The school academic year starts mid-January and ends early December.
The year is normally split into 4 terms:
Term 1: mid-January to late March/early April (10-day break)
Term 2: early April to mid-June (3-week break)
Term 3: early July to late September (10-day break)
Term 4: beginning of October to early December
See our School Holiday Calendar
The term independent school is often used interchangeably with private school. There is an impression that high-fee private schools make up most of the sector. This is not the case. This is a fast-growing and diverse sector in which there are all categories of schools emerging.
South Africa's school calendar may change to limit disruptions caused by public holidays.
Amendments had been proposed to the national policy for determining school calendars for public schools, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said in a notice published in the Government Gazette.
The notice came after consultation with the council of education ministers.
Interested parties and organisations have until February 28 to submit their comments.
In essence, the changes call for a school year of about 200 days, divided, as far as possible, into four terms of equal schooling days of 50 days per term.
However, for educational reasons, it was deemed desirable that the third term be longer than the fourth term.
