Curro has announced the appointment of seasoned educator and leader Phillipa Erasmus as the new executive head of Woodhill College in Pretoria East.
Phillipa Erasmus, Executive Head of Curro Select Woodhill College
Erasmus officially stepped into the role at the Curro Select school on 1 July 2026, bringing decades of educational experience, institutional leadership, and multiple national awards to the campus.
She previously spent eight years as principal of Pretoria High School for Girls, her alma mater, where she led a turnaround that saw student applications consistently exceed the school’s capacity.
Her career in education began in 1985 as a Mathematics teacher. She later advanced to head of department and senior deputy principal at Carleton Jones High School, where she managed a mining-sponsored Centre of Excellence for Mathematics, Physical Science, and English. Following this, she served as deputy principal and head of boarding at Cornwall Hill College.
Erasmus was recognised with National Teachers Awards for excellence in teaching and leadership in 2002, 2005, and 2006. She has also served as president of the South African Girls’ Schools Association since 2021.
In her new role at Woodhill College, Erasmus plans to build on the school's existing strengths and foster a stronger sense of belonging across all phases, from age 3 to Grade 12. Working alongside staff, her strategy includes bringing the different phases of the school closer together and expanding Woodhill's arts offering — spanning drama, design, music, and dance — to reinforce its position as a preferred school for local families.
Erasmus views teaching as far more than delivering a curriculum, noting that her motivation has always been the opportunity to influence young minds and help students shape their lives to find their niche and succeed.
Her approach to leadership centers on mentorship, lifelong learning, and listening, driven by the belief that every team member has something to offer and that good ideas can come from anyone. Her advice to young teachers is to find a trusted mentor to offer new perspectives, urging them not to hold back.
