Foundation Phase- The foundation phase encompasses several grades from Grade R to 3. Junior Primary Schools in South Africa offer foundation phase education and are compulsory. Pupils are taught to read, write, and calculate in their language and begin to learn other languages.
- Age : 6-9 years
- Grade : Grade 0 or R to Grade 3
- Duration of study : 4 years
- Primary Languages : English
- Terms : 4 semesters/ terms
- Admission Term : Beginning of the term- January.
What is foundation phase education?
Foundation phase education encompasses grades from grade R to grade 3 and is compulsory but not offered in all schools. Some schools offer education from the 1st grade to grade 3. The Foundation phase forms the basis of primary education as that is where students learn the basics of the language, mathematics, technology, life skills, and more. It is a very crucial stage in a child’s life.
The Foundation phase of Education in South Africa focuses on subjects including home language, an additional language, mathematics, and life skills. An additional official language subject is introduced in grade one. Students can expect to spend between 23-25 hours per week in the classroom. This is where students learn how to read, write, and calculate, among other things. In some instances, foundation phase education is referred to as lower primary education
Grade R in South Africa
Grade R programs are appropriate for 5 to 6 year-olds. It plays a key role in a child's educational development because it focuses on helping children take crucial steps towards independence while teaching them vital social skills. Through grade R, students develop relevant skills including creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, flexibility, and communication, to mention but a few. Grade R is compulsory in south African education but not all schools offer it so students have to obtain grade R at various pre-schools. The grade R curriculum focuses on language, mathematics, life skills, technology, arts, and culture.
Why grade R?
“A lack of pre-primary education prior to starting Grade 1 could put children at a disadvantage that they may never fully regain" -Unicef (2019). Students must be enrolled in pre-primary education as it gives them an easier transition into mainstream education. They are taught important numeracy and literary skills. Most students who progress from grade R do not struggle in grade 1 as most students who have no grade R history. Grade R teaches children fundamental skills including numbers, letter formation, reading, writing, spelling, counting, adding, and subtracting which form the basis for their continuing education. Students become familiar with a school environment and way of doing things.
prospective students
South African schools have an open admission policy and it is relatively easy to obtain a place for your child to study. Pre-schools in south Africa usually open around 8.30 am to 9 am and close around 5 pm to 6 pm. When applying to enroll your child in a preschool in South Africa, parents/ guardians must provide the following documentation:
- student’s birth certificate and residence permit
- Immunization card
- School report and transfer card from the previous school
- If the child does not have South African citizenship, the parent or guardian must acquire a study permit and present it along with the application
Fees and extras
Grade R schools can cost anywhere between R8000 and R20 000 per year for public schools and around R30 000 to R70 000 for private schools.
Examples of International Foundation phase schools in South Africa
Ruimsig Montessori School
This is an international school located in Ruimsig. Thes school offers a Montessori curriculum. The school as a whole offers education for grades 000 up to grade 12. The lower primary school here offers education for grades 1 to 3, for children aged 6 to 9 years.
- Established: 2011
- Location: Ruimsig, South Africa
- Duration: 3 years
- Levels: grade 1 to 3
- Ages: 6-9 years.
The school aims to produce students with an innate desire for learning, which in turn facilitates independent, capable students with no need for reward. The school ensures that students are enriched with knowledge, encouraged to ask, research, and discover the world independently but with guidance from teachers in specific areas.
Lower primary school students enjoy a variety of sports activities including volleyball, netball, soccer, cricket, softball, mini sports, athletics, and golf, to mention but a few. Other extracurricular activities that students can take part in include yoga, music, drama, chess, hip hop dancing, and Ukulele lessons, to mention but a few.
Alma Mater International School
This is a private, co-educational international school located in Johannesburg. The school aims to develop well-rounded students who are specifically groomed to excel at any level. It offers an internationally recognized curriculum. The school aims to produce students who are disciplined, focused, engaged, innovative, confident, determined, and passionate.
- Location: 1 Coronation Street, Krugersdorp, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Established: 1998
- Type: Private
The school offers primary education from grade 1 to 6 and here children are taught in a variety of areas including digital literacy, English, mathematics, art and design, physical education, and music.
Why Alma Mater International School?
The school is internationally recognized and instills very good qualities and sober values within children. Here are some of the reasons why you should enroll your child here.
Exposure- the school exposes students to education and activities that develop their skills, enhance physical development, good posture, and encourages students to explore and discover things and the world around them.
Teamwork- students here are taught teamwork through a variety of activities and social interaction.
Growth- the school offers a unique environment and activities and programs that stimulate growth.
Competition- the school promotes healthy competition that teaches students to succeed and also can accept failure or defeat and to grow from it.
Sports- the school offers a variety of sports codes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which include Soccer, Rugby, Cricket, Netball, Athletics, Cross Country, Swimming, Outdoor Gym, and Chess, to mention but a few.
Tuition and fees
Parents or guardians at the school can expect to pay the following as fees and extra costs:
The American International School of Johannesburg
This is an inclusive, diverse, non-discriminatory American international school located in Johannesburg and serving students from more than 110 nationalities. Education and teaching here accommodate the diverse needs of expatriate students and embraces diversity and differences to support student's individual learning needs. Primary Students here are educated in areas including literacy, numeracy, science, world languages, information literacy, service learning, integrated technology, social studies, physical education, arts, and physical education, to mention but a few. The school has campuses in Johannesburg and Pretoria. The school uses the American grading system and formal education starts from Kindergarten to the 12th grade.
- Established: 1982
- Grades: K-12
- Location: Bryanston, Johannesburg
- Terms: 4
- Membership: International Schools of Southern and Eastern Africa (ISSEA)
The school offers a nurturing learning environment, smaller classes, and a wide range of teaching strategies that aim to provide optimal learning opportunities for all students.
Sports and extracurricular activities- the school offers a variety of sports and extracurricular activities including Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis, Swimming, Track and Field events, Cross Country, Golf, Equestrian, Rugby, Performing Arts, Band and Choir, Art, and Drama, to mention but a few.
Admissions
RocApply acknowledges that the choice of school is one of the most important aspects of moving internationally and hence will strive to make the process as seamless as possible. T be admitted to the school you will need to meet several requirements. Studying in South Africa requires foreigners or ex-pats to have a visa.
Required documents include:
- A Passport copy
- Student visa/ study permit
- Application fee of R4000
- birth certificate applicant
- passport photos of both parents
- passport photos of the student
- School reports or transcripts from the previous school (if one is a transfer student
- Any other evaluations including speech, language, and educational psychological evaluations if requested.
- vaccination records or the AISJ Medical Vaccination form completed by a certified medical practitioner.
Tuition and fees
A non-refundable holding deposit of US$ 2 500 or R 40 000 must be paid by students to secure a place.
Grade USD Rand
Elementary K - 5 $ 25 198 R 403 168
Middle School 6 - 8 $ 29 443 R 471 088
Choosing to study here will be one of the best decisions one can make as it offers a unique international education that allows students to grow in a global context.
INTERMEDIATE PHASE EDUCATION.
The intermediate phase of education is also referred to as Senior Primary School. Here children learn to develop their practical skills and deepen the knowledge gained at the foundation phase. The intermediate curriculum includes a home language, an additional national language, mathematics, natural science and technology, social sciences, life sciences, physical education, to mention but a few. Students in this intermediate phase attend classes 27.5 hours per week. In the intermediate phase, more technical and academic skills are introduced in the curriculum.
- Age: 9-12 years
- Grades: 4-6
- Duration: 3 years
- Primary Languages: English
- Terms : 4 terms
- Admission Term: Beginning of the term- January.
There are a variety of schools that offer intermediate phase education. Some schools combine both the foundation phase and intermediate phase and offer grade 1 to the 6th r seventh grade. Let's take a look at some of the schools that offer intermediate phase education.
Star College
This is an Independent, English Medium School located in Durbanville. This school follows a local curriculum from the Department of Education. The school offers education for Grades RR to Grade 7 for boys and girls, and Grade 8 to Grade 12 for boys only. The school aims to produce academically strong students, who are confident, bold, analytical thinkers and ethical leaders in their society, empowered with relevant academic skills. The school embraces multi-culturalism, diversity, and universal morals to bring out the best students.
- Founded: 2012
- Location: Willow Glen, Pretoria East
- Grades: R- 12th grade
- Language of instruction: English
application Requirements
- completed application registration form
- 1 x identity photo of learner
- 2 x certified copies of unabridged birth certificate with parents’ details or proof of application of birth certificate.
- latest school report
- transfer card
- certified copies of both parents I.D. documents
- latest payslips of both parents (local)
- clinic card of learner
- proof of residence
- proof of employment for both parents or guardian
- proof of bank account for account payee (with an official bank stamp)
- copy of current school’s latest account statement
- study permit (for all foreign students)
Academics at the college focus on English, Mathematics, Science and Computer Technology, to mention but a few. Students in the intermediate phase are exposed to different opportunities and subjects, to prepare them for entry into high school. The school has 2 classes in each Intermediate Phase Grade, catering for up to 24 students in each class.
The school’s language of instruction is English and potential applicants will have to be well versed in English. The school offers a variety of sports codes that students may choose from. These include Cricket, soccer, volleyball, Basketball, Tennis, Netball, Karate, Hockey, and Chess
Extracurricular activities include Additional Maths, Chess, Environmental Club, Olympiad Training, Robotics, Saturday Tuition, Science Exhibitions, Art Club, Camps, Excursions, Choir, and Music, to mention but a few.
Tuition and fees
2021 fees at the school is as flows:
Grade Pre-primary Primary:
Grade RR (4 - 5 years) R43 900 per annum n/a
Grade R (5 -6 years) R48 520 per annum n/a
Grades 1-3 n/a R51 900 per annum
Grades 4-7 n/a R53 350 per annum
Lonehill International Academy
This is a contemporary and independent Cambridge International school, which offers education from Early Learning to grade 13 or AS level. The school has over the past 10 years built a strong reputation of excellence, enabling students to grow and develop with confidence and independence. It is a school that offers diversity and enterprise and a contemporary learning structure. The school's curriculum offers teaching in the areas of English, mathematics, science, ICT, and Cambridge Global Perspectives.
- Established: 2006
- Location: The Junxion Centre, William Nicol Drive, Fourways, Sandton 2055
- Grades: RR- grade 13( Advanced level)
- Accreditation: Gauteng Department of Education
- Membership: Association of Cambridge Educators in Southern Africa (ACESA)
The school aims to offer students Advanced skills and preparedness for the best opportunities, confidence, critical thinking skills, innovation, responsibility, and to produce students who are well ready to face and solve issues in a globalized context.
Tuition and fees
First-time students are expected to pay a non-refundable, once-off administration levy of R3 000.
Level/ grade Fees per Annum monthly Installments-11 months
Grade 1, 2, 3 and 4 R76 945 R6 995
Grade 5, 6 and 7 R81 345 R7 395
Why Lonehill?
Lonehill offers a ripe environment for international excellence. The school produces students who are globally prepared. The school offers an international curriculum that offers students opportunities to continue studies in other internationally recognized institutions. Students are equipped with critical thinking skills, who are decision-makers, leaders, and in a safe environment.
Chesterhouse International School
Chesterhouse International School is a school in Durbanville, Cape Town. The school offers education from Early years education to grade 12. It enrolls students from the age of 4 to the age of 18 when the students matriculate. The Junior school section exposes students to the British International Curriculum combined with the South African educational systems to develop an internationally recognized curriculum.
The curriculum is broad and focuses on areas including Literacy, Numeracy, Science, Music, Drama, Art, Computer Studies, History, Geography, Life Skills, Design and Technology, Physical Education, and Religious Education, to mention but a few. French and Afrikaan are introduced as in year 3and 5 respectively. The school offers opportunities for students to showcase their prowess and excel by allowing them to participate in the national Olympiads.
The school offers core curriculum clinic programs for children from the 3rd year to the 7th year. These Core Curriculum clinics are offered to offer assistance for students for English, Afrikaans, Mathematics, and Science, for no extra fee.
Harvest Christian School
It is a Christian-centered international school that aims to train and educate students in a biblical worldview for growth, excellence, and influence. The school partners with Harvest Church and strives to provide an excellent, Christ-Centered, and holistic education.
- Location: Port Elizabeth
- Address: 83 Albert Road, Walmer, PE, 6001
- Language of instruction: English
- Enrollment: 500+
- Terms: 4
- Levels: Grade R to 12
The primary school section at Harvest School aims to create a strong academic foundation that incorporates Christian values and the national curriculum. The rich curriculum includes Life and Faith Studies, Arts and Culture Education, Music, Design and Technology, Physical Education, Media Studies, and Remedial Tuition, to mention but a few. The school offers a holistic educational experience that incorporates sport, cultural activities, and outreach. The students also get specialized attention from the teacher as there is a low student-teacher ratio.
Prospective students
Prospective students should note several things while applying to Harvest Christian School. The following must accompany an application form:
- non-refundable Application Fee of R500
- A certified copy of the student’s birth certificate
- Copies of the student’s latest two school reports
- Pastor’s reference
- School reference
- Reports of any medical conditions or Therapist report
- 1 passport Photo
The application can only proceed to the interview stage when all of the required documentation and fee have been received. This however does not guarantee the candidate will be granted an interview. Admission to the school is subject to available space and if there are no spaces, the school will notify the candidate. Once the applicant has received a preliminary letter of acceptance, a non-refundable admission fee of R1750 is payable per student to secure a place in the grade applied for.
