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Fairbairn College

Public secondary school · Richmond Estate, Cape Town, Western Cape · Metro North district (8 circuit)

Fairbairn College is a public secondary school in Richmond Estate, City Of Cape Town. Its last matric group achieved a 98.5% pass rate.

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On this page, you will find a full profile of Fairbairn College, covering its location, admissions steps, fees and matric performance.

Located in Richmond Estate, City Of Cape Town, Fairbairn College is a public secondary school. It is a fee-charging school, funded under quintile Q5.

1,057
Learners
49
Educators
QQ5 · R1,500-R8,000/yr est.
Funding status
Public
Sector
Fees and funding

Fee-charging school

Fairbairn College is a fee-charging school, classified quintile Q5. 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 Fairbairn College specifically, so contact the school directly to confirm its current fees.

Matric results

Three year NSC pass rate

2023 2024 2025

In 2025, 206 matric candidates from Fairbairn College sat the National Senior Certificate exams, and 98.5% passed. Results have held steady year on year.

YearCandidates wroteAchieved NSCPass rate
202318317897.3%
2024191191100.0%
202520620398.5%

Source: DBE National Senior Certificate School Performance Reports.

Subjects and results

Subject pass rates

That year, Fairbairn College offered results across 7 of the gateway subjects tracked nationally. Mathematical Literacy led the field at 100%.

SubjectWroteAchievedPass rate
Mathematics929097.8%
Mathematical Literacy9999100.0%
Physical Sciences676292.5%
Life Sciences13713195.6%
Accounting706998.6%
Business Studies11911798.3%
Geography6161100.0%

Source: DBE 2024 NSC School Subject Report.

District comparison

Metro North district

Here is how Fairbairn College compares with 5 other schools listed under Metro North district.

  • Meridian Pinehurst Private School teaches considerably more learners than Fairbairn College, 2,089 compared with 1,057; is a combined school run on a private rather than public basis; and posted a very similar matric pass rate (98.7% against Fairbairn College's 98.5%).
  • Table View Primary School is noticeably bigger, teaching 1,977 learners against Fairbairn College's 1,057; is a public primary school, a different phase than Fairbairn College; and charges fees under quintile Q5.
  • Itsitsa Primary School teaches considerably more learners than Fairbairn College, 1,970 compared with 1,057; is a public primary school, a different phase than Fairbairn College; and charges no school fees, quintile Q3.
  • Proteus SekondﾊR Secondary School teaches considerably more learners than Fairbairn College, 1,837 compared with 1,057; charges no school fees, quintile Q4; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 92% against Fairbairn College's 98.5%.
  • Manzomthombo Secondary School teaches considerably more learners than Fairbairn College, 1,726 compared with 1,057, and charges no school fees, quintile Q3.

Cape Town

And within Cape Town itself, 5 other schools for a closer comparison.

  • Meridian Pinehurst Private School teaches considerably more learners than Fairbairn College, 2,089 compared with 1,057; is a combined school run on a private rather than public basis; and posted a very similar matric pass rate (98.7% against Fairbairn College's 98.5%).
  • Bloekombos Secondary School teaches considerably more learners than Fairbairn College, 2,037 compared with 1,057; charges no school fees, quintile Q1; and posted a lower matric pass rate, 84.7% against Fairbairn College's 98.5%.
  • Table View Primary School is noticeably bigger, teaching 1,977 learners against Fairbairn College's 1,057; is a public primary school, a different phase than Fairbairn College; and charges fees under quintile Q5.
  • Itsitsa Primary School teaches considerably more learners than Fairbairn College, 1,970 compared with 1,057; is a public primary school, a different phase than Fairbairn College; and charges no school fees, quintile Q3.
  • False Bay Primary School is noticeably bigger, teaching 1,970 learners against Fairbairn College's 1,057; is a public primary school, a different phase than Fairbairn College; and charges fees under quintile Q5.
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.
Provincial admissions

Applying to Fairbairn College for 2027

Because Fairbairn College is a public school in the Western Cape, its admissions go through the province's centralised Western Cape Admissions Portal rather than the school alone. The main 2027 intake window for Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 8 ran from 10 March to 14 April 2026; transfers for other grades ran from 3 to 17 August 2026. Read the full Western Cape School Application Process Guide for what you'll need.

Get in touch

Contact and location

Address
Hugo Street Goodwood 7460
Postal
Hugo Street Goodwood Unknown 7460
Telephone
021 591 7117
Website
fairbairncollege.com
Email
admin@fairbairncollege.com
EMIS number
102310231

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Frequently asked questions
Are applications open at Fairbairn College?
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 Fairbairn College directly, on 021 591 7117, what its current 2027 intake dates are.
How do you apply to Fairbairn College?
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 Fairbairn College the best school in Cape Town?
On the numbers that are published, Fairbairn College's matric pass rate of 98.5% is lower than MERIDIAN PINEHURST PRIVATE SCHOOL's 98.7%, the highest among the nearby schools we have data for.
How many other schools are there in Cape Town besides Fairbairn College?
Schoolhive lists at least 10 other schools in and around Cape Town, including Meridian Pinehurst Private School.
How big are the classes at Fairbairn College?
Fairbairn College reported 1,057 learners and 49 educators, a school-wide ratio of roughly 22 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 Fairbairn College?
Yes, Fairbairn College 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 Fairbairn College's matric results like?
Fairbairn College's most recent National Senior Certificate pass rate was 98.5%, in 2025. It has stayed close to 97.3% since 2023.
Is Fairbairn College a public or private school?
Fairbairn College is a public secondary school. It falls under the government schooling system and receives state funding.
How can I contact Fairbairn College?
You can call 021 591 7117. It is located at Hugo Street Goodwood 7460.
Related

Related schools in Cape Town

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