Preparing for School | Western Cape Government

Preparing for School

Admission Policy for Ordinary Public Schools

(Notice) (File type: pdf; size: 33.31 KB)Department of Education (National) (The Government of South Africa)
This document outlines the policy for admitting learners to ordinary public schools, including how old learners should be in the first year of school, who is responsible for registering learners to a particular schools, rules governing access to schooling including non-citizens and learners with special needs. The policy also explains what documents parents require to register their children with a school or where to apply for their child to be taught at home.

Admissions to Schools

(Service)
Children usually start Grade R in the year that the child turns 6. Early childhood development assists learners to cope better later in their school careers. Compulsory school-going age (Grade 1) is 7 years in the year that the child is in Grade 1. When you apply at a school to have your child enrolled, you need to have:

Age Requirements For Admission To An Ordinary Public School

(Notice) (File type: pdf; size: 101.59 KB)Department of Education (National) (The Government of South Africa)

Find a School Near You

(Service)
The Western Cape Education Department maintains a database of schools and centres in the Province. You can search this database by: School name. Language of instruction. Suburb or town. Education district. Type of school (primary etc). Subjects offered (Grades 8 to12). Special centres (art, music etc).

Gear up for the 2018 school year

(Public Information)
Officials of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) are working closely with schools to accommodate thousands of learners still looking for places in schools in the province.

Rights and Responsibilities of Parents - A Public School Policy Guide

(Public Information)
Most commonly asked questions by parents on the education of their school-going children - The South African Schools Act of 1996 requires all children between the ages of seven and 15 to attend school. Parents and guardians must make sure that all learners of this age are registered to go to school. As a parent, your relationship with the school starts on the day that you decide to register your child with a particular school. This relationship is defined by a set of rights and responsibility towards the school.

School Fees and Fee Exemptions

(Public Information)
This document provides information on how school fees are set and what parents need to do if they are unable to pay their child's school fees.

School-Readiness Testing

(Service)
Children usually start Grade 1 in the year in which they turn seven. Children who will be turning six during the year can start school if they are shown to be ready for school.   The Western Cape Department of Education (WCED) has developed a screening test for younger children to find out whether they are ready for school. The department used this test for the first time in 2002. The Education Management and Development Centres (EMDCs) manage the assessment process.