Uplands Preparatory School has been in existence for more than 80 years. From its humble beginnings the school has grown to become one of the most prestigious preparatory schools in South Africa.

A settlement for ex-Boer War servicemen was established in White River by Lord Milner in 1909. This development was doomed to failure, but was resurrected as the White River Estates after the First World War in 1919. As settlers, many of them British citizens, flocked to the area, the idea of a private English medium school in White River was conceived. Miss Matilda Fuller, a newcomer to the area and a well-qualified and experienced teacher, was approached to assist. She opened her home to the first six pupils in 1928. Miss Fuller's Homestead School flourished and grew, until, in 1946, on the retirement of its founder and namesake, it moved to the Uplands Estate, which had been purchased from the estate of the late Mr WA Webster, and changed its name to Uplands School.

From the early beginnings with Miss Fuller, the school has been nurtured over the years by a succession of heads - Miss Ogilvie, Miss Moll, Mr Gillatt, Reverend Driver, Mr Walmsley, Mr Thorpe, Mr Innes and Mr Sloane. Having celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2003, Uplands under the headmastership of Mr Gavin Sinclair, now expands further to include Grade 00 and Grade 000.