The class of 2025 has much reason to celebrate, achieving an exceptional National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rate of 88%, the highest in the country’s history. For the first time, all 75 school districts achieved pass rates of 80% and above.
Over 900,000 learners wrote the 2025 NSC examination, the largest matric class to write the examination in South Africa’s history. The Western Cape excelled with an NSC pass rate of 88,2%, an increase from last year’s record-breaking 86,6%, the highest pass rate the province has achieved since the introduction of the NSC.
Robinvale High School celebrates a pass rate of 96,6%, a remarkable increase from 89,3% in 2024, and is the top-achieving school in Atlantis. Teacher Agnesia Marthinus said the school is extremely excited about the results, as they knew these learners would surprise them. He said the learners have shown excellence since Grade 8, and the school is beyond proud of the results. “We were really looking forward to the results because of the strategies that we used and improved. This included working on past exam papers and giving learners a breather by not having spring school. What mattered most was providing quality education in the classroom, and that was our winning recipe,” a proud Marthinus explained.
Top-achieving matriculant at the school, Kyllah Dyers, said it feels amazing to be the top achiever and that she feels as if she can conquer the world. “I started studying a month in advance, and every morning, even on my off days. I would get up early and study until the night, while also making sure I got enough sleep. My plan for this year is to study astrophysics at the University of Cape Town,” Dyers added.
Saxonsea Secondary School celebrates a pass rate of 95%, slightly higher than its 2024 pass rate of 93,8%. Deon Claasen, principal of the school, said he feels happy and grateful that the pass rate has increased. “Our strategies work. Every year, we identify at-risk learners and place them in an intervention programme, where every matric learner is assigned a teacher who observes and identifies any challenges, including non-academic issues, to see how the school can help. Another strategy includes after-school classes and winter school programmes, but as we move into 2026, we will adjust our strategies again this year.”
Cedrick Aston, a top 10 matriculant at Saxonsea, said he feels extremely proud of his results. “When I look back at last year, with all the pressure and challenges I faced, I am still in shock that I made it. I can only give the Lord the credit because He is the one who made it possible for me. My strategy was to prepare myself mentally for the examinations and reflect on past exam papers, identifying what I did wrong and how I could improve,” he said.
Proteus Technical High School celebrates a pass rate of 92%, an improvement from 90,9% in 2024. The school also celebrates its 10th consecutive year of achieving a 100% pass rate in Mathematics and Physical Science, along with 13 other subjects that also achieved a 100% pass rate. Principal, Hilton Smith, said that while technical schools across the country generally performed poorly, the school is pleased with the results. Acknowledgement was given to the top two learners, Lieyton de Bruyn with a pass rate of 75,4%, and Kaylene Fielding with a pass rate of 73,4%.
Atlantis Secondary High School celebrates a pass rate of 73%, a decrease from the 80,4% pass rate recorded in 2024. Principals from all Atlantis schools expressed pride in the Class of 2025, and encouraged learners who did not pass or achieve the results they hoped for to explore the Second Chance Matric Programme, supplementary examinations, and alternative education and training pathways. The Programme is offered free of charge to candidates.
