As the quest for the best private schools in Pretoria becomes increasingly significant—as the year passes by; so is the need to provide a resource that will allow parents and guardians the opportunity to quickly find a perfect independent school that would be best suitable for their children.
Pretoria, over the past three decades, had the majority of its institutions being government (state schools). However, that was bound to change after civilization creeps in.
In Pretoria, public schools are not automatically free to attend. While some government schools operate a “no fee system”, others may charge as little as R200 and up to R4000 per term.
Having said that, payment of school fees is quite significant for private schools across Pretoria, and South Africa at large.
Check Also: Top 10 Best Primary Schools in Pretoria
However, before we delve right into unveiling the top 10 best private schools in Pretoria, we think it might interest you to know a little, if not more, about the city.
About the city of Pretoria
For one, Pretoria is South Africa’s premier academic city, and home to four of the country’s top institutions: the University of South Africa, the University of Pretoria, Tshwane University of Technology, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Pretoria is one of three South Africa’s capital cities and the fourth richest city in the country. The city also ranks eighth among Africa’s richest cities.
With an estimated population of 2.5 million, Pretoria is not the largest city in South Africa, but in terms of education, it is simply regarded as the center for academics.
Check Also: Top 10 Cheapest Boarding Schools in Pretoria
Therefore, if you are looking for some of the leading independent schools in Pretoria to send your kids to, this article will help you find up to ten top private institutions in the city.
It is also important to know that cent percent of the schools listed on this page are private schools. And as you already know, sending your child to a private school comes at a cost.
However, not all private schools in Pretoria are expensive. Few are very affordable. But if you wouldn’t mind breaking the bank for your children’s school fees, then there are many independent schools in the city that would provide real value for the money with state-of-the-art learning facilities.
As we previously mentioned, if cash isn’t an obstacle, and you can afford any of these very high-quality private institutions, this article will come in handy. Otherwise, opt for the affordable option.
List of Top 10 Best Private Schools in Pretoria
| S/N | NAME | GRADES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SA College Private School | R-12 |
| 2 | Hatfield Christian School | R-12 |
| 3 | Michaelhouse (Pretoria) | 8-12 |
| 4 | St. Alban’s College | 8-12 |
| 5 | St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls | R-12 |
| 6 | Brooklyn Primary School (Pretoria) | R-7 |
| 7 | Amberfield College (Pretoria) | R-12 |
| 8 | CBC Mount Edmund | R-12 |
| 9 | Hilton College | 8-12 |
| 10 | St Paulus Pre-Primary & Primary School | R-7 |
Top 10 Best Private Schools in Pretoria, South Africa
1. SA College Private School
| SCHOOL TYPE | Private / Independent |
| GENDER | Co-educational |
| ENROLMENT | Approx. 552 students |
| GRADES | R – 12 |
| TELEPHONE | +27 12 326 4580 |
| info@sacps.co.za | |
| ADDRESS | Arcadia, Pretoria, 0007 |
| WEBSITE | sacps.co.za |
SA College Private School, also commonly referred to as SACPS, is a co-educational, non-denominational, private school located in the city center of Pretoria.
It was founded in 1991 and offers Weekend (Saturday) School classes to both Primary and Senior school learners at a minimal cost.
The weekend service allows students from other schools within Pretoria to attend classes throughout the year.
Over the past years, the school has eyes on 21st-century practices and aims to inculcate in its students’ qualities, which will allow them to stay on track with the rapidly changing world.
Due to its relentless efforts in nurturing and developing learners of the 21st-century, SA College Private School has consistently been named among the leading private schools in Pretoria Central.
As part of its vision to become one of the best independent schools in Pretoria, SACPS strives to maintain a 100 percent pass rate throughout the school.
2. Hatfield Christian School
| SCHOOL TYPE | Private / Independent |
| GENDER | Co-educational |
| GRADES | R – 12 |
| TELEPHONE | +27 12 361-1182 |
| admin@hatfieldcs.co.za | |
| ADDRESS | 551 January Masilela Drive Waterkloof Glen |
| WEBSITE | hatfieldcs.co.za |
Hatfield Christian School provides a Christian-focused education to learners who live in Pretoria and its suburbs.
The school is an initiative of the Hatfield Christian Church with the aim to educate children from the early learning phase up to high school.
Hatfield Christian was established in 1985 as a co-educational, independent school. Today, it is one of the leading private schools in Pretoria East.
The school, since its inception, caters to pupils from Grade 1 through to Grade 12. Presently, there are over 750 learners enrolled.
At Hatfield, the learning environment is known to be quite safe and conducive. Class sizes from the Reception up to Grade 12 are small; usually between 10 to 24 pupils in Primary School and 26 in High School.
Private High Schools in Pretoria
3. Michaelhouse (Pretoria)
| SCHOOL TYPE | Private / Independent |
| GENDER | Boys |
| GRADES | 8 – 12 |
| TELEPHONE | +27 33 234 1000 |
| info@michaelhouse.org | |
| ADDRESS | Private Bag X1, Balgowan, KwaZulu-Natal, 3275 |
| WEBSITE | michaelhouse.org |
Michaelhouse is an independent, full-boarding senior boys’ school, situated in the railroad town of Balgowan in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.
The school was established in 1896 as a private school for boys and had an initial roll of 15 students. Michaelhouse currently caters to approximately 600 boys from Grades 8 to 12.
At Michaelhouse, the years of study are referred to as blocks and range from E to A. “A block” is the equivalent of Grade 12 or Year 12 and caters to boys aged 17 and 18; while “E block” is the equivalent of Grade 8 or Year 8 and has boys aged 13 and 14.
Each Grade, from 8 to 12, has five classes with roughly 22 learners per class.
Apart from its rich history, Michaelhouse school-leavers are known to achieve excellent results in the Independent Examinations Board exams.
4. St. Alban’s College
| SCHOOL TYPE | Private / Independent |
| GENDER | Boys |
| SCHOOL FEES | R155,100 – R272,850 per annum. |
| GRADES | 8 – 12 |
| TELEPHONE | +27 12 348 1221 |
| secretary@stalbanscollege.com | |
| ADDRESS | 110 Clearwater Road, Lynnwood Glen, Pretoria |
| WEBSITE | stalbanscollege.com |
Founded in 1963 with a total of 37 boys and three staff. St Alban’s College has grown exponentially for the past few years.
Today, it has a student body of approximately 590 boys, with 60 teachers. Since 2008, students at St Alban’s College undertake examinations set by the Independent Examination Board of South Africa.
St Alban’s College, as part of its mission, nurtures and develops every child to become innovative, independent learners and critical thinkers who want to make a difference.
As a private school, St Alban’s strives to help every student to become the very best they can be.
St Alban’s accepts applications from all nooks and crannies of Pretoria and beyond. Like most private schools in Pretoria, there is a non-refundable application fee of R500 paid by all applicants.
Visit the school website for more information about the school fee structure and some other information.
Private Primary Schools in Pretoria
5. St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls
| SCHOOL TYPE | Private / Independent |
| GENDER | Girls |
| SCHOOL FEES | R126 900 – R138 000 per annum. |
| GRADES | R – 12 |
| TELEPHONE | +27 12 366 0501, +27 12 366 0500 |
| reception@stmarys.pta.school.za | |
| ADDRESS | Duxbury Rd, Hillcrest, Pretoria |
| WEBSITE | stmarys.pta.school.za |
St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls is an independent, denominational, junior, and high school for girls. It was founded in 1879, with 20 pupils on the register.
As of this writing, the school has grown to serve over 1,000 learners from Grade 8 to Grade 12 in an inclusive and stimulating learning environment.
St Mary’s isn’t just an independent school—it also has boarding facilities that are capable to accommodates more than 200 students from the age of 10.
The school demonstrates all the qualities required from a top-performing private school.
As an all-girls institution, the school strives to ensure that learners are provided with a safe and inspiring atmosphere to learn and thrive.
6. Brooklyn Primary School (Pretoria)
| SCHOOL TYPE | Private / Independent |
| GENDER | Co-educational |
| GRADES | R – 7 |
| TELEPHONE | +27 12 460 3238 |
| head.pa@brooklynprimary.co.za | |
| ADDRESS | 279 Murray St, Brooklyn, Pretoria, 0011 |
| WEBSITE | brooklynprimary.co.za |
Brooklyn Primary School aims to provide facilities for and encourage students to take part in its many academic and extracurricular activities, including sports, music, drama, etc.
Since its establishment as an independent, co-educational primary school, Brooklyn Primary has provided quality education to children from Early Learning up to Grade 7.
Brooklyn Primary pride itself as an “institution of academic excellence“. Presently, the school boasts of approximately 960 learners and caters to pupils from Grade R (Reception) through to Grade 7.
Brooklyn Primary is widely known for its exemplary academic performance year-in-year-out. For the past few years, Brooklyn Primary has always ranked among the leading primary schools in Pretoria.
Top Independent Schools in Pretoria
7. Amberfield College (Pretoria)
| SCHOOL TYPE | Private / Independent |
| GENDER | Co-educational |
| GRADES | R – 12 |
| TELEPHONE | 012 534 3344 |
| info@amberfieldcollege.co.za | |
| ADDRESS | 4810 Amampondo Street, Rooihuiskraal North x 46, Centurion |
| WEBSITE | amberfieldcollege.co.za |
Amberfield College is one of 13 schools administered by Royal Schools. It is located at Amampondo Street, Rooihuiskraal North, Centurion, and caters to learners from Reception to Grade 12.
Although it’s originally situated in Centurion (15 km / 9 miles from Pretoria), many of its students come from Pretoria.
And, like many private schools in Pretoria, Amberfield College offers a more affordable option to families who lives within, and outside of Pretoria.
Although the College is relatively new, established around 2019. However, it still offers a world-class education in a state-of-the-art learning environment.
In order to facilitate students’ development, every classroom has a data projector, laptop, and internet connection.
As of this time, Amberfield has an enrolment of over 807 students. In addition to its huge student roll, the College is registered with the Gauteng Department of Education.
8. CBC Mount Edmund
| SCHOOL TYPE | Private / Independent |
| TUITION FEE | R37,955 – R88,435 per annum. |
| GENDER | Co-educational |
| GRADES | R – 12 |
| TELEPHONE | 012 804 1801 |
| info@cbcpretoria.co.za | |
| ADDRESS | c/o Cussonia and Pretoria Str, Silverton, Weavind Park, 0127 |
| WEBSITE | cbcmountedmund.co.za |
CBC Mount Edmund is an independent school situated in the Administrative Capital of South Africa. It was founded in 1922 as an English medium Catholic School to provide quality education for pupils in Grade RRR up to Grade 12.
The College is not a single-gender institution. Therefore, it accepts students of all gender (both boys and girls) into the school.
As a College, however, CBC Mount Edmund is divided into three schools: Pre School (Little Mount), Primary School (Foundation Phase & Intermediate Phase), and High School.
At CBC, every child is treated equally and is nurtured in a safe, supportive, and respectful teaching and learning environment that promotes their wellbeing.
CBC Mount Edmund is a school with a long Christian tradition, and also remains committed to ensuring that every child is supported to achieve their God-given potential.
9. Hilton College
| SCHOOL TYPE | Private / Independent |
| TUITION FEE | R321 890 per annum. |
| GENDER | Boys |
| GRADES | 8 – 12 |
| TELEPHONE | +27 33 383 0100 |
| ADDRESS | College Avenue, Hilton, 3245 |
| WEBSITE | hiltoncollege.com |
From learning a musical instrument, singing in choirs performing in plays, and discovering beauty in fine art, there are a plethora of opportunities to explore at Hilton College.
As an independent secondary school, the College emphasizes providing the best education to learners. Like many other private schools in Pretoria, Hilton College is unique and stands out in many ways.
Although, an all-boys college, the school necessitates the need to nurture and develop the whole male child who will embrace and conquer future challenges.
With the rapid changes in the science and technology sphere, Hilton College is actively integrating 21st-century subjects into its already robust and challenging curriculum.
10. St Paulus Pre-Primary & Primary School
| SCHOOL TYPE | Private / Independent |
| GENDER | Co-educational |
| SCHOOL FEE | R65 890 per annum |
| GRADES | R – 7 |
| TELEPHONE | 012 804-9670 |
| stpaulusadmin@stpaulus.co.za | |
| ADDRESS | 23 Boekenhout St, Brummeria, Pretoria, 0184 |
| WEBSITE | tpaulus.co.za |
St Paulus Pre-Primary & Primary School is an independent Catholic, co-educational school. It caters to pupils from Reception up to Grade 7.
However, because of its relatively small school roll, pupils’ well-being remains a top priority. From the early stage of the academic journey, every student is made to embrace technology—from the use of technological innovations to the development of critical thinking and social awareness.
St Paulus is a fee-paying private institution. However, the tuition fee payable per student varies from Grade to Grade.
To ease off the burden that comes with the payment of school fees, St Paulus allows parents the opportunity to disburse payments per month for 11 months.
The annual school fee at St Paulus is R65 890. However, payment can also be made in installments, and that is R5 990 per month x 11 = R65 890 per annum.
If you need more information about the school fee structure or perhaps other related information, kindly visit the school website.
List of Other Private Schools in Pretoria
| S/N | NAME | GRADES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pro-Ed | 8-12 |
| 2 | Royal School Princess Park | R-12 |
| 3 | Royal School Queens Private | R-12 |
| 4 | Lynnwood Privaatskool (LPS) | 4-7 |
| 5 | Maragon Olympus Schools | 1-12 |
| 6 | Moot Christian Academy | 3-12 |
| 7 | Courtney | R-12 |
| 8 | Reddford House The Hills | R-12 |
| 9 | Loreto Convent School | R-12 |
| 10 | Empower Christian Academy | R-7 |
| 11 | SPARK Schools | R-12 |
| 12 | Curro Academy Pretoria High School | 8-12 |
| 13 | Crawford International Pretoria | 1-12 |
| 14 | Loreto School Queenswood | R-7 |
| 15 | Pretium Private Schools | R-12 |
| 16 | Tyger Valley College | R-12 |
Final Thoughts
Public and private schools are two different types of schools. A private school also referred to as an Independent, non-governmental, or non-state school, is an academic institution that is independent of its governance and finances.
Payment of tuition and other fees, such as uniforms, books, transportation, etc., is mandatory in all the private schools in Pretoria.
Depending on what you want your child to achieve at the end of the day, a private school might probably be the answer.
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