How to apply for Grade 1 and Grade 8 at a public school
Most public schools in South Africa take new learners in three entry grades: Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 8. Applications open in the year before your child starts, so a child starting Grade 1 in January 2028 is applied for during 2027. Dates are set by each provincial education department and change every year, so check your province's announcement early.
Online or at the school?
Gauteng and the Western Cape run online admission systems for public schools. In Gauteng, applications go through the Gauteng Department of Education's online admissions portal in phases, and you are usually offered a place within the feeder zone around your home or work address. In the Western Cape, the WCED online admissions system lets you apply to several schools at once.
In the other provinces you normally apply directly to each school, using its own application form. Ask the school's office when it opens applications and whether it holds an open day.
Documents you will need
- Your child's birth certificate (or passport or study permit for foreign learners)
- Your child's immunisation record (Road to Health booklet) for Grade R and Grade 1
- Your ID and proof of residence, such as a municipal account or lease
- Proof of work address if you apply based on where you work
- The latest school report, and a transfer card when moving from another school (Grade 8 and other transfers)
Certified copies are usually enough. A school may not refuse to admit a child only because a document is missing, but it can give you time to provide it.
Age rules
National admission policy links the entry grades to age. Children usually start Grade R in the year they turn six and Grade 1 in the year they turn seven. Provinces can allow some younger learners in, typically if they reach the required age by 30 June of the school year. Ask your province or the school how it applies the rule, especially if your child's birthday is in the second half of the year.
How public schools decide
Public schools may not test children for admission or turn them away because parents cannot pay fees. Placement normally gives priority to learners who live in the school's feeder zone, then those whose parent works nearby, and siblings of current learners. Each school's governing body sets an admission policy within provincial rules, and you can ask to see it.
If your child is not placed
You have the right to appeal a refusal to the provincial head of department. The school or district office must tell you why your child was not admitted and how to appeal. Keep copies of every application and response.
Shortlisting schools
Use schools near me to find the closest schools to your home and work, then open each school's page for its phone number, quintile, fee status and size. You can add up to four schools to compare side by side.