Options that exist now (or, in Silverwood’s case, are proposed for launch by 2028). A family reading this site in preparation for a Grade 8 decision can act on any of these now.
Option Profiles
Each page below profiles a concrete school or schooling model available to valley families, assessed against all ten variables. The summary table at the top of each page gives a quick read. The variable-by-variable assessment underneath gives the detail. The “Best fit” section at the bottom states plainly who the option suits and who it doesn’t.
Where information is missing, the page says so and names the verification step. No option is presented as better or worse than any other. Each carries a different set of trade-offs, and the right choice depends on the family.
In-valley options
Emil Weder Secondary — Genadendal. Government school. Afrikaans-medium. The only operational high school in the valley. Lowest cost. Strongest diversity. Language barrier for English-speaking families.
Silverwood High (proposed) — English-medium, Waldorf-inspired, CAPS-compliant independent school. Not yet constituted. All claims are MS (Mission-Sourced) and TBV with the founders.
Greyton House (Grade 8-9) — Greyton. Registered independent school (ISASA member). English-medium. Currently Grade R to 7; WCED registration already covers Grades 8 and 9. Subject to board clearance and accommodation. Covers senior phase only (Grade 8-9); a transfer to another school is required for FET (Grade 10-12).
Microschool / Learning Pod — Parent-organised collective home education using an accredited online provider, a shared facilitator, and a local venue. Not a registered school. The lowest-barrier collective solution that keeps children physically together in the valley.
Caledon options
Overberg High / Hoërskool Overberg — Caledon. Dual-medium public school (English and Afrikaans streams) with boarding facilities. ~492 learners. Quintile 5. 35 km from Greyton. The nearest public high school with English-medium instruction. Transport or boarding required.
Hermanus and Elgin options
Curro Hermanus High School — Sandbaai, Hermanus. Independent school (Curro Group). English and Afrikaans. IEB examination. Max 25 per class. ~80 km from Greyton, but school bus collects from Caledon (35 km). ~R88,000/year fees; ~R107,000 to R136,000/year total with lift club to Caledon.
Applewood, Grabouw — Grabouw (Elgin Valley). Independent school (est. 1998). English-medium. Currently primary only (Grade R to 7); high school announced for 2027. Inquiry-based, outdoor-oriented pedagogy in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. ~80 km from Greyton. All high school details TBV.
Remote and distributed options
Online / Distance Schooling — Child studies from home using an accredited digital platform. English-medium. CAPS via SACAI (most providers). No commute. No physical peer group. Ranges from self-directed materials (under R6,000/year) to structured live classes (~R36,000/year). Requires supervision, a study environment, and stable internet.
Boarding Schools (Further Afield) — Independent boarding schools in Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Paarl, or Cape Town. English-medium. IEB or Cambridge. Widest subject range. Strongest university preparation. R100,000 to R450,000+/year. The child lives away from home.
Comparison at a glance
| Option | Language | Location | Annual cost (est.) | School type | Peer group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emil Weder | Afrikaans | In-valley | Under R5,000 | Public | Valley (Genadendal) |
| Silverwood (proposed) | English | In-valley | R55,000 to R100,000 | Independent | Valley (if enough enrol) |
| Greyton House (Gr 8-9) | English | In-valley | TBV (fees not set) | Independent | Valley (Greyton) |
| Microschool | English | In-valley | R40,000 to R95,000 | Home education | Small local group |
| Overberg High / Hoërskool Overberg | English & Afrikaans | Caledon (35 km) | R19,000 to R86,000 (day); R30,000 to R70,000 (boarding) | Public (day & boarding) | Caledon |
| Curro Hermanus | English & Afrikaans | Hermanus (~80 km; bus from Caledon) | R107,000 to R136,000 (lift club + bus) | Independent (IEB) | Hermanus |
| Applewood, Grabouw | English | Grabouw (~80 km) | TBV (~R100,000 to R170,000 est.) | Independent (TBV) | Grabouw/Elgin |
| Online schooling | English | Home | R25,000 to R55,000 | Distance provider | None (constructed) |
| Boarding school | English | 90 to 150+ km | R100,000 to R450,000+ | Independent | School community |
Cost estimates include transport, devices, and incidentals where applicable. Ranges reflect variation in transport arrangements (lift club vs solo driving), provider choice (budget vs premium online), and school tier (mid-range vs elite boarding). See each option profile for the breakdown.
How to read these profiles
Each profile follows the same structure:
- Summary table — one-line assessment against each of the ten variables.
- Variable-by-variable assessment — the detail behind each line in the summary.
- Best fit — who this option suits and who it does not.
- Key unknowns — the TBV items that matter most for this option.
If you have already worked through the variable pages or used the AI prompt, you know your priorities. Use the comparison table above to eliminate options that clearly don’t fit, then read the remaining profiles in full.
This page is part of the Valley of Grace High School Decision Tool.