John Mackenzie School

John Mackenzie School (JMS) has a proud history dating back to 1899, when Reverend Nelson Fogarty of the Railway Mission recognised the urgent need for education in Francistown and helped establish the Francistown European School.

The school began humbly, in a church hall with just two children, but quickly grew into the first school in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. Despite closures and hardships in its early years, the school endured with the support of dedicated teachers, clergy, and the community.

In 1958, the school was renamed in honour of John Mackenzie, a Scottish missionary and tireless advocate for the rights of the Tswana people, whose vision helped shape Bechuanaland’s history. His name continues to inspire the school’s commitment to integrity, justice, and education for the common good.

Today, over a century later, JMS is a thriving co-educational independent school and proud member of ISAB. We honour our history while embracing the present: preparing students not just for examinations, but for life.

Recent milestones highlight this journey of growth:

• In 2024, we opened Mackenzie House, our boarding facility, creating a true home-away-from-home for students from across Botswana and beyond.
• The same year, our community voted for our school mascot, the Blue Rhino – a symbol of strength, resilience, and wildlife conservation. Our passion for protecting rhinos and the environment is woven into student life through various awareness campaigns and projects.
• We launched our Alumni Association, which has quickly become a vibrant network. Alumni return to mentor current students, sponsor initiatives, and serve as guests of honour at Prize Giving, strengthening ties across generations of JMS learners.

As a modern school, we are committed to digital safety, responsible use of social media, and protecting the dignity and wellbeing of every student. These values guide our practice in an age of new opportunities and new challenges.

At the heart of JMS lies a simple philosophy: to do the best we can, each day, for every student in our care. We believe education succeeds when each learner is supported to achieve their personal best, whether in the classroom, on the sports field, on stage, or in service to the community.

Rooted in history yet looking forward in vision, JMS stands as a school that cares deeply for its students, staff, and community. We remain proud of our place in Botswana’s story, while preparing young people to take their own place in the world with courage, compassion, and excellence.