While the average South African school has 470 learners attending, some 27 institutions in the country have in excess of 2,000 pupils – predominantly in the country’s most populated provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal.

These are some of the stats made available by the Department of Basic Education in its Ordinary Schools Masterlist.

According to previous data compiled by independent data journalists at PassMark, South Africa’s median school size shows the massive disparity that exists between schools – something that is echoed across provinces.

Based on 2016 data, the median number of learners at SA schools is 412. That means that half of the almost 24,000 public schools on the South Africa (about 12,000 schools) have fewer than 412 pupils.

The lowest quartile has fewer than 200 learners, while the highest quartile has more than 720 – up to the highest number of learners at a school, which is 2,998 learners at Ogwini Comprehensive school in KwaZulu Natal.

Using data from the Department of Education, we have listed the 10 biggest “ordinary” schools (primary, senior and combine) in every province, as at the start of 2017 (the latest available data from the department).

According to the data, the average number of learners across all listed SA schools where data was provided (24,486 schools) was 468.

Learner-Educator Ratio

With such large numbers of learners, however, comes some educator issues – particularly when it comes to class sizes.

As part of the data collected by the department, the number of educators is also given, giving us insight in the average class sizes at these schools.

Class sizes are often a point of interest to parents, with smaller class sizes giving educators a better opportunity to pay more attention to learners.

Smaller class sizes are also a big draw point of private and independent school – though this comes at a price.

According to the Department of Basic Education, as of March 2018, the national average LER (Learner-Educator Ratio) for government primary schools was one teacher to every 35.2 students.

However this dropped to a national average of 27.7 students to a teacher at the secondary school level. The LER of each of the biggest schools listed below is also included.

KwaZulu Natal

School LER Number of learners Ogwini Comprehensive 21.0 2 998 Sinethezekile Combined School 33.1 2 552 Enkululekweni Primary School 33.9 2 268 Thamela Primary School 31.4 2 259 Mthonjeni Primary School 30.2 2 054 Lovu Primary School 36.2 2 028 Esididini Primary School 32.6 1 986 Groutville High School 23.3 1 953 Carl Malcomess High School 30.3 1 937 Nonhlevu Secondary School 30.2 1 841

Gauteng

School LER Number of learners Palmridge Secondary School 36.1 2 596 Kwadukathole Comprehensive School 93.2 2 424 Kanana Primary 30.7 2 394 Mampudi Primary School 34.9 2 306 Ebomini Primary School 31.8 2 289 Johannesburg Polytech Institute (Independent) 252.3 2 271 Tembisa Secondary School 26.7 2 214 Kaalfontein Primary School 32.9 2 139 Curro Thatchfield (Independent) 261.1 2 089 Basa Tutorial Institute (Independent) 75.0 2 026

Western Cape

School LER Number of learners Bastion Primary School 23.2 1 900 Imperial Primary School 28.0 1 877 Ukhanyo Primary School 30.5 1 740 Liebenberg Primary School 27.1 1 737 Gene Louw Primary School 15.9 1 713 Itsitsa Primary School 34.9 1 710 Wesfleur Primary School 29.7 1 692 Parkdene Primary School (George) 26.4 1 690 Langeberg Secondary School 26.1 1 671 George Secondary School 24.1 1 666

North West Province

School LER Number of learners Boitekong Combined 29.3 2 167 Promosa Primary School 29.7 1 781 Paardekraal Combined 31.3 1 753 Moitshoki Mofenyi Combined 40.4 1 698 Mphe-Bana Secondary School 32.4 1 653 Gontse Combined 37.3 1 640 Majakaneng Combined 35.5 1 633 Retlakgona Primary School 37.0 1 626 Diamantrif Combined 47.6 1 617 Odi Combined 40.0 1 598

Free State

School LER Number of learners Unity Primary School 32.3 1 935 Matla Primary School 28.3 1 814 Kopanelang Thuto Primary School 34.2 1 779 Lemotso Primary School 34.7 1 771 Tjhebelopele Primary School 34.8 1 740 Iketsetseng Comprehensive Secondary School 25.0 1 723 Credo Primary School 33.4 1 701 Lehutso Primary School 32.0 1 696 Kegomoditswe Primary School 34.4 1 619 Letlotlo Primary School 29.2 1 608

Eastern Cape

School LER Number of learners Khotso Junior School 58.0 2 030 Lehana Secondary School 25.3 1 925 Humansdorp Secondary School 20.6 1 916 Zamokuhle Combined 33.9 1 832 Idyoki Public School 21.1 1 814 Imbasa Public Primary School 32.7 1 801 Graslaagte Primary School 32.0 1 790 Alfonso Arries Primary School 39.8 1 749 Kwanoxolo Primary School 30.3 1 697 St John’s Road Primary School 36.0 1 619

Limpopo

School LER Number of learners Northern Academy Secondary (Independent) 30.4 2 400 Tshivase Secondary School 25.9 2 249 Liivha Combined School 26.9 2 122 Mbilwi Secondary School 28.3 2 040 Jane Furse Comprehensive School 26.6 1 970 Makgoka High School 25.5 1 966 Thengwe Secondary School 24.0 1 897 W.M. Kgatla Primary School 41.6 1 789 Mahlasedi Primary School 34.8 1 703 Jim Chavani High School 30.6 1 655

Mpumalanga

School LER Number of learners Ndela Secondary School 24.6 2 338 Osizweni Primary School 21.4 2 074 New Ermelo Primary School 32.3 2 068 Shapeve Primary School 22.3 1 960 Eikeboom Primary School 37.8 1 813 Siyafundza Primary School 29.9 1 732 Pine Ridge Combined School 38.3 1 722 Sakhisizwe Primary School 32.7 1 668 Mdumiseni Primary School 29.0 1 651 Jabulani Primary School 35.6 1 603

Northern Cape

School LER Number of learners Vaal-Oranje Primary School 33.2 1 794 Bankhare-Bodiling Intermediate School 31.2 1 652 Deben Primary School 23.1 1 597 Wrenchville Primary School N/A 1 528 Kathu Primary School N/A 1 519 Westerkrim Primary School 29.8 1 519 !Xunkhwesa Combined School 26.4 1 503 Noord-Kaap Primary School 24.9 1 495 Die Kuil Primary School 25.1 1 429 Hantam Primary School 32.3 1 389

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