Find out the timings of the academic year and school day in South Africa...

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
For the public school calendar: Click here

Independent (private) schools may have a slightly different calendar, while many international schools follow a three-term format.

For guidelines on the independent schools calendars: Click here

The school day typically starts at 08:00 but may start as early as 07:00 in the summer in the northern provinces. Schools which start early finish early too, usually around 13:00 for the lower grade and between 14:00 and 15:00 for the higher grades. Some schools provide a school bus service.

Many schools have good facilities for sports with these being practiced after school hours.

School uniform is compulsory at all state and most private schools; many state schools have a policy of using a simple, universal uniform available at discount supermarkets.

Schools with a primary and secondary division may be described as "combined". Schools admitting boys and girls are described as "co-ed".

Some private schools have a specific religious affiliation.