Expensive schools in South Africa
If public schools aren’t your thing and money is no problem, you could send your kid to one of the most prestigious, private schools in South Africa. There’s a reason why private schools are expensive, the programs that most of these schools offer are ridiculously expensive as well.
Some of the popular reasons why parents look at private school as an education option for their children include smaller classes and superb facilities. However, there are other important reasons why families choose to send their children to private schools.
Most parents want their children to have as much personal attention as possible. After all, you spent enormous amounts of time nurturing them when they were infants. If you can make it happen, you want them to receive as much individual attention as possible in school as well.
Some are even more expensive than college!
Private school Pros
- Private schools often have a more challenging academic curriculum
- Some are religious based schools and can provide regular religious classes
- Private schools have the benefit of much smaller classes so teachers can give better individual attention
- Private schools often have better access to resources like books, supplies and computers
- Discipline in private schools is usually a lot stricter. If there are children that disrupt classes or ignore rules, they are more likely to be expelled from the school
- Private schools are more traditional. This teaches pupils to value traditions and uphold these beliefs
- Children that attend private schools often have a more established network after school through the alumni association
Whether you’re here for serious consideration or to laugh at how expensive these primary schools are, here are the most expensive schools in South Africa!
African Leadership Academy, Johannesburg
The African Leadership Academy (ALA) is a residential, secondary institution located in the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is dedicated to 16 to 19-year-olds from Africa and the rest of the world.
Founded in 2004 by Fred Swaniker, Chris Bradford, Peter Mombaur, and Acha Leke, officially opened in September 2008 with an inaugural class of 97 students.
African Leadership Academy seeks to transform Africa by identifying, developing, and connecting the next generation of African leaders. To achieve this goal, ALA teaches a two-year curriculum in African Studies and Entrepreneurial Leadership, as well as the usual academic core subjects.
The cost to study at the African Leadership Academy is steep at R412, 000 per year – all inclusive, placing it as not only the most expensive school in South Africa, but also one of the most expensive schools in Africa.
Hilton College, KwaZulu-Natal
Hilton College, more commonly referred to as Hilton, is a South African private boarding school for boys located near the town of Hilton in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and is situated on a 1,762 ha (4,350 acre) estate that includes a 550 ha (1,400 acre) wildlife reserve.
Hilton College was founded in 1872 by Gould Arthur Lucas and Reverend William Orde Newnham as a non-denominational Christian boys school. It follows English public school tradition and is a full boarding school, which means all pupils live at the school, and is one of only two such remaining single-sex boys’ schools (the other being Michaelhouse) to continue this practice in South Africa.
The Hilton College fees for 2019 are R298 600 per annum.
This fee covers tuition, food and board, games, minor medical attention, the use of the sanatorium, library and laundry. It includes core curriculum based activities inclusive of sports.
Michaelhouse, KwaZulu-Natal
Michaelhouse, the Anglican Diocesan College of Natal, was founded in 1896 and is a South African boarding school for senior boys with an international reputation. Situated on a secure estate in the beautiful Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, the school has fully residential staffs which facilitate a high level of pastoral care and interaction with the pupils.
Michaelhouse is a school of established heritage with an innate respect for the individual. It is this long held tradition that distinguishes Michaelhouse from other senior boys’ schools. Michaelhouse is a boarding school for boys set amongst the rolling green hills of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in South Africa, providing secondary education from E Block (Grade 8) to A Block (Grade 12).
The Michaelhouse fees for 2019 are R 284 000 per annum
Roedean School for Girls, Johannesburg
Roedean (SA) was founded in 1903 as a sister school to the esteemed Roedean in Brighton, England. Armed with “the most modern ideals for the education of girls”, Theresa Lawrence and Katherine Margaret Earle set sail for South Africa at the turn of the last century and began their school, complete with 22 pupils, in a small house in Johannesburg.
“Inspiring a Life of Significance”, is a philosophy our community ascribes to and they believe that every child deserves the freedom to make her own unique mark on the world…whatever that may be.
The Roedean approach is a child-centred one; they counsel, guide and nurture each girl offering her the skills, confidence, and determination to reach her full potential in every sphere of her life thus empowering her to define her own success.
The Roedean fees for 2019 are R R 270 006 per annum
St Andrew’s College, Grahamstown
St Andrew’s College is an innovative independent school that embraces new frontiers. This premium Anglican boarding school caters for over 450 pupils from across the globe. From Grade 8 to Matric, pupils experience individual attention with a focus on fostering individual talent.
The school is passionate about ensuring that each boy is schooled for life, develops character and strives to reach his full potential. The school motto is Nec Aspera Terrent (Difficulties do not dismay us) – this ideal of fearless acceptance of challenge sums up what the school aims to instil in its pupils as preparation for future life
Besides the boarding and tuition fees, extra charges to pupil accounts average:
College: R 9 235 per term or R 27 705 per annum
Senior Prep: R 4 625 per term or R 13 875 per annum
Junior Prep Boarders: R 1 955 per term or R 5 865 per annum
Junior Prep and Pre-Primary: R 615 per term or R 1 845 per annum
Kearnsney College, KwaZulu-Natal
Kearsney College is a private boarding school for boys in Botha’s Hill, a small town between the provincial capital of Pietermaritzburg and Durban, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
Kearsney College has enjoyed a 100% pass rate for over a decade with over 80% of the boys receiving an A, B or C aggregate and a quarter receiving A aggregates. With small classes, excellent staff, and SMART board technology in more than half the classrooms, the school offers exceptional education.
The boys learn English, Afrikaans, and Zulu. Mandarin was introduced to the curriculum in 2006. “If China is going to be at the centre of global business, we want to provide students with the tools to operate in a global economy dominated by China,” says headmaster Elwyn van den Aardweg.
The school believes that participation in sport is vital for personal development. All boys are encouraged to become a part of at least one club.
The Kearsney College fees for 2019 are R 259 600per annum
Bishops Diocesan College, Rondebosch
The Diocesan School of the Diocese of Cape Town – for boys only, normal in those times – was established in 1849 by Bishop Robert Gray, and opened its doors in Maynier’s Cottage in the grounds of the Bishop’s residence, Protea, now called Bishopscourt.
Bishops is an independent boys’ school in Rondebosch, Cape Town, made up of a Pre-preparatory school, a Preparatory school and the College. At present, there are 110 teaching staff and 1350 pupils from Grade R (4-year olds) to Grade 12 (18 year olds). At the heart of what Bishops offers is a commitment to a values-driven education that prepares the boys for life beyond school, and inspiring them to realise their dreams.
The Bishops fees for 2019 are R 259 620 per annum
| School | 2018 | 2019 | Change |
| Hilton | R 276 560 | R 298 600 | 8.00% |
| MichaelHouse | R 265 680 | R 284 000 | 6.90% |
| Roedean School for Girls | R 252 341 | R 270 006 | 7.00% |
| St Andrew’s College, Grahamstown | R 252 990 | R 271 965 | 7.50% |
| Kearsney College | R 242 220 | R 259 600 | 7.20% |
| Bishops, Rondebosch | R 240 380 | R 259 620 | 8.00% |
| St John’s College | R 227 815 | R 259 620 | 8% |
| St Mary’s, Waverley | R 234 540 | R 254 345 | 8.4% |
| St Stithians | R 232 640 | R 247 765 | 6.5% |
| St Alban’s College | R 229 410 | R 247 650 | 8% |
| St Martin’s | R 232 120 | R 244 500 | 5.3% |
| Kingswood College | R 221 370 | R 240 735 | 8.7% |
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