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Esther Payne Smith Secondary School

Public secondary school · Northdale, KwaZulu-Natal · Umgungundlovu district (Northdale circuit)

Esther Payne Smith Secondary School is a public secondary school based in Northdale. Its last matric group achieved a 65.1% pass rate.

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On this page, you will find everything you need to know about Esther Payne Smith Secondary School, including its location, admissions process, fees and matric results.

In Northdale, Esther Payne Smith Secondary School operates as a public secondary school. It is a fee-charging school, funded under quintile Q4.

758
Learners
25
Educators
QQ4 · R1,500-R8,000/yr est.
Funding status
Public
Sector
Fees and funding

Fee-charging school

Esther Payne Smith Secondary School is a fee-charging school, classified quintile Q4. Fee-charging schools receive lower per-learner state funding and rely on school fees to cover the difference. Public schools in this quintile typically charge an estimated R1,500 to R8,000 a year. This is a national estimate, not a figure verified for Esther Payne Smith Secondary School specifically, so contact the school directly to confirm its current fees.

Matric results

Three year NSC pass rate

2023 2024 2025

In 2025, 63 matric candidates from Esther Payne Smith Secondary School sat the National Senior Certificate exams, and 65.1% passed. That marks an improvement over the previous two years.

YearCandidates wroteAchieved NSCPass rate
2023884146.6%
2024714157.7%
2025634165.1%

Source: DBE National Senior Certificate School Performance Reports. Exam centre 5311212.

District comparison

Umgungundlovu district

5 other schools in Umgungundlovu district, for comparison against Esther Payne Smith Secondary School.

  • Emzamweni High School is noticeably bigger, teaching 2,003 learners against Esther Payne Smith Secondary School's 758; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 84.2% against Esther Payne Smith Secondary School's 65.1%.
  • Ashdown Primary School teaches considerably more learners than Esther Payne Smith Secondary School, 1,825 compared with 758; is a public primary school, a different phase than Esther Payne Smith Secondary School; and charges no school fees, quintile Q3.
  • Indala High School teaches considerably more learners than Esther Payne Smith Secondary School, 1,722 compared with 758; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 85.9% against Esther Payne Smith Secondary School's 65.1%.
  • Edendale Technical High School teaches considerably more learners than Esther Payne Smith Secondary School, 1,709 compared with 758; charges fees under quintile Q4; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 77.3% against Esther Payne Smith Secondary School's 65.1%.
  • Mconjwana High School is noticeably bigger, teaching 1,640 learners against Esther Payne Smith Secondary School's 758; charges no school fees, quintile Q2; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 98.6% against Esther Payne Smith Secondary School's 65.1%.
Admissions

How to apply

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

Contact and location

Address
211 Bombay Road, Northdale, Pietermaritzburg, 3201
Postal
Post Office, Northdale, 3201
Telephone
033 387 2558
Email
estherpaynesmith6@gmail.com
EMIS number
500141895

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Frequently asked questions
Are applications open at Esther Payne Smith 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 Esther Payne Smith Secondary School directly, on 033 387 2558 or by email at estherpaynesmith6@gmail.com, what its current 2027 intake dates are.
How do you apply to Esther Payne Smith 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 Esther Payne Smith Secondary School the best school in Umgungundlovu?
On the numbers that are published, Esther Payne Smith Secondary School's matric pass rate of 65.1% is lower than MCONJWANA HIGH SCHOOL's 98.6%, the highest among the nearby schools we have data for.
How many other schools are there in Umgungundlovu besides Esther Payne Smith Secondary School?
Schoolhive does not currently list other schools in Umgungundlovu.
How big are the classes at Esther Payne Smith Secondary School?
Esther Payne Smith Secondary School reported 758 learners and 25 educators, a school-wide ratio of roughly 30 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 Esther Payne Smith Secondary School?
Yes, Esther Payne Smith Secondary School is a fee-charging school, with schools in its quintile typically charging an estimated R1,500 to R8,000 a year, though contact the school directly to confirm its exact current fee.
What are Esther Payne Smith Secondary School's matric results like?
Esther Payne Smith Secondary School's most recent National Senior Certificate pass rate was 65.1%, in 2025. That's up from 46.6% in 2023.
Is Esther Payne Smith Secondary School a public or private school?
Esther Payne Smith Secondary School is a public secondary school. It falls under the government schooling system and receives state funding.
How can I contact Esther Payne Smith Secondary School?
You can call 033 387 2558 or email estherpaynesmith6@gmail.com. It is located at 211 Bombay Road, Northdale, Pietermaritzburg, 3201.