Cities / Johannesburg / Alma Mater International School
Alma Mater International School
A Cambridge-only school on a Krugersdorp estate west of Johannesburg, with a STEM and elite-sport flavour and an unusually strong dual emphasis on academics and rugby. Mixed reviews suggest checking matric outcomes carefully.
In brief
A Cambridge-only school on a Krugersdorp estate west of Johannesburg, with a STEM and elite-sport flavour and an unusually strong dual emphasis on academics and rugby. Mixed reviews suggest checking matric outcomes carefully.
Alma Mater has used the Cambridge International curriculum since 1998 and runs through to AS and A Level. The school sits on a sizeable estate in Paardeplaats, Krugersdorp, with an Elite Sports Programme run with UXI Sport and affiliated rugby institutes. Class sizes are small and the school promotes a STEM focus across both primary and secondary phases.
Parent voice is split. Some families speak warmly of dedicated teachers and individual attention, and the school was named Best STEM-Focused Primary and Secondary School in 2024. Others have flagged uneven matric results in recent years and a reliance on outside tutors among senior students. Fees of ZAR 49,200 to 118,800 are mid-range for a Johannesburg Cambridge school. Worth visiting, asking for the most recent two years of A Level results, and pressing on teacher continuity in the senior phase.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Baby Mates / Bambinos | 1 | ZAR 49,200 |
| Grade 0000-00 | 3 | ZAR 55,200 |
| Grade R | 5 | ZAR 59,400 |
| Grade 1 | 6 | ZAR 68,400 |
| Grade 2-3 | 7 | ZAR 81,024 |
| Grade 4-6 | 9 | ZAR 95,760 |
| Grade 7 and 8 | 12 | ZAR 105,000 |
| Grade 9 and 10 (IGCSE) | 14 | ZAR 110,400 |
| Grade 11 (AS-Level 1 or A-Level 1) | 16 | ZAR 118,800 |
| Grade 12 (AS-Level 2 or A-Level 2) | 17 | ZAR 118,800 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | ZAR 800 | |
| Development Fee | ZAR 1,950 | |
| Registration Fee | ZAR 4,800 |
Reviews
- Three parent reviews give a polarised picture, with no middle ground.
- The most recent review, from January 2024, gave and said "matric results were terrible. Teachers are not up to standard", with most students relying on external tutors and fees described as not cheap.
- An earlier reviewer praised the Cambridge IGCSE programme and called the educators "extraordinary".
- The aggregate sits at 3.7 across three reviews, which the style rule treats as polarised rather than a numeric score.
- The signal pool is small. No usable parent, expat, or community feedback threads surfaced.
Positives
- Cambridge programme. Earlier review credits the IGCSE programme and global-citizen ethos
Considerations
- Academic outcomes. Recent parent flags weak matric results and reliance on external tutors
- Teaching standards. One review praises extraordinary educators; another rates teaching as not up to standard
- Fees vs value. Parent flags fees alongside the academic concerns
Leadership
Mr. James Moir
Academic results
- IGCSE Average 2023 89.57%