Archie Velile Senior Secondary School
Dimbaza, Eastern Cape 303 m
81.7% matric 2025Public high school
Richard Varha Senior Secondary School
Dimbaza, Eastern Cape
Richard Varha Senior Secondary School is a public high school in Dimbaza, Eastern Cape, in the Buffalo City education district. The Department of Basic Education classifies it as a secondary school with a technical specialisation. In 2025 it had 1 132 learners and 38 educators, about 29.8 learners per educator. That makes it larger than the average for public high schools in Eastern Cape (703 learners). It is a quintile 3 school, meaning it serves the middle 20% of communities according to the national poverty ranking. It is a no-fee school, so parents do not pay school fees. As a Section 21 school, its governing body manages part of its own budget. In the 2025 matric exams, 59.7% of its 248 candidates passed (Eastern Cape average: 84.2%).
Matric (NSC) results
59.7% of the school's 248 matric candidates passed in 2025, below the Eastern Cape average of 84.2%.
| Year | Wrote | Passed | Pass rate | Eastern Cape |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 166 | 129 | 77.7% | 81.5% |
| 2024 | 223 | 163 | 73.1% | 85.1% |
| 2025 | 248 | 148 | 59.7% | 84.2% |
Source: Department of Basic Education, 2025 NSC School Performance Report. Pass rate = candidates who achieved the NSC ÷ candidates who wrote. It doesn't show bachelor passes, distinctions or learners who left before Grade 12.
School facts
| School type | Public high school |
|---|---|
| Phase (DBE) | Secondary School |
| Specialisation | Technical |
| Sector | Public |
| Quintile | 3 of 5 (what is this?) |
| School fees | No-fee school |
| Section 21 | Yes |
| Learners (2025) | 1 132 |
| Educators (2025) | 38 |
| Learners per educator | 29.8 (province average 32.2) Fewer learners per educator than 73% of 379 similar schools |
| Urban or rural | Urban |
| EMIS number | 200200730 |
| Exam centre number | 4321080 |
Address and location
| Street address | 3569 Thembisa Location,dimbaza,5671 |
|---|---|
| Postal address | P.O. Box 147, Dimbaza, 5671 |
| Town | Dimbaza |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| Education district | Buffalo City |
| Municipality | Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality |
| Former department | Ciskei |
Admissions
Applications for Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 8 at public schools in Eastern Cape open the year before your child starts school. Contact the school for its application form and dates. Read our guide on applying for Grade 1 and Grade 8.
Questions about Richard Varha Senior Secondary School
Is Richard Varha Senior Secondary School a public or private school?
Richard Varha Senior Secondary School is a public high school.
Does Richard Varha Senior Secondary School charge school fees?
It is a no-fee school, so parents do not pay school fees. It is a quintile 3 school.
What is Richard Varha Senior Secondary School's matric pass rate?
59.7% of its 248 candidates passed the 2025 NSC exams, against 84.2% for Eastern Cape. Earlier years: 2023 77.7%, 2024 73.1%.
How many learners are at Richard Varha Senior Secondary School?
1 132 learners and 38 educators (about 29.8 learners per educator) in 2025. That is fewer learners per educator than 73% of 379 similar schools in Eastern Cape.
What is the EMIS number of Richard Varha Senior Secondary School?
Its EMIS number is 200200730. Its exam centre number is 4321080.
Where is Richard Varha Senior Secondary School?
3569 Thembisa Location,dimbaza,5671. It is in Dimbaza, Eastern Cape, in the Buffalo City education district. Phone 040 656 2221.
Schools near Richard Varha Senior Secondary School
Masikhanyise Primary School
Dimbaza, King Williams Town, Eastern Cape 303 m
Ezikweni Junior Primary School
Pirie, King Williams Town, Eastern Cape 672 m
Nomhle Junior Primary School
King Williams Town, Eastern Cape 853 m
Dimbaza Central Secondary School
Dimbaza, Eastern Cape 1.1 km
75.0% matric 2025Nyibiba Primary School
Dimbaza, King Williams Town, Eastern Cape 1.4 km
Kuyasa Senior Secondary School
Dimbaza, King Williams Town, Eastern Cape 1.6 km
79.2% matric 2025Metele Primary School
King Williams Town, Eastern Cape 1.7 km
Mamata Primary School
King Williams Town, Eastern Cape 2.0 km
Source: DBE EMIS School Masterlist, Quarter 3 of 2025. Details can change; please confirm with the school.