IB World Schools in South Africa

Are you looking for an International Baccalaureate World School in South Africa? Here you can find a list of schools that have a profile in the IB World Schools Yearbook.

The schools featured below offer at least one of the IB's four programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP). You can use the search filter below to look for schools that offer one programme in particular.

South Africa has made steady progress towards the United Nations development goal of universal primary education since apartheid was abolished in 1991. Just four per cent of primary age children were not at school by 2011 and only seven per cent failed to complete primary education, according to UNESCO. 

State schools receive grants from the government but also charge fees, with exemptions for children from the poorest families. There is a large, English-medium independent school sector, comprising religious, non-profit and for-profit organisations, with some schools also receiving public subsidies.

It includes more than 30 international schools offering the curriculums of the UK, the US, France, Germany and the International Baccalaureate Office as well as Waldorf and Montessori systems. There are 12 IB World Schools, three of which are authorised to teach the IB Diploma programme. 

Education in South Africa is compulsory for nine years from age seven to 15. The state system has a four-year foundation stage including a non-compulsory reception class, followed by intermediate and senior stages of three years each.  

A further three years of study leading to the National Senior Certificate is optional. Gross secondary enrolment was 99 per cent in 2014, but the government has come under fire over standards after 25 per cent of students failed the 2016 school leaving exam. 

IB World Schools are part of a thriving international school sector in South Africa. For information on all international schools, you can visit: www.internationalschoolsearch.com