School Calendar for 2025: Plan Ahead for the Year
Parents can mark important dates, teachers can set schedules, and learners can look ahead at what’s coming.
With the matric results now behind us (see which Cape Flats schools came out on top in terms of pass rate), the focus shifts to the school year ahead. The Western Cape school calendar for 2025 is ready. The year is organised into four terms with breaks in between. Public holidays are spread throughout and will influence school timetables. Events like exams, sports tournaments, and cultural activities will be scheduled within these terms. Schools will set their own specific dates, but the main structure is in place.
The year will be busy, and knowing what’s ahead helps to keep track of important dates.
What are the term dates in the school calendar for 2025?
In South Africa, teachers typically start the school year a few days earlier than students for administrative and preparatory tasks. The school year ends for teachers slightly later to allow for tasks such as grading and administrative wrap-up.
| Term | Opens | Closes | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | 13 January (For Teachers) 15 January (For Learners) | 28 March | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Second | 8 April | 27 June | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third | 22 July | 3 October | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fourth | 13 October | 10 December 2 (For Teachers) 12 December (For Learners) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Public Holidays In 2025
The school holiday schedule includes 9 public holiday days off, plus an extra day because Freedom Day is on a Sunday. There will also be a special mid-term holiday week from April 28th to May 2nd when students can enjoy a nice long break.
| Date | Event | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2025 | New Year’s Day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 March 2025 | Human Rights Day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 April 2025 | Good Friday | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 April 2025 | Family Day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 April 2025 | Freedom Day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 April 2025 | Public Holiday | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 April 2025 | School Holiday | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 April 2025 | School Holiday | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 May 2025 | Workers' Day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 May 2025 | School Holiday | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 June 2025 | Youth Day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 August 2025 | National Women’s Day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 September 2025 | Heritage Day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 December 2025 | Day of Reconciliation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 December 2025 | Christmas Day | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 December 2025 | Day of Goodwill |
Curriculum, tests and examinations for 2025
May/June NSC and SC examinations
School-Based Internal Exams
- Grades 10 and 11 – 30 May 2025
- Grades 7, 8 and 9 – 06 June 2025
- Grades 4, 5 and 6 – 09 June 2025
October / November 2025 NSC examinations
School-Based Internal Exams
- Grades 10 and 11 – 12 November 2025
- Grades 7, 8 and 9 – 19 November 2025
- Grades 4, 5 and 6 – 21 November 2025
Other Important Dates
- Release of November 2024 re-mark/recheck results: March 2025
- Grade 11 subject change applications by parents (maximum two subjects): 28 March 2025
- School admissions close for Grades R, 1 and 8 (all ordinary public schools): 15 April 2025
- Grade 11 subject changes (maximum two subjects) processed on CEMIS: 17 April 2025
- Parents informed of the outcome of online admission applications per email/SMS: 30 May to 10 June 2025
- Parents confirm acceptance of Grades R, 1 and 8 placements: 30 May 2025 to 17 June 2025
- Parents informed of spaces. Parents must accept and confirm placement within three days: 17 June onward
- Grade 10 subject change applications by parents (maximum two subjects): 27 June 2025
- Release of May/June NSC/SC examination results: August 2025
- Release of May/June NSC/SC re-mark/recheck results: September 2025
View the full school calendar.
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