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Each province's education department decides how you apply: some provinces use an online system, and others take applications at the school. Most parents apply at the three entry points: Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 8. Each school's governing body writes its admission policy, and in practice the school decides applications under that policy; the law gives the provincial Head of Department final authority to admit a learner, and an appeal goes to the provincial MEC. Apply to more than one school, and include the school closest to your home.
When do applications open in each province?
- Eastern Cape
No dates on file: ask the department or the school
- Free StateDepartment admissions page
No dates on file: ask the department or the school
- GautengOfficial admissions site
Last window: 5 August to 4 September 2026, for the 2027 intake
- KwaZulu-Natal
Last window: 8 April to 31 August 2026, for the 2027 intake
- LimpopoOfficial admissions site
Last window: 27 July to 31 August 2026, for the 2027 intake
- Mpumalanga
Last window: 4 May to 31 August 2026, for the 2027 intake
- North West
No dates on file: ask the department or the school
- Northern CapeOfficial admissions site
Last window: 20 April to 29 May 2026, for the 2027 intake
- Western CapeOfficial admissions site
Last window: 10 March to 14 April 2026, for the 2027 intake
Dates come from each provincial education department's announcements. Provinces set new dates every year: always confirm on the department's own site before applying.
Each province announces its dates every year, usually several months before the school year starts. Where a province runs an online system, you apply on its official admissions site. The list above shows the most recent window we have on file for each province; once a window has closed, the department announces the next one. If you missed a window, contact the department or the school: some provinces, such as the Western Cape, take late applications, but on-time applications are placed first.
How old must my child be for Grade R and Grade 1?
Grade 1: children must be in Grade 1 by the year they turn seven. Some provinces, including Gauteng, also admit children who turn six by 30 June of that year, so check your province's rules. Grade R: the Schools Act allows admission from age four turning five by 30 June of the year of admission, and Grade R is compulsory from the year your child turns six. Where Grade R places are limited, children for whom it is compulsory come first, and not every school offers Grade R. A younger child may be admitted only in exceptional circumstances, with the Head of Department's approval.
What documents do I need to apply?
The Schools Act asks for the child's unabridged birth certificate and the parents' South African identity documents (and death certificates where a parent has died), with different documents where neither parent is a South African citizen. Provinces usually ask for more: the Western Cape, for example, asks for certified copies of identity documents, the child's immunisation card or Road to Health chart (for primary school), the latest school report, and proof of residence such as a rates account, lease or police affidavit. If a document is missing, apply anyway: a child without the required documents must still be allowed to attend school, and the principal must advise you how to get them.
Can a school refuse my child?
A public school may not test a child as a condition of admission. It may not refuse a child because the parent cannot pay or has not paid school fees, does not subscribe to the school's mission statement, or will not sign a contract waiving claims for damages. A school can be full, though, and each governing body's admission policy sets how places are allocated, within the law and the province's rules.
What are feeder zones?
A feeder zone is an area around a school; children whose home address is inside it get priority for a place. Whether they apply depends on the province: Gauteng uses them, while the Western Cape Education Department has declared none. In Gauteng, the admissions site shows which schools' feeder zones cover your address, and a child already in Grade R must still apply for Grade 1. Your province's admissions site explains how it ranks applications.
What if my child is refused or not placed?
If an application is refused, the Head of Department must tell you in writing and give the reason. You may appeal to the provincial MEC for Education within 14 days of receiving that notice, and the MEC must decide within 14 days of receiving your appeal. If your child has no place at all, contact your provincial education department: the Schools Act requires each province's MEC to ensure there are enough school places for every child in the province who must attend school.
Sources
- South African Schools Act 84 of 1996, sections 3 and 5, as amended by the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act 32 of 2024 (consolidated text, education.gov.za)
- Gauteng Department of Education, Grade 1 online admissions FAQ
- Western Cape Education Department, Learner Admissions FAQ (westerncape.gov.za)
- Provincial education departments' admissions announcements (dates in the table above)
Find schools to apply to
See every school near your home, with its phase, fee status, contact details and any admissions information the school has given us. Nearby schools may serve different phases or communities, so check each one offers the grade you need.
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Data sourced from the Department of Basic Education EMIS database. Read our full methodology