This compelling vision of the school and the expertise of the staff led to a steep growth in applications since 2018. Just over 60 applications were received for the 60 Grade 8 places in 2018. More than 120 applications were received for the 64 Grade 8 places of 2019 and more that 300 applications were received in 2024. With this growing demand, parents need to understand that the admissions process is complicated and one of the school’s most difficult tasks. Parents are requested to have patience and understanding for the school’s process. The reality is that most learners who apply cannot get placement at the school.

• Complete the application form (hard copy) that is available at the school office or that can be printed from the website. If the application is for grade 8, the final report for Grade 6 must be included.  Applications for other grades, must include the applicants most recent final report.  All application forms must accompany a parent or guardian’s copy of their ID. In the case of learners with foreign passports, please also include a copy of the study permit.

OR

• Complete the online application form.  Grade 8 applicants must upload a copy of their final Grade 6 report card.  Applicants for other grades must upload their most recent November report.  A copy of the ID of at least one parent or guardian must also be uploaded. In the case of learners with foreign passports, please also upload a copy of the study permit.

The general admissions procedure for the Grade 8 group of 2026 is outlined below. Parents and learners are encouraged to send their applications as soon as possible.  Communication from the school will follow thereafter.

February 2025: Application forms available online and at school. Applications open.
Date to be confirmed (March 2025): Open Day for Calling Academy Stellenbosch at 17:30. Grade 7 learners and parents are welcome to attend. Grade 7’s are encouraged to wear their primary school’s uniforms, but it is not required. Please note that attendance of the open day does not affect the outcome of an application.
30 May 2025: Applications close, but late applications will be considered.
June 2025: First group of learners informed of placement and interviews to take place.
End of July or early August 2025: Learners are informed in which group they are:

• Group 1: Placement without interview and entrance tests
• Group 2: Learner must come for an interview and entrance tests
• Group 3: Not placed

July to August 2025: Interview and entrance tests to continue where applicable
July to November 2025: Learners informed of placement.
September to December 2025: Accepted learners to pay R 500 deposit. This forms part of the school fee for 2026 and is not an extra amount.

The school has a formal admissions policy that is updated regularly. Briefly it reflects :

• Academic and character potential are the main considerations for placement. The academic reports of learners and a possible entrance exam and interview is used to ascertain the learner’s academic potential. Primary schools are contacted for a confidential character report on the applicant.
• The school is located in Circuit 10 (Stellenbosch) of the Cape Winelands and may give preference to learners from that area.
• The maximum class size is 32 in Grade 8 and 9, but the school may decide to deviate from this.
• The school is under no compulsion to accept a learner, even if there is space in the school.
• If the applicant has a brother at the school, this will count in favour of that application.
• Learners may not be denied placement in the school based on race, religious beliefs or physical disability.

The applications are processed by the school’s receptionist, Mrs Prudence Gabriels. The school principal and deputy principal assume joint responsibility for the placement of the learners. They may involve other members of staff to assist with judgement in borderline cases. The principal and deputy principal are accountable to the Board of Directors of Calling Education NPC in executing the Admissions Policy of the school.

Parents may contact the school office to inquire information regarding the progress of their child’s application or why their child’s application was declined. Parents, however, need to understand that places are limited and that those responsible for admissions, follow a thorough and sensitive process. The school undertakes to remain as objective as possible and maintains the right to admit learners according to its own judgement, within the confines of the guidelines as set out above in the Admissions Policy. Parents may also lodge a written appeal to the school to reconsider the application. Parents of learners who were not accepted will be notified if a position for their child should open. Such learners are welcome to re-apply for the ensuing calendar year.

Calling Academy relies heavily on the government subsidy from the Western Cape Education Department and parents to pay their school fees. Apart from those two revenue streams, the school uses private funding in the form of learner partnerships and other funding to deliver the high-quality education it has become known for.

The school fee for 2025 is R 7 680 per learner (R640 per month). The 2026 school fee has not been finalised but will see a minor increase from the current fee. A R 500 deposit must be paid in the year preceding the year of admission. This R500 is not a separate registration amount and counts as part of the school fee payment. The R500 deposit should only be paid if a learner is accepted into the school and not as part of the application process.

The balance of the school fee can be paid in one of the following ways:

• A once-off payment before 1 March. There is no discount available for choosing this payment option.
• Monthly payment by stoporder, cash or EFT for 10 months.
• Monthly payment by stoporder, cash or EFT for 12 months.
• Termly payment(3 monthly) by stoporder, cash or EFT.

Payment method:

• Parents are requested to pay by EFT or stoporder. Cash deposits into the school bank account are discouraged because of the cash handling fees that the school incurs.
• Cash payments at the school office are not preferred but can be accepted should parents not be able to pay by EFT.

Take further note that:

• Seeing that the school has already raised significant private funding to ensure that all learners only must pay a low fee, there are no further bursaries available.
• The school can provide parents with a letter to assist them to raise the school fees for their son.
• The school has a very basic feeding scheme consisting of porridge (first break) and bread (second break) with no extra cost involved.
• Textbooks are not provided by the school. Parents need to purchase them from the school and take good care of them with the prospect of re-selling.
• The cost of the school uniform is excluded from the school fees.
• Transport for school activities and the activities themselves are included in the school fee. In the case of an extraordinary tour or event, parents may be required to cover their own costs.
• The tablets that the school provides are kept at school.

School and registration fees need to be paid into the following account. No school or registration fees may be paid before a learner has been admitted to the school. Donations should not be paid to the following account.

Calling Education NPC
First National Bank
Branch: Stellenbosch
Branch code: 250655 / 200610
Account number: 6257 8933 824
Reference: Family Code Name & Surname of learner SF (for school fees)/TB (for textbooks)/UNI (for Uniform)

NOTE: Do not simply use “School fees” or “Calling Academy” as reference as it is not possible to allocate such payments to the learner’s account.