Public secondary school · Paarl, Paarl, Western Cape · Cape Winelands district (7 circuit)
On this page, you will find everything you need to know about Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School, including its location, admissions process, fees and matric results.
In Paarl, Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School operates as a public secondary school. As a quintile Q1 school, it does not charge fees.
In 2025, 246 matric candidates from Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School sat the National Senior Certificate exams, and 80.5% passed. The school's results have been trending upward.
| Year | Candidates wrote | Achieved NSC | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 249 | 186 | 74.7% |
| 2024 | 365 | 238 | 65.2% |
| 2025 | 246 | 198 | 80.5% |
Source: DBE National Senior Certificate School Performance Reports.
That year, Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School offered results across 10 of the gateway subjects tracked nationally. English First Additional Language led the field at 99.7%.
| Subject | Wrote | Achieved | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 53 | 46 | 86.8% |
| Mathematical Literacy | 318 | 225 | 70.8% |
| Physical Sciences | 35 | 27 | 77.1% |
| Life Sciences | 178 | 100 | 56.2% |
| Accounting | 39 | 18 | 46.2% |
| Business Studies | 133 | 101 | 75.9% |
| Economics | 134 | 63 | 47.0% |
| Geography | 264 | 197 | 74.6% |
| History | 270 | 214 | 79.3% |
| English First Additional Language | 368 | 367 | 99.7% |
Source: DBE 2024 NSC School Subject Report.
As a quintile Q1 no-fee school, Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School does not charge school fees. State funding covers its running costs.
As a public school, Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School follows the Western Cape's centralised admissions process. Parents apply and track placement through the Western Cape Admissions Portal using a SEAMUS reference number; the 2027 Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 8 window ran from 10 March to 14 April 2026. the full Western Cape School Application Process Guide sets out the full steps and documents.