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Cognia accreditation badge Cognia-accredited online school Registered with SACAI and the IEB, approved Pearson Edexcel centre

Online Private School in South Africa

CambriLearn is a privately run online school for children aged 4 to 19. Subject specialists teach live lessons to a published timetable and mark the work, and students finish with matric through SACAI or the IEB, International GCSEs and A Levels, or an American diploma.

Here's what makes an online school private, how the teaching works, the six pathways, and what South African law says about online schools in 2026.

Book a free consultation See the six pathways
South African student in an online private school lesson with CambriLearn
4.8 out of 5 from 386 reviews
  • Ages 4 to 19
  • Registered with SACAI and the IEB
  • Teachers registered with SACE
  • Teaching since 2008

What makes CambriLearn a private school?

It's privately run, funded by school fees rather than the state, and its standards are checked by outside bodies. These are the checks worth making on any online school.

How CambriLearn is accredited, registered and staffed
What to checkAt CambriLearn
AccreditationAccredited by Cognia, which reviews the whole school, and an approved Pearson Edexcel centre
Matric registrationRegistered with SACAI as a distance education provider for the CAPS and KABV matric, and with the IEB for the IEB pathway. Umalusi accredits both exam bodies
TeachersSubject specialists with recognised teaching degrees (BSc, BEd, PGCE, BA or MA), registered with SACE
Teaching and markingLive lessons to a published timetable, with assignments marked by the subject teacher and returned within eight working days
QualificationsThe National Senior Certificate, International GCSEs and A Levels, or the American High School Diploma through sister school Score Academy Online

Umalusi accredits exam bodies such as SACAI and the IEB, and independent schools, but not distance education providers. Be wary of any online school that calls itself Umalusi-accredited. Your child's matric certificate is still issued by Umalusi, through SACAI or the IEB.

How the teaching works

The school sets the timetable, teaches and marks the work. Parents support their child and follow their progress.

How CambriLearn works

  • Live lessons

    On the Standard and Premium packages, each subject on the timetable has a 45-minute live lesson a week with a subject specialist. The first 30 minutes are recorded so students can watch again.

  • Work between lessons

    Video lessons, exercises, worksheets and practice papers are set week by week in the course outline, and students work through them between live lessons.

  • Marking

    Teachers mark assignments and return written feedback within eight working days.

  • Choosing a package

    Starter gives the course content and assessments without live lessons or teacher marking. Standard adds live lessons and marking, and Premium adds direct chat with the subject teacher and weekly live Q&A sessions. You can mix packages across subjects.

  • Parents and community

    CambriCommand, the parent view, shows attendance, progress and standing. CambriCommunity clubs, events and meetups come with every enrolment.

  • Start dates

    Students can start in any month, except on CAPS, KABV and IEB Grades 10 to 12, which follow South African term dates and exam-body deadlines.

Six pathways in one school

CambriLearn teaches five curricula across six pathways, so a student can change route without changing school.

CambriLearn's six pathways, with grades, final qualification and exam body
PathwayGradesQualificationExamined by
CAPSGrade R to Grade 12National Senior CertificateSACAI
KABV (CAPS in Afrikaans)Graad 1 to Graad 11, with Graad 12 from 2027National Senior CertificateSACAI
IEBGrade 10, with Grade 11 from 2027 and Grade 12 from 2028National Senior CertificateIEB
International British CurriculumPrimary to A LevelInternational GCSE, AS and A LevelCambridge International Education, as a private candidate
Pearson EdexcelInternational GCSE to A LevelInternational GCSE, AS and A LevelPearson Edexcel
US K-12Kindergarten to Grade 12American High School DiplomaScore Academy Online, a Cognia-accredited sister school

The IEB pathway has entry requirements. International exams are sat at a registered exam centre near you, and the US K-12 courses are NCAA approved.

Online and campus private schools compared

Both are privately run. The differences are in how the week runs, where exams are written and how the law treats them.

How an online private school differs from a campus private school
What differsOnline at CambriLearnCampus private school
Where learning happensLive online lessons, with coursework at homeClassrooms on campus
The weekA live lesson per subject each week, with coursework in betweenA full school day, five days a week
Matric examsWritten at an exam centre, through SACAI or the IEBUsually written at the school
Legal status, Grade R to 9Parents register for home education while the law catches upThe school is registered with the province as an independent school
FeesPer subject, per year, with a choice of packagePer year, set by each school
LocationAnywhere with a reliable internet connectionWithin reach of the campus

Questions parents ask about online private school

If your question isn't here, a consultant can take you through your options in a fifteen-minute call.

Book a free consultation

Is CambriLearn a registered private school?

CambriLearn is Cognia-accredited, an approved Pearson Edexcel centre, and registered with SACAI as a distance education provider and with the IEB. South African law doesn't yet have its own registration category for fully online schools, and the government is working on one.

Is online school legal in South Africa?

Yes. From Grade R to Grade 9, a child who isn't at a public or registered independent school needs home education registration with the provincial education department. From Grade 10, students write matric through SACAI or the IEB.

Is CambriLearn accredited by Umalusi?

No. Umalusi accredits exam bodies and independent schools, not distance education providers. CambriLearn is registered with SACAI and the IEB, which Umalusi accredits, and Umalusi issues the matric certificate your child receives.

Can my child write matric through an online school?

Yes. CAPS and KABV students write the National Senior Certificate through SACAI, and IEB students write it through the IEB, at exam centres. It's the same NSC that students at campus schools receive.

How much does an online private school cost?

At CambriLearn, fees are charged per subject, per year, and depend on the curriculum, grade and package. South African pathways are priced in rand. A once-off registration fee applies, and textbooks and exam entry fees are extra. The pricing page works out the exact total.

How many hours a day is online school?

At CambriLearn, each subject has a 45-minute live lesson a week on the Standard and Premium packages. The rest of the week goes on coursework, so the length of the day depends on how many subjects your child takes.

Is online school the same as homeschooling?

Not in how it runs. At CambriLearn, teachers teach, set the timetable and mark the work, while parents support. In law, a child in Grade R to Grade 9 at an online school still needs home education registration.

Can my child start mid-year?

On most pathways, yes, because students can start in any month. CAPS, KABV and IEB Grades 10 to 12 follow South African term dates and exam-body deadlines, so talk to a consultant about timing for those grades.

Can families outside South Africa enrol?

Yes. CambriLearn teaches families in more than 100 countries, but schooling rules depend on where you live. Our homeschooling country guides cover the rules in each country.

Talk to a consultant about your child

Fifteen minutes, no obligation. Tell us your child's grade and the qualification they're aiming for, and a consultant will talk you through the right pathway, the fees and the registration steps for your family.

Book a free consultation View school fees

Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 386 reviews across Google, HelloPeter, Trustpilot and Facebook, last checked 10 September 2026.

This page summarises the South African Schools Act as amended by the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, the Department of Basic Education's statements on online schools, and CambriLearn's current registrations. It is general information rather than legal advice. Last checked 26 September 2026. CambriLearn is Cognia-accredited, an approved Pearson Edexcel centre, and registered with SACAI and the IEB. Umalusi accredits SACAI and the IEB as exam bodies, not CambriLearn. The US K-12 pathway is delivered through sister school Score Academy Online, which is Cognia-accredited and offers NCAA-approved courses. CambriLearn is not a registered Cambridge school and is not affiliated with Cambridge Assessment International Education.

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