]

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[[Category:Co-educational schools in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:High schools in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Boarding schools in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Day schools in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1902]]
[[Category:1900s establishments in Southern Rhodesia]]
[[Category:Education in Matabeleland South Province]]
[[Category:1902 establishments in the British Empire]]