kˈɔːɹdwɔlz pɹɪpˈæɹətˌoːɹi skˈuːl wʌz fˈaʊndᵻd baɪ bˈɪʃəp sˈæmjuːl bˈeɪnz ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛlv wɛn mˈaɪkəlhˌaʊs mˈuːvd fɹʌm pˈaɪəɾɚmˌæɹɪtsbˌɜːɡ tə bˈælɡaʊən ænd nˈiːdɪŋ ɐ pɹɪpˈæɹətˌoːɹi skˈuːl ʌv ɪts ˈoʊn tʊ ɛnʃˈʊɹ ɪts fjˈuːtʃɚɹ ɛnɹˈoʊlmənt.
Cordwalles Preparatory School was founded by Bishop Samuel Baines in 1912 when Michaelhouse moved from Pietermaritzburg to Balgowan and needing a preparatory school of its own to ensure its future enrolment.