Principal's Welcome
Welcome to John Mackenzie Primary School! Our motto, "The Best I Can," reflects our commitment to nurturing every child’s potential. At John Mackenzie, we focus on academic excellence, building self-confidence, and developing strong character in a safe, inclusive environment.
We believe in high expectations, kindness, and care to help students succeed and exceed their goals. Our dedicated team works closely with parents and the community to support the holistic development of each child.
We’re excited about the future and invite you to explore our website to learn more about what makes our school special.
Mr. Pieter Langeveldt, Principal
Our History
The school was founded in 1899 when Reverend Nelson Fogarty of the Railway Mission became anxious to start schools in Plumtree, Francistown and Palaype. He envisaged about 12 children at each station and considered it “terrible to think that there are about 120 children on the railway line growing up without any education whatsoever.” His wish for a teacher was realized with the arrival of Mr. Edgar Lloyd from the UK in 1899. Mr. Lloyd started his school in the church hall, later to become St. Patrick’s Church, on August 16th 1899 with two children and by September 28th, the number had increased to twelve.
The school changed its name from Francistown European School to that of John Mackenzie School in 1958, in honour of the first Deputy Commissioner of Bechuanaland, an area north of the then Cape Province and south of the Molopo River. He was a missionary with the London Missionary Society and was largely responsible for Bechuanaland becoming a Protectorate.
Our Vision and Mission
Vision - To continue being a leader in education, empowering our students to realise their full potential and adapting our services to meet the needs of a global marketplace.
Mission - As a leader in Private Education in Northern Botswana, we empower our students, our parents and our community by providing a holistic approach to learning, knowledge and civic engagement; facilitating an environment for all students to achieve their academic and career goals while realising their full potential
