How to apply for your child’s school online
The rankings are subject to the availability of space in the school and parents should understand that living closer to the school does not entitle a person to automatic admission.
To make an application, parents should click on ‘Apply for 2020’ and follow the prompts through the three-step process, namely:
Step 1 – Enter Parent/Legal Guardian Details
Step 2 – Enter Learner Details
Step 3 – Apply to a School.
The applicant will be able to view among others, the amendments to the Admissions Regulations, Terms and Conditions and School Feeder Zones on the online system.
At the same time, applicants can choose to listen to and view a step-by-step video tutorial and/or read a step-by-step user guide.
Parents can also visit the nearest public school, district admissions centre, a community library or community centre for assistance to apply online.
These walk-in centres will assist parents that are not comfortable with using computers, lack access to internet facilities or do not have adequate data.
Trained officials will assist parents in these centres.
Also read: Here is a look at some of the Kwatsaduza Grade Ones
When applying online, parents have a choice to submit a maximum of five applications using the following options:
Option 1: Home Address: the place of residence closest to the school within the feeder zone. The system will generate waiting list reference WA1.
Option 2: Sibling – applicant has a sibling attending the school. This does not apply if the sibling is currently in Grade Seven or Grade 12 in a secondary school. Reference number WA2 will be generated by the system.
Option 3: Work Address – the place of employment of at least one of the parents within the feeder zone of the school. A waiting list reference WA3 will be generated by the system.
Option 4: 30km radius – the applicant resides within 30km radius of the school. Waiting list reference number WA4 will be generated by the system.
Option 5: Beyond 30km radius – applicant resides over 30km radius of the school. The system will generate reference number WB.
Parents or applicants with children in Grade R in the current school should also apply online.
Applications for Grade Eight in Schools of Focused Learning or Schools of Specialisation should also be made online.
The system will show all schools and applicant/parent will choose the relevant school and reference number WA6 will be generated.
The learner will however be subjected to additional pre-qualification tests at the relevant school, for instance attend an audition at the arts school or write a test.
Applications for boarding schools should also be made online. However, the applicant/parent must apply directly to the school for boarding or accommodation.
Applications for Grade Eight monastic or girls only/boys only schools should also be done online.
Previous/current school will not be available as an Application Option. However, all Grade Eight applicants will indicate their current school.
The system will measure the distance from the child’s current primary school to the closest secondary school.
If the parent has applied to the secondary school closest to the current primary school, the system will place applicant at that secondary school.
Once the application is complete online, the applicant or parent will receive an SMS notification with a relevant reference number.
For this reason, applicants and parents are urged to use their own valid cellphone number or email address.
All communication with the parent regarding username, password and waiting list reference number, will be conducted through the supplied cellphone number or email address.
Applicants are advised not to use the details of the internet cafés when completing the application. Parents are urged to store the login details and reference number in a safe place.
Applicants and parents should submit the following documents to the school within seven working days:
- Certified copy of ID of the parent/legal guardian or a sworn affidavit in case parent/legal guardian does not have an ID. Non-South African citizens should submit certified copy of passport, valid visa or temporary/permanent residence permit/asylum seeker or refugee permit.
- Proof of home address.
- Certified copy of child’s birth certificate. Unabridged birth certificates are not required. Non-South African citizens should submit a study permit/visa or child’s asylum/refugee permit.
- Clinic Immunisation Card if applying for Grade One. Non-South Africans are also required to submit proof of immunisation.
- Current school academic report and transfer if applying for Grade Eight.
- Proof of sibling relationship where sibling option is used.
Upon submission of documents, parents must sign a register to indicate that documents were submitted and receive a confirmation of submission of documents receipt.
Any falsified or incorrect information/documentation provided may result in an application being rejected and/or disqualified.
In case none of the documents are available the school will accept the learner provisionally, however, the parent must submit proof to the school within two weeks that they have applied for the documentation.
Placement process
Placement of learners by the department will take place between August 27 to September 20.
Parents/applicants will receive SMS notification of successful and unsuccessful application to the school.
They have an obligation to accept or reject the placement offer within seven days.
If a parent fails to accept or reject offer of placement within the given period, such a parent will forfeit the offer and it will be given to the next person on the queue.
Spaces in schools are not unlimited and are subject to how many learners currently in the school progress to the next grade.
As such, placement will be conducted on a first-come-first serve basis and on the following prioritisation:
- Home address closest to school within feeder zone.
- Sibling at the school.
- Work address within feeder zone.
- Home address within 30km.
- Home address is beyond 30km of the school.
The rankings are subject to the availability of space in the school and parents should understand that living closer to the school does not entitle a person to automatic admission.
Placement will depend on the time the application was made and availability of space in the school.
