Overview
Sophumelela Secondary School is a public secondary school (Grades 8–12) located in Philippi, City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. It currently enrols 1,646 learners and is staffed by 49 educators (a learner-to-educator ratio of approximately 34:1), and is officially classified as a no-fee school under Q3. It falls within the Metro South education district and achieved a strong 2025 NSC matric pass rate of 89.4% (244 of 273 candidates).
Sophumelela Secondary School Matric Performance
Since 2023, Sophumelela Secondary School has improved, moving from a 69.9% pass rate to 89.4% in 2025, the most recent year, 273 learners sat the exam.
| Year | Wrote | Achieved | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 273 | 244 | 89.4% |
| 2024 | 210 | 185 | 88.1% |
| 2023 | 289 | 202 | 69.9% |
Source: 2025 NSC School Performance Report (DBE). Centre: SOPHUMELELA SEC (1006635).
Subject pass rates
Sophumelela Secondary School offered 7 subjects at NSC level in 2025, achieving an overall subject pass rate of 90.3%. English (FAL) performed strongest at 99.6%, while Mathematics was the weakest at 70.3%.
| Subject | Wrote | Achieved | 2025 pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 91 | 64 |
70.3%
|
| Mathematical Literacy | 183 | 170 |
92.9%
|
| Physical Sciences | 92 | 72 |
78.3%
|
| Life Sciences | 164 | 141 |
86.0%
|
| English (FAL) | 275 | 274 |
99.6%
|
| Business Studies | 182 | 164 |
90.1%
|
| Geography | 275 | 254 |
92.4%
|
Benchmark against nearby schools
Compared with 7 other secondary schools in Philippi.
Sophumelela Secondary School's 2025 pass rate is 5.4 percentage points above the average for comparable schools in the area.
School fees
Sophumelela Secondary School charges no tuition fees. Plan instead for uniforms, stationery, transport and outings.
Public secondary school (Grades 8–12); fees regulated by the SA Schools Act.
Fee questions
How much are school fees at Sophumelela Secondary School for 2027?
Tuition at Sophumelela Secondary School for the 2027 academic year is R0; the school is officially classified as no-fee (Q3) by the Department of Basic Education in the Metro South district. Parents may still need to cover uniform and stationery costs; phone 021 200 0994 for specifics.
Is Sophumelela Secondary School a no-fee school?
Yes, Sophumelela Secondary School is officially a no-fee school (Q3), recognised as such by the Department of Basic Education in the Metro South district. No tuition is charged to any of its 1,646 learners.
What is the quintile of Sophumelela Secondary School and what does it mean for fees?
Classified as Q3 by the Department of Basic Education, Sophumelela Secondary School falls within the no-fee category, meaning the 1,646 learners attending here in Philippi, Weltevreden Valley North 1, Western Cape pay no school fees.
How to apply
To enrol your child at Sophumelela Secondary School, families in Western Cape apply via the WCED Online Admissions online system, with confirmation handled by Sophumelela Secondary School. The exact Grade 8 (and other grade transfers) process in the Metro South education district is summarised below.
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1
Confirm availability with Sophumelela Secondary School
Call 021 200 0994 to confirm whether Sophumelela Secondary School has open places for the year you're applying.
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2
Start the application
Register on the WCED Online Admissions portal when applications open and select Sophumelela Secondary School as a preferred school.
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3
Submit your documents
Upload all required documents to the WCED Online Admissions portal before the published cut-off and keep your reference number.
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4
Pay any required deposits or fees
Sophumelela Secondary School is a no-fee school (Q3), so no tuition is payable. Budget for uniforms and stationery.
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5
Confirm placement and enrol
Check your WCED Online Admissions dashboard for the placement outcome. If accepted, complete on-site registration at Sophumelela Secondary School.
- Certified copy of the learner's birth certificate or ID
- Certified copies of both parents'/guardians' South African IDs (or passport/permit for non-citizens)
- Proof of residence (utility bill not older than 3 months)
- Latest school report
- Immunisation card / clinic card (especially for Grade R / Grade 1)
- Most recent end-of-year report from the previous school
- Transfer letter from the previous school (for Grade 8+ transfers)
Admissions questions
How do I apply to Sophumelela Secondary School for the next school year?
To apply to Sophumelela Secondary School for the next academic year, register on the WCED Online Admissions portal during the official admission window and select Sophumelela Secondary School as a preferred school. WCED Online Admissions for Grade 1 and Grade 8 typically opens in March/April of the preceding year. For confirmation of available places, contact Sophumelela Secondary School via phone 021 200 0994.
What documents do I need to apply at Sophumelela Secondary School?
Sophumelela Secondary School requires the following documents for admission: • Certified copy of the learner's birth certificate or ID • Certified copies of both parents'/guardians' South African IDs (or passport/permit for non-citizens) • Proof of residence (utility bill not older than 3 months) • Latest school report • Immunisation card / clinic card (especially for Grade R / Grade 1) Contact Sophumelela Secondary School (phone 021 200 0994) for any school-specific requirements and to verify what must be uploaded to the WCED Online Admissions.