Public secondary school · Richmond Estate, Cape Town, Western Cape · Metro North district (8 circuit)
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.
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.
| Year | Candidates wrote | Achieved NSC | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 183 | 178 | 97.3% |
| 2024 | 191 | 191 | 100.0% |
| 2025 | 206 | 203 | 98.5% |
Source: DBE National Senior Certificate School Performance Reports.
That year, Fairbairn College offered results across 7 of the gateway subjects tracked nationally. Mathematical Literacy led the field at 100%.
| Subject | Wrote | Achieved | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 92 | 90 | 97.8% |
| Mathematical Literacy | 99 | 99 | 100.0% |
| Physical Sciences | 67 | 62 | 92.5% |
| Life Sciences | 137 | 131 | 95.6% |
| Accounting | 70 | 69 | 98.6% |
| Business Studies | 119 | 117 | 98.3% |
| Geography | 61 | 61 | 100.0% |
Source: DBE 2024 NSC School Subject Report.
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.
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.