There is an allure to sending your child to a private school in South Africa because of the perception that these schools provide superior education.
Due to their greater funding, private schools are often able to provide smaller class sizes, more individual attention, and access to highly qualified teachers. Their matric results reflected these differences, with the IEB confirming a pass rate of 98.42% in 2022, up from 98.39% in 2021.
For 2022, the Department of Basic Education has released final National Senior Certificate results showing an 80.1% pass rate, an increase of 3.7 percentage points. St. John’s College, Hilton, and St Benedict’s College ranked among the top three independent boys’ schools.
A 100% pass rate was recorded by St John’s College with 3.1 distinctions per student. With 2.43 and 2.41 distinctions per candidate, Hilton College and St Benedict’s College achieved 99% bachelor’s passes.
In comparison, Roedean, St Mary’s Waverly, and St Andrew’s Senderwood were the top three girls’ schools. In total, all three candidates achieved a 100% bachelor’s pass with 3.58 distinctions, 4.64 distinctions, and 3.26 distinctions. Director of Inyanda Capital, Chulumanco Macingwane, has compiled a comparative list of the top IEB achievers listed below.
The top Boys Schools
1. St John’s College
- 100% BP, 3.1 distinctions per candidate;
- 38% of the class achieved an 80% average; and
- 11% of candidates had five or more subjects in the top 5% in the IEB (making the IEB Outstanding Achievement and commendable achievements lists).
2. Hilton College
- 99% BP, 2.43 distinctions per candidate; and
- 15% of candidates achieved six distinctions or more.
3. St Benedict’s College
- 99% BP, 2.41 distinctions per candidate; and
- 23% of the class achieved an 80% average.
4. Michaelhouse School
- 2.3 distinctions per candidate;
- 22% of the class achieved an 80% average; and
- 8% of the class achieved six distinctions or more.
5. St David’s Inanda
- 93% BP, 2.13 distinctions per candidate; and
- 17% of the class achieved six or more distinctions.
6. Kearsney College
- 98% BP, two distinctions per candidate; and
- 26% of the class got an 80% average.
7. St Stithians Boys College
- 99% BP, 1.7 distinctions per candidate;
- 6% of the class achieved six distinctions or more.
8. St Alban’s College
- 97% BP, 1.6 distinctions per candidate, and
- 11% of candidates got six or more distinctions.
9. St Andrew’s College
- 98% BP, 1.5 distinctions per candidate; and
- 2% of the class achieved six or more distinctions.
The top girls’ schools
1. Roedean
- 100% BP, 4.64 distinctions per candidate; and
- 39% of the class achieved six or more distinctions.
2. St Mary’s Waverly
- 100% BP, 3.58 distinctions per candidate;
- 44% of the class achieved an 80% average; and
- 29% of the class achieved six or more distinctions.
3. St Andrew’s Senderwood
- 100% BP, 3.26 distinctions per candidate;
- 23% of the class achieved six or more distinctions.
4. Kingsmead College
- 100% BP, 3.23 distinctions per candidate;
- 29% of the class achieved six or more distinctions.
5. Brescia
- 100% BP, 3.2 distinctions per candidate;
- 20% of the class achieved six or more distinctions.
6. St Stithians Girls College
- 99% BP, 3.03 distinctions per candidate;
- 20% of the class achieved six or more distinctions.
7. St Mary’s DSG Kloof
- 98% BP, 3.03 distinctions per candidate; and
- 20% of the class achieved six or more distinctions
8. St Anne’s Diocesan College
- 98% BP, 3.02 distinctions per candidate; and
- 11% of the class achieved seven distinctions.
9. Maris Stella
- 98% BP, and 8% of the class achieved six or more distinctions.
10. Epworth
- 96% BP, 2.74 distinctions per candidate; and
- 13% of the class achieved six or more distinctions.