Class of 2025 celebrates matric results

The matric Class of 2025 is celebrating after the Western Cape achieved a record 88.2% pass rate, the highest since the National Senior Certificate was introduced.

This comes after the matric results were released on Monday, January 12, by National Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube.

The Western Cape finished in fifth with its 88.2% pass, which is an improvement from the 86.6% last year.  The top three performing provinces were KwaZulu-Natal with 90.6%, Free State with 89.33%, and Gauteng with 80.06%.

Schools in the Bolander distribution areas did well, with Gordon High School improving from  86.9% in 2024 to 91.1% in 2025. 

Principal Lizette Visser said the school was proud of the improvement. She praised the teachers and pupils for their dedication.

“We are really proud of the learners who wrote the exams. The other thing we are proud of is Bachelor passes – 41% of our learners passed with Bachelor passes, which means they have access to tertiary studies. 

“Our staff are working hard, but the students are also working hard to create a better future for themselves. The theme that we had for the last two years is ‘The School On The Move.’ The one important thing to us is that we give our learners chances in life,” she said.  

Schools that retained their 100% pass rate included Helderberg High School, Montgomery and Miller, the Hoër Landbouskool Boland, Paarl Girls' High School, Rhenish Girls' High School and Nouveau Privaatskool. 

Western Cape MEC for Education David Maynier congratulated the Class of 2025 on their achievement.

“The Class of 2025 delivered the highest matric pass rate and bachelor’s pass rate ever for our province. The matric pass rate increased from last year’s record-breaking 86.6% to 88.2%, the highest pass rate our province has received since the National Senior Certificate was introduced,” he said.

Below is a list of matric pass rates for schools in the Bolander distribution areas for 2025, with the 2024 pass rates shown in brackets for comparison.

* Gordon High School – 91,1 % (86,9%)

* Helderberg High School – 100% (100%)

* Hope and Light School – 100% (94.7%)

* Hottentots-Holland High School – 97,4% (96,2%)

* Khanyolwethu Secondary School- 90,6% (81.0%)

* Macassar Secondary School- 78.0% (70.4%)

* Madrasatur Rajaa Strand Secondary – 97.7% (100%)

* Mondeor Eco School- 83.3% (78.8%)

* Montgomery and Miller – 100% (100%)

* Nomzamo High School – 88.8% (93.8%)

* Parel Vallei High School – 100% (99,6%)

* Rusthof Secondary School- 74.2% (82.2%)

* Simanyene Secondary School – 98.6% (92.3%)

* Hoërskool Strand – 98.6% (99.5%)

* Strand Secondary School – 76.0% (77.2%)

* Zandvliet High School – 82.0% (88.7%)

* Bergrivier Secondary School – 81.5% (81.0%)

* Hoër Landbouskool Boland – 100% (100%)

* Cloetesville High School – 80.6% (75.6%)

* Franschhoek High School – 98.2% (98.4%)

* Paarl Boys' High School 97.8% (98.4%)

* Huguenot High School – 99.3% (100%)

* Makapula Secondary School – 89.4% (91.7%)

* Nouveau Privaatskool – 100% (100%)

* Paarl Girls' High School – 100% (100%)

* Rhenish Girls' High School – 100% (100%)

* Wellington High School – 68.8% (76.9%)

* Weltevrede Secondary School – 80.5% (81.5%)