Richard Varha Senior Secondary School 2027 Applications and Fees, Schoolhive

On this page, you will find a full profile of Richard Varha Senior Secondary School, covering its location, admissions steps, fees and matric performance.

Located in Dimbaza, Richard Varha Senior Secondary School is a public secondary school. It is a no-fee school, funded under quintile Q3.

1,132

Learners

Educators

QQ3 · No fee

Funding status

Technical

Specialisation

Fees and funding

No tuition fees

As a quintile Q3 no-fee school, Richard Varha Senior Secondary School does not charge school fees. State funding covers its running costs.

Matric results

Three year NSC pass rate

In 2025, 248 matric candidates from Richard Varha Senior Secondary School sat the National Senior Certificate exams, and 59.7% passed. That is a step back from the previous two years.

Year	Candidates wrote	Achieved NSC	Pass rate
2023	166	129	77.7%
2024	223	163	73.1%
2025	248	148	59.7%

Source: DBE National Senior Certificate School Performance Reports.

Subjects and results

Subject pass rates

That year, Richard Varha Senior Secondary School offered results across 9 of the gateway subjects tracked nationally. English First Additional Language led the field at 100%.

Subject	Wrote	Achieved	Pass rate
Mathematics	177	86	48.6%
Physical Sciences	139	85	61.2%
Life Sciences	102	84	82.4%
Agricultural Sciences	102	94	92.2%
Accounting	38	32	84.2%
Business Studies	38	32	84.2%
Economics	38	32	84.2%
Geography	23	19	82.6%
English First Additional Language	223	223	100.0%

Source: DBE 2024 NSC School Subject Report.

District comparison

Buffalo City district

Ebenezer Majombozi High School teaches considerably more learners than Richard Varha Senior Secondary School, 2,355 compared with 1,132; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 94.2% against Richard Varha Senior Secondary School's 59.7%.
Mzamowethu Public School is noticeably bigger, teaching 2,087 learners against Richard Varha Senior Secondary School's 1,132; is a public combined school, a different phase than Richard Varha Senior Secondary School; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 76.7% against Richard Varha Senior Secondary School's 59.7%.
Ulwazi Secondary School is noticeably bigger, teaching 2,067 learners against Richard Varha Senior Secondary School's 1,132; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 98.3% against Richard Varha Senior Secondary School's 59.7%.
Qaqamba Public School is a similar size to Richard Varha Senior Secondary School, with 1,507 learners against 1,132; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 91.8% against Richard Varha Senior Secondary School's 59.7%.
Kusile Comprehensive School sits in roughly the same size range as Richard Varha Senior Secondary School, at 1,440 learners, and charges no school fees, quintile Q3.

Dimbaza

Archie Velile Senior Secondary School sits in roughly the same size range as Richard Varha Senior Secondary School, at 1,149 learners; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 81.7% against Richard Varha Senior Secondary School's 59.7%.
Dimbaza Central Secondary School is noticeably smaller, with 309 learners against Richard Varha Senior Secondary School's 1,132; charges no school fees, quintile Q3; and posted a higher matric pass rate, 75% against Richard Varha Senior Secondary School's 59.7%.
Hoho Senior Secondary School teaches fewer learners than Richard Varha Senior Secondary School, 238 compared with 1,132, and charges no school fees, quintile Q3.
Dimbaza Primary School teaches fewer learners than Richard Varha Senior Secondary School, 179 compared with 1,132; is a public primary school, a different phase than Richard Varha Senior Secondary School; and charges no school fees, quintile Q3.
Ben Cox English Medium School teaches fewer learners than Richard Varha Senior Secondary School, 69 compared with 1,132, and is a combined school run on a private rather than public basis.

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 Richard Varha Senior Secondary School for 2027

Richard Varha Senior Secondary School is a public school, so admission for Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 8 for 2027 is handled through the Eastern Cape Department of Education's process; late applications are submitted via the Eastern Cape Admissions Platform. For Grades 2 to 7 and 9 to 12, parents apply directly at the school. See the full Eastern Cape School Application Process Guide for the documents you'll need.

Get in touch

Contact and location

Address: 3569 Thembisa Location, Dimbaza, 5671
Postal: P.o. Box 147, Dimbaza, 5671
Telephone: 040 656 2221
EMIS number: 200200730

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Frequently asked questions

Are applications open at Richard Varha Senior 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 Richard Varha Senior Secondary School directly, on 040 656 2221, what its current 2027 intake dates are.

How do you apply to Richard Varha Senior 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 Richard Varha Senior Secondary School the best school in Dimbaza?

On the numbers that are published, Richard Varha Senior Secondary School's matric pass rate of 59.7% is lower than ARCHIE VELILE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL's 81.7%, the highest among the nearby schools we have data for.

How many other schools are there in Dimbaza besides Richard Varha Senior Secondary School?

Schoolhive lists at least 5 other schools in and around Dimbaza, including Archie Velile Senior Secondary School.

How big are the classes at Richard Varha Senior Secondary School?

Richard Varha Senior Secondary School reported 1,132 learners and 38 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 Richard Varha Senior Secondary School?

No. Richard Varha Senior Secondary School is a no-fee school, classified quintile Q3 under the national funding norms, so parents are not charged school fees.

What are Richard Varha Senior Secondary School's matric results like?

Richard Varha Senior Secondary School's most recent National Senior Certificate pass rate was 59.7%, in 2025. That's down from 77.7% in 2023.

Is Richard Varha Senior Secondary School a public or private school?

Richard Varha Senior Secondary School is a public secondary school. It falls under the government schooling system and receives state funding.

How can I contact Richard Varha Senior Secondary School?

You can call 040 656 2221. It is located at 3569 Thembisa Location, Dimbaza, 5671.