2028 dates not announced yet
No 2028 application window was confirmed in the department sources checked on 21 October 2026.
Previous intake: 2027 dates (reference only)
Last year’s intake compared with 2028. These are not 2028 dates.
Application forms: parent submission deadline
8 April 2026 to 30 June 2026
Department’s date notice
Who applies, and how
The guidance below is from North West’s 2027 intake circular; it is not a confirmed 2028 timetable.
- Grade R, Grade 1, Grade 8 and other grades: collect and return the school’s application form. The circular covers registration in all grades.
Documents to prepare
The department’s published checklist; check for any 2028 updates.
- Certified birth certificate copy or the acceptable birth-date proof listed by the department.
- Proof of residence.
- Immunisation card for primary school learners.
- Transfer card and last school report for a learner already at school.
- For non-South African learners, check the department’s listed study / residence documents or proof of the relevant application.
After you apply
Last published guidance. A 2028 timetable is not confirmed.
- 30 October 2026 · 2027 intakeSchools should give a written acceptance or refusal by this date, according to the circular.
- Ask for written reasons if refused. The circular describes a complaint to the district, then the Superintendent General, followed by an appeal to the MEC if still dissatisfied.
- Circuit managers help parents find alternative schools with space.
Dates and details still to confirm
- For 2027, the circular set 30 June 2026 for parents to return forms, even though the broader registration period ended on 30 September. Its body/poster give an 8 April start; an attached table says 1 April.
- No 2028 acceptance or appeal deadline has been confirmed.
Check the Grade R and Grade 1 age rules and use the grade calculator to plan your child’s school year.
Department sources · checked 21 October 2026
A planning guide. North West Department of Education decides applications and placements; confirm your child’s instructions with the department.