South Africa

The futuristic South African school where students study content creation, esports, and crypto

Kirsten Minnaar • 8 August 2026

One Sandton private school is taking a 21st-century approach to education, complete with subjects such as Coding, Digital Content Creation, eSports Production, and Blockchain & Crypto Studies.

South Africa offers a number of world-class private schools, some of which have been operating for over a century. But, located in Sunninghill, Johannesburg, is a private school unlike any other – Centennial Schools.

Founded in 2022 by Shaun Fuchs, Centennial Schools is a modern private school which rethinks traditional education and prepares students for tertiary education and the demands of the modern world.

It combines the CAPS curriculum with IEB examinations, technology-driven learning, collaborative teaching spaces, and a strong focus on student wellbeing and real-world skills.

It offers both preparatory and high school education on one campus, featuring facilities such as Learning Hubs, Creative Hubs, an eSports Arena, and a fitness centre.

One of the school’s most unique features is its enrichment subjects, which include Coding, Digital Content Creation, Entrepreneurship, eSports Production, Blockchain & Crypto Studies, and Personal Finance.

Before founding Centennial Schools, Fuchs had spent more than two decades leading some of South Africa’s most established independent schools.

He was the Principal at Crawford College Lonehill and later Managing Director and General Manager across major school groups, including Reddam House and Crawford Schools.

Fuchs told Daily Investor that the idea behind Centennial Schools came from a question that had been on his mind for many years.

“I kept asking myself, ‘If we were building a school for the first time today, knowing everything we know about technology, neuroscience, AI, and the future of work, would it look anything like the schools we inherited?’” he said.

“My answer was ‘no’. When the pandemic disrupted education in 2020, it became clear that incremental change was no longer enough.”

Rather than trying to improve an existing model, Fuchs said he wanted to build a school from the ground up that reflected the world today’s children will enter.

A 21st-century school

Shaun Fuchs, CEO and founder of Centennial Schools

Fuchs explained that, from day one, his intention was never to create another independent school, as there are already many excellent schools in South Africa.

“The challenge I set myself was different – to rethink what education should look like in an age where knowledge is instantly accessible and artificial intelligence is transforming every industry,” he said.

While Centennial Schools takes a different approach to education, Fuchs stressed that academic excellence remains non-negotiable.

The difference is that the school places equal importance on developing the human skills that technology cannot replace.

“Critical thinking, creativity, communication, entrepreneurship, resilience and adaptability are embedded into everyday learning,” he said.

“Every decision we make is measured against one question: ‘Will this better prepare our students for the world they will inherit?’”

Centennial Schools describes itself as “the 21st century’s most relevant school”. Embracing technology is an important part of this.

However, Fuchs explained that devices or digital classrooms alone are not enough to make a “modern school”.

“Technology alone does not make a school innovative. A modern school understands that education must evolve alongside society,” he said.

“At Centennial Schools, technology is used with purpose, but we are equally intentional about developing confidence, curiosity, well-being, and meaningful relationships.”

He added that the school want students to become comfortable with change because the careers they enter will almost certainly look different from those that exist today.

In fact, the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs Report suggested that 170 million new job roles will be created.

Other metrics suggest that over 80% of future jobs don’t exist yet. Despite this, South Africa’s schools still rely on decades-old teaching methods.

“Being modern means having the courage to question long-held assumptions while holding firmly onto timeless values such as kindness, integrity, respect and excellence,” he said.

Centennial Schools continues to grow

One of the Centennial Schools’ main goals is to shape graduates who are prepared for the real world, both as it currently exists and as it will change in the future.

While examination results remain important, Fuchs explained that this is not the sole way they measure the success of their graduates.

“My hope is that every Centennial graduate leaves our school with the confidence to navigate uncertainty, the curiosity to keep learning and the courage to solve problems that do not yet have answers,” he said.

He said while they leave with strong academic foundations, they also leave with an entrepreneurial mindset, digital fluency, emotional intelligence and a desire to make a positive contribution to society.

“In an age of artificial intelligence, I believe these distinctly human qualities will become the greatest competitive advantage any young person can possess,” he said.

This approach to schooling has been well-received, with Centennial Schools growing quickly in recent years. When the school opened in January 2022, it only had 35 students.

Today, Centennial Schools has more than 450 students in Grades 4 to 12, with demand continuing to grow each year. In January 2027, the school will open its Foundation phase for Grades R to Grade 3.

“While I am incredibly proud of that growth, I believe the more meaningful achievement is the culture we have built,” Fuchs said. “Families join us because they believe education can be different.”

“Our teachers embrace innovation while maintaining high academic standards, and our students are encouraged to think independently, take risks and develop confidence in their own abilities.”

He stressed that growth has never been the main objective. Instead, the priority was always to build a school that genuinely changes lives.

On a personal level, Fuchs said Centennial Schools is the fulfilment of a vision that has shaped much of his professional life.

“It represents a belief that schools should not simply preserve traditions because they are familiar, but should continually ask whether they are preparing young people for the world that actually exists,” he said.

“The conversations around education often focus on technology, but I believe the real conversation is about courage.”

“It takes courage to challenge assumptions, to rethink established practices and to build something entirely new. That is what Centennial Schools stands for.”