Cape Town - Places at Cape Town schools – particularly top schools which achieve excellent results – are filling up fast for next year.
These schools have received hundreds more applications than the number of places available.
The first phase of enrolments have come to an end but another round of enrolments will be available to parents in the third term, which will begin on July 21.
Schools in the city’s metro districts are most in demand.
Shaun Simpson, the Rondebosch Boys High headmaster, said about 700 applications had been received for the 165 Grade 8 places available.
“It’s very complicated and quite daunting. There’s going to be about 1 500 unhappy people, ultimately. We look to get as many people as possible from as close to the school as possible. We look for a well-rounded individual, someone who is going to be enthusiastic and involved.”
Wynberg Girls High School principal Shirley Harding said she would receive about 600 applications for their 195 available places.
“We do fill up fast. We have a lot more applicants than we have room for. It is heart-wrenching actually, because you know they are good children.”
Jessica Shelver, spokeswoman for Education MEC Debbie Schafer, said schools were currently finalising responses to parents for the first phase of applications.
“Traditionally the top-performing schools and schools of choice in sought-after areas have been most in demand. Schools which achieve very good results can receive up to 800 or more applications for approximately 200 spaces.”
She said areas including Rondebosch, Claremont, Wynberg, Strand, Mitchells Plain, Mfuleni, Brackenfell, Durbanville, Milnerton, Parow and Paarl had experienced huge demand in previous years.
The second phase would run until September.
“In this phase, schools where spaces have not been taken will inform parents on their waiting lists or offer these to other applicants.”
She encouraged parents to apply timeously to schools.
Shelver said some schools had concluded their admission processes, but this could be confirmed only in the new term once all schools had finalised their applications.
“The Western Cape Education Department has received a few requests for assistance from parents. These are all being attended to but, since schools are closed, they can only be resolved in the new term.”
A pilot project would be launched in the new term where the details of pupils who had not been accepted at schools would be captured on an online database. The database would be available to department officials.
Cape Times