Hockey | Gold for Western Cape: High School Head contributes to provincial hockey victory

Cape Town, South Africa – Reddam House Constantia Executive Head Alex Gitlin has returned from the Western Cape Masters inter-provincial hockey tournament with a gold medal, having helped take the provincial side to an unbeaten run of five consecutive victories in the national tournament held in August. The Western Cape side delivered an outstanding display of teamwork and resilience, with Alex describing the final as “more of a challenge than expected,” yet ultimately secured through hard work, adaptability, and cohesion on the field.

This gold medal is more than just a personal milestone. It reflects Alex’s long-standing belief that sport and leadership go hand in hand, and that personal excellence outside the classroom enriches one’s impact inside it.

Alex, who also coaches Reddam House Constantia’s first team boys’ hockey, has built a school culture that values balance, integrity and ambition. “Playing hockey is my space, where I can be removed from other responsibilities; a space that challenges me to stay fit and present,” he says. “It also allows me to model what I ask of my students: to show up, stay prepared, and keep learning.”

Originally from the UK, Alex studied at the Universities of Nottingham and Cambridge before launching his teaching career. After relocating to South Africa, he held senior leadership roles in schools across Johannesburg and White River before joining Reddam House Constantia. He credits his sporting background – including school-level rugby, hockey and athletics – for shaping his collaborative, team-based approach to leadership.

“Sport has always given me energy and clarity,” he explains. “Leadership should be distributed and aligned – just like a good hockey team, where everyone has a role and a shared game plan.”

The Western Cape Masters hockey team

This year, Alex’s Reddam House Constantia boys’ first hockey team achieved impressive success, marking the culmination of a five-year development plan launched in 2020. “Our goals were clear: return to the premier league, build a lasting sporting culture, earn respect in our local community, and, most importantly, create young men of character through sport,” he says. “Our formula was – and is – simple: Passion + Plan + Time.”

With 11 Matrics in the team who have played together since Grade 8, the 2025 season brought those goals to life. Alex says: “I have the privilege of leading a group of young men that I look forward to being led by as they assume their own future leadership roles.”

Reddam House Constantia now fields premier league teams across all sporting codes, and Alex believes this holistic excellence strengthens the school’s academic and cultural performance too.

Alex is a vocal advocate of the integrated value of sport in education, citing both research and experience. He explains: “Sport is a pillar of our philosophy because it builds physiological robustness, psychological wellness, academic performance and social connections. It also develops spatial awareness, which helps us achieve critical thinking.” He continues: “My proudest moments as a coach aren’t the wins – they’re seeing the players grow into the kind of leaders South Africa needs to solve its problems.”

Reddam House Constantia is not only excelling on the sports field. The school achieved a 96% bachelor pass rate in the 2024 IEB exams and was the top-performing Inspired Education Group school in mathematics nationally. “There is space for excellence in both academics and sport – and in the arts too,” Alex notes. “Get the right people leading an exciting challenge, and a few good people can change the world.”

His advice to students and colleagues alike: “Get involved, stay involved, and help build something of value. What the school is and will become, and who we are and will become, is a result of our daily action.” Alex’s vision for Reddam House sport is to keep growing participation, maintain competitive excellence, and instil lifelong habits of wellness, friendship and character.

Commenting on Alex’s achievement, Ravi Nadasen, CEO of Inspired Education Group Africa & the Middle East, says: “Alex embodies what Inspired leadership is all about – leading from the front, staying actively involved in the development of students, and pursuing excellence both professionally and personally. His contribution to sport at Reddam House Constantia is a powerful example of how our schools nurture character, discipline and teamwork alongside academic achievement. We are extremely proud of his gold medal victory and the values it represents for the entire group.”

Alex concludes: “My thanks to the Inspired Education Group for allowing me to explore my passion – and to continue growing both personally and professionally.”