Isabella Basson, a past Grade 12 student at Hatfield Online School, has rightfully earned her place in the halls of academic excellence whilst continuing to shine on the tennis courts, proving that you can live out your sporting dream and excel in your academics.
19 January 2024 marked a day of great excitement for Isabella Basson, after the IEB confirmed that she had obtained 7 distinctions in Accounting, Afrikaans FAL, English, Geography, Life Orientation, Mathematics and Physical Sciences. Furthermore, she placed in the Top 1% of the country for Afrikaans and Geography. This remarkable set of results has secured Isabella a full 4-year tennis scholarship to The University of Tulsa in the USA, where she will study Business and work towards her goal of playing tennis professionally. This was no easy feat – she was up against the best in the world and had to demonstrate a balance between academic rigour and outstanding sports performance.
Isabella joined Hatfield Online School in her Grade 11 year when she realised she needed the flexibility of online schooling. There were times when Isabella only knew her tournament schedule a day in advance, yet her teachers would reschedule tests or submission deadlines to timeslots that worked for her. For Isabella:
“That was one of my highlights – the teachers’ attitudes and understanding towards everything, even if they don’t understand tennis.”
But as Isabella explains, it is not only about a flexible test schedule:
“You have great teachers, you have access to them 24/7 wherever you are, you do your full curriculum, you get the best learning experience, you can write your tests and do your projects … and I could carry on with tennis the way that I was.”
She expressed that not only was the structured layout of the content, quality of learning material, expertise of the teachers and timely feedback a tremendous help, but she felt her experience of learning online was more personal. Due to the nature of online schooling, she found herself in a position where she had to reach out to her teachers if she was unsure of a concept. Her heightened sense of responsibility for her own academics fostered one-on-one, personalised interaction with her teachers.
In addition to her amazing academic results, since joining Hatfield Online School, herInternational Tennis Federation (ITF) rankingforWomen’s U/18 improved from 3093 in August 2022 to 712 by the end of 2023. In her matric year, between writing her prelims and final examinations, she ranked 3rd nationally in the Girls U/18 section. Isabella’s mom expressed her deep gratitude to all staff at the school, “They have been amazing. If it weren’t for this vehicle and their support and their understanding, she would not have been able to do this.”
The principal of Hatfield Online School, Ms Claudine van Tonder, explains that Isabella is the quintessential example of how online education can help students thrive. “Isabella used the flexibility that our school offered her. She worked exceptionally hard at her academics, whilst simultaneously committing to a gruelling training schedule. We are so proud of her!”
Isabella is a true beacon of courage and commitment, proving that sports and academics are not opponents, they flourish together under the right conditions.
Written by Shannon Black
Photo: Milana Giles Photography
Photo: Milana Giles Photography
Photo: Milana Giles Photography
Photo: Milana Giles Photography
With excellent SACE-registered subject specialists as teachers, our students have the world at their fingertips. Our staff are just one email or video call away, and a student can get one-on-one tuition from their teachers should they not grasp a concept.
We follow an asynchronous teaching model, which means your child can conduct their education any place, at any pace and any time. You structure your own timetable according to your unique circumstances - for example you can fit in a rigorous sports training schedule, and adjust school times around that.
Hatfield Online School is the perfect solution for students wishing to take an extra subject that their school does not provide teaching support in. We also assist grade 12s wishing to improve their IEB marks through matric re-writes or full portfolio upgrades.
Our model raises independent and responsible students, who take ownership of their learning, and who thrive in the world after school.
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