Schools in the southern suburbs shone in the 2023 matric exams despite the challenges of rolling blackouts and taxi strikes.
Cannons Creek Independent School held on to the 100% pass rate it has maintained since opening in 1999. And all of the school’s 35 matriculants scored a Bachelor’s pass.
“We are delighted with the outstanding results achieved by the class of 2023, and they are to be commended on their commitment and level of application in their final year,” said principal Angus Morton.
Jenna Hendricks, Thomas Kabalin, Anna Kannemeyer, and Timothy Sparks achieved a full-house of distinctions. Thomas was the school’s top pupil with a 95.9% aggregate. Advising this year’s matrics on how to tackle the year ahead, he said, “Start studying early, but be careful of burnout because it’s a very long year and there are lots of exams, so you are going to be tired.”
St George’s Grammar School scored its second 100% matric pass in a row. Top matriculant Ammarah Daniels scored six distinctions and plans to study chemical engineering at UCT.
“I put in the effort, and I think the marks reflect what I did,” she said.
Other top performers were Mbala Joseph, Nunyah Salie, Mi’chael Roman and Nina Erasmus.
Principal Julian Cameron said the matrics had shown “great resilience and commitment” in completing their studies. “We are proud of each and every one for their perseverance, courage and determination to succeed.”
Other schools that made the 100% club include Herschel Girls, Rosebank Progress College, Rustenberg Girls’ High School, SACS, Seven Steps Academy for the Deaf, Star College, St Joseph’s College and Westerford High School.
Schools just narrowly missing out are Bishops with 99.4%, Islamia College with 99.2%, Pinelands High School with 98.9%, Rondebosch Boys’ with 99.4%, Sans Souci Girls’ High School with 98.5%, Trafalgar Secondary School with 97.2% and Vista Nova High School with 96.7%.
Three Pinelands High School pupils, Sarah Parker (seven A’s) Joseph Gibbon (nine A’s) and Samuel Tucker (eight A’s) passed with over 90% while another 17 pupils passed with over an 80% aggregate.
The National Senior Certificate results were released on Friday January 18 with the Western Cape achieving a 81.54% pass rate, which is an increase of 0.1% from the 2022 class. The province follows Free State (89%), KwaZulu-Natal (86.4%), Gauteng (85.4%) and North West (81.6%).
Education MEC David Maynier said: “Every single one of our 50 520 candidates who passed met the requirements to access higher education, with 26 182 candidates (42.2%) qualifying with a Bachelor’s pass to attend university, our highest number of Bachelor’s passes ever.”
Mr Maynier said the province achieved the top maths pass rate, at 75.4%, and the top physical science pass rate, at 82.2%.
“These are critical subjects for the national and provincial economy, so we are pleased to see improvements in both compared to 2022,” he said.
Mr Maynier has also praised the province’s second highest distinctions rate, with 24 982 subject distinctions.
“This is an incredible achievement considering the events of 2023, including a devastating minibus taxi strike and an illegal blockade of learner transport in Khayelitsha, two massive floods, and ongoing crippling load shedding.”
