Meet our Mentors

Barbara Taljard was the Headmistress of the Primary School, Thomas More College (TMC) from 2009 – 2020, when she retired. Thomas More is a large, co-educational day school in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal with over 1100 pupils from Grade 000 to Matric. Prior to this, Barbara was the Head instrumental in amalgamating three ISASA, multiracial, co-educational schools in Swaziland, namely Mananga and Simunye Primaries and Simunye Pre-School to form Thembelisha Preparatory School (Grade 000 to Grade 7). Previously, she was the founding Head of Waterberg Academy (Limpopo) where she drew up all policies, obtained NPO/PBO status and grew the school to incorporate a Grade 8 year.

Barbara’s first headship was at Herschel Girls’ Preparatory School, in Cape Town. She has also been the Deputy and Acting Head of Beaconhurst School in East London and developed it into a high school. She was 2nd in charge at Clarendon Girls’ School in East London. She has taught English as a First/Second Language from Grade 4 – 10. In addition, Barbara served as the Swaziland regional representative to the ISASA General Council and, since retirement, has drawn up policies for TMC.

Barbara is a Rhodes University graduate and holds a BA degree with majors in English and History. She completed the Leadership Development Course through Wits Business School in 2009. As the widowed mother of a Down Syndrome daughter, Barbara also has a deep understanding of Special Needs and has served on committees in this regard.