Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School 2027 Applications and Fees, Schoolhive

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.

1,785

Learners

Educators

QQ1 · No fee

Funding status

Public

Sector

Fees and funding

No tuition fees

As a quintile Q1 no-fee school, Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School does not charge school fees. State funding covers its running costs.

Matric results

Three year NSC pass rate

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.

Subjects and results

Subject pass rates

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.

District comparison

Cape Winelands district

Ikaya Primary School sits in roughly the same size range as Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School, at 1,957 learners; is a public primary school, a different phase than Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School; and charges no school fees, quintile Q1.
Kayamandi Secondary School sits in roughly the same size range as Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School, at 1,824 learners; charges no school fees, quintile Q1; and posted a very similar matric pass rate (80% against Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School's 80.5%).
Ihlumelo Junor Secondary School is a similar size to Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School, with 1,747 learners against 1,785; charges no school fees, quintile Q1; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 71.7% against Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School's 80.5%.
Langeberg SekondﾊR Secondary School is a similar size to Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School, with 1,739 learners against 1,785; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 78% against Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School's 80.5%.
Esselenpark SekondﾊR Secondary School sits in roughly the same size range as Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School, at 1,711 learners; charges fees under quintile Q4; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 69.9% against Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School's 80.5%.

Paarl

Ihlumelo Junor Secondary School is a similar size to Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School, with 1,747 learners against 1,785; charges no school fees, quintile Q1; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 71.7% against Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School's 80.5%.
Klein Nederburg SekondﾊR Secondary School is a similar size to Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School, with 1,508 learners against 1,785; charges fees under quintile Q4; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 84% against Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School's 80.5%.
Langabuya Primary School sits in roughly the same size range as Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School, at 1,476 learners; is a public primary school, a different phase than Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School; and charges no school fees, quintile Q1.
Paulus Joubert SekondﾊR Secondary School sits in roughly the same size range as Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School, at 1,418 learners; charges no school fees, quintile Q2; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 76.5% against Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School's 80.5%.
Imboniselo Primary School is a similar size to Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School, with 1,398 learners against 1,785; is a public primary school, a different phase than Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School; and charges no school fees, quintile Q1.

Admissions

How to apply

Contact the school directly, using the details below, to confirm 2027 application dates and requirements.
Prepare the standard documents: the learner's birth certificate, immunisation record, most recent report card, and proof of the parent or guardian's address.
Submit the completed application form to the school office, either in person or however the school currently accepts applications.
Wait for confirmation of a place. Provincial education departments coordinate Grade 8 placements for the 2027 school year, so timing can vary.

Provincial admissions

Applying to Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School for 2027

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.

Get in touch

Contact and location

Address: Funda Street Polar Park Mbekweni 7626
Postal: P O Box 893 Hugenot Unknown 7645
Telephone: 021 868 2959
EMIS number: 130042202

Something wrong here? Correct the details

Frequently asked questions

Are applications open at Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School?

Application windows are set by the school and the provincial education department rather than on one fixed national calendar, so the surest way to know is to ask Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School directly, on 021 868 2959, what its current 2027 intake dates are.

How do you apply to Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School?

Contact the school directly, using the details below, to confirm 2027 application dates and requirements. Prepare the standard documents: the learner's birth certificate, immunisation record, most recent report card, and proof of the parent or guardian's address. Submit the completed application form to the school office, either in person or however the school currently accepts applications. Wait for confirmation of a place. Provincial education departments coordinate Grade 8 placements for the 2027 school year, so timing can vary.

Is Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School the best school in Paarl?

On the numbers that are published, Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School's matric pass rate of 80.5% is lower than KLEIN NEDERBURG SEKONDﾊR's 84%, the highest among the nearby schools we have data for.

How many other schools are there in Paarl besides Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School?

Schoolhive lists at least 10 other schools in and around Paarl, including Ihlumelo Junor Secondary School.

How big are the classes at Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School?

Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School reported 1,785 learners and 51 educators, a school-wide ratio of roughly 35 learners per educator. That's a whole-school average rather than a per-class figure, since actual class sizes vary by grade and subject.

Do you pay school fees at Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School?

No. Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School is a no-fee school, classified quintile Q1 under the national funding norms, so parents are not charged school fees.

What are Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School's matric results like?

Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School's most recent National Senior Certificate pass rate was 80.5%, in 2025. That's up from 74.7% in 2023.

Is Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School a public or private school?

Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School is a public secondary school. It falls under the government schooling system and receives state funding.

How can I contact Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School?

You can call 021 868 2959. It is located at Funda Street Polar Park Mbekweni 7626.