School advice in Johannesburg

Hi Sezai,

In South African schools, a 9-year-old child would usually be placed in Grade 4. However, due to differences in the school systems (the SA school year starts in January, not September) and possible language barriers, it's possible that your son would be placed in Grade 3. This may vary depending on the school. If you decide to go with a public school, they don't administer admission tests, but private and international schools often do.

Generally, international schools are recommended for non-native English speakers as there is usually more language support available. You can have a look at our International Schools in Johannesburg page for info about specific schools. I'd also advise downloading our free Johannesburg schools guide PDF – it's packed with important info and advice.

Hope this helps!

Meagan