The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) announced that late online applications for Grade R, 1 and 8 for the 2026 school year will close on Friday (16 May).
“The on-time admissions window for Grade R, 1 or 8 in 2026 closed on 15 April 2025, but the online admissions system has remained open for late applications” says Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the WCED.
“So far, we have received late applications for 8 603 learners for these grades, bringing the total number of learners applied for thus far to 173 872. The online system will close on Friday, 16 May 2025, so we encourage any parent who still needs to apply to do so urgently. After this date, late applications will need to be submitted at education district offices or schools.”
According to Hammond late applications will only be considered by schools after the applications received during the on-time window have been considered. She pleads with parents to apply, if they haven’t done so already.
“It helps us to plan better if additional school places are required.”
Parents who have applied on-time will start to receive offers of acceptance from schools from 30 May, which needs to be accepted by 17 June.
“The most important thing that parents can do now before the outcomes are available is to ensure that they update the department if their contact details change. Every year, we face challenges with parents who are uncontactable when an offer is available for their child, so we urge parents to assist us by providing accurate details. Parentscan contact the WCED call centre on 0861 819 919 (press 1 for admissions) to make the necessary changes to their contact details.”
Hammond added the online window for transfer applications for Grade 2 to 7 and Grade 9 to 12 will open on 4 August and close on 18 August.
For more information on how to apply online visit https://www.westerncape.gov.za/education/service/learner-admissions.
