By uni24 Editorial · Updated March 2026
In a town that most South Africans associate with the N6 highway, a remarkable educational experiment has been quietly running since 2007. Get Ahead College in Komani — the town formerly known as Queenstown — is the only IEB-accredited school in the entire area. Its learners are predominantly black African youth from surrounding rural townships. Its fees sit far below the private school average. And it is building a national reputation as proof that globally recognised, academically rigorous education does not have to be the preserve of urban wealth.
About Get Ahead College
Get Ahead College (GAC) is a registered independent high school located on Faraday Road in Queendustria, an industrial suburb roughly six kilometres from Komani’s town centre — and situated on the road that leads to Ezibeleni, the area’s largest township. The school is part of the broader Get Ahead Project Trust, a non-profit organisation that runs multiple schools in the Eastern Cape, including primary schools in Queenstown and a satellite campus in Whittlesea, about 35 kilometres away. Across all the Trust’s schools, close to 1,000 learners are enrolled.
The College itself serves approximately 319 learners across Grades 8 to 12 and operates a co-educational model. Its current Head of College is Alan Thompson. The school is fully accredited by both Umalusi — South Africa’s quality assurance body for general and further education — and the Independent Quality Assurance Agency (IQAA), which means its qualifications are legally recognised and accepted by South African universities and employers.
Get Ahead College describes itself as a Christian-ethos school, and that value system — centring community, care, and accountability — runs visibly through its culture. The school’s stated mission is to make every learner feel “worthy and validated”, which is less a branding line and more a direct response to the context it operates in: many of its learners come from communities where access to quality secondary education has historically been limited.
What is the IEB — and Why Does It Matter?
The Independent Examinations Board (IEB) is an accredited assessment body that offers its own version of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) to private and independent schools. The IEB curriculum places greater emphasis on critical thinking, independent research, and applied problem-solving than the standard CAPS-NSC model. In 2024, IEB schools achieved a national pass rate of 98.47%, with a strong Bachelor’s pass rate of 89.37%. IEB results are accepted by all South African universities and many international institutions — making the qualification globally portable in a way that standard NSC results are not always recognised.
History: Rooted in Community, Built for the Future
The Get Ahead Project was founded in Queenstown (now Komani) by a group of local parents who believed that English language development was critical to giving learners from township communities better educational opportunities than those available in the area’s public schools. The founding vision was practical and community-driven: not a charity imposed from outside, but a grassroots solution built by people who understood the specific educational gaps in their own neighbourhood.
A turning point came in 2002, when Peter Oliver — a South African living in Toronto, Canada, and founder of the Leacock Foundation — visited the project and was sufficiently moved by what he witnessed to commit ongoing financial support. That partnership allowed Get Ahead to expand significantly, bringing in more learners than the original founders had been able to accommodate. A year later, in 2003, the Canadian “Triangle of Hope” was formalised — a collaborative educational arrangement between Get Ahead and Canadian partner schools that enriched learners’ experience through cross-border learning projects.
Get Ahead College, the secondary school component of the Trust, was formally established in 2007. In recent years, the school made a significant curriculum upgrade: it is in the process of transitioning from the standard CAPS/NSC curriculum to the IEB framework, starting with Grade 10. That transition is ongoing and represents the most ambitious academic shift in the school’s history — bringing it in line with South Africa’s top private high schools while keeping its fees deliberately affordable.
In late 2025, the school broke ground on new classroom construction to accommodate growing enrolment and new academic programmes. The expansion will create dedicated space for additional mathematics tuition, a reading enrichment programme, and a new innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership track — signalling a clear long-term growth trajectory.
Academic Programme & Curriculum (2026–2027)
Get Ahead College is registered as an IEB school and operates under the South African CAPS curriculum framework, transitioning progressively to full IEB assessment across all FET grades. The school runs from Grade 8 to Grade 12 only — it is a high school, not a combined school — and its curriculum is designed to prepare learners explicitly for both university admission and the demands of a 21st-century economy.
The school positions itself as a STREAM-focused institution — an expanded version of the better-known STEM model that adds Reading and Arts alongside Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. This reflects a deliberate choice: the school wants graduates who are technically capable but also articulate, culturally literate, and able to communicate and lead in complex environments.
A fourth-industrial revolution (4iR) classroom environment is built into the school’s infrastructure. This means internet connectivity, coding exposure, and digital tool integration are embedded into daily learning — not added as optional extras. The school’s explicit goal is to produce graduates who are “masters of technology, never its slave.”
🔬
Science
📚
Reading
⚙️
Engineering
🎨
Arts
💻
Technology
➗
Mathematics
Extra-Mural Activities
Participation in extra-mural activities is a core part of the Get Ahead College philosophy — the school runs a full programme spanning both cultural and sporting codes. For a relatively small school of around 319 learners, the breadth of what’s on offer is impressive.
🎭 Cultural Activities
Library & Research
Chess
Debating & Public Speaking
4iR Coding & Robotics
Enviro-Club
🏃 Sport
7’s Rugby
Soccer
Netball
Athletics
The 4iR Coding and Robotics programme is worth noting specifically. For learners from rural township communities who may have had limited exposure to digital technology in their primary school years, this programme does more than teach coding — it equalises access to skills that are rapidly becoming prerequisite for participation in the formal economy.
School Fees 2026 (Confirmed)
Get Ahead College is proud of its positioning as a low-fee independent school. The school’s all-inclusive fee structure covers tuition, books and learning materials, and extracurricular activities — excluding any transport costs. Fees are spread over either 9 or 11 months depending on the grade, making monthly payments manageable for families. A R1,200 discount is available if the full annual fee is paid upfront by 31 January of the school year.
| Grade | Annual Tuition | Textbook Levy | Extra-Mural Levy | IEB Exam Fees | Monthly Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 8 & 9 | R27,790 | R800 | R750 | — | R2,440 × 11 months |
| Grades 10 & 11 | R27,790 | R800 | R750 | R2,140 | R2,635 × 11 months |
| Grade 12 | R27,790 | R800 | R750 | R2,140 | R3,220 × 9 months |
Source: GAC official fees page, gac.getahead.org.za/enrolment-and-fees — 2026 figures. A deposit of R2,500 is required by end of the preceding year and is deducted from the annual fee.
Context matters: At R2,440 per month for Grades 8 and 9, Get Ahead College’s fees are a fraction of what most IEB schools in Gauteng or the Western Cape charge, where monthly fees frequently exceed R10,000. For Komani families seeking internationally accredited high school education, this is a genuinely accessible option — and deliberately so. The school’s relationship with international donors like the Leacock Foundation helps keep fees at this level.
How to Apply: Application Form & Process (2026–2027)
Get Ahead College runs a direct application process that does not go through any provincial government portal. Applications are managed by the school itself via email, and the process is clearly documented on the school’s official website. The school offers separate application forms for Grade 8 and 9 entry, and for Grade 10 entry respectively. Both forms are available as free PDF downloads from gac.getahead.org.za/enrolment-and-fees.
Download the Correct Application Form
Visit gac.getahead.org.za/enrolment-and-fees and download the Grade 8 & 9 Application Form or the Grade 10 Application Form, depending on your child’s intended entry point. Also download the Parent Contract — this is a separate required document.
Complete and Sign Both Forms
Both the Application Form and the Parent Contract must be completed in full and signed before submission. Incomplete submissions will not be processed. All fields must be filled — do not leave sections blank.
Email the Completed Forms to the School
Send your completed forms as PDF attachments to colsec@getaheadproject.org. You can scan completed paper forms or complete fillable PDFs digitally. Keep a copy of your sent email as proof of submission.
Application Processed — Await Confirmation
The school’s college secretary will process your application and communicate whether your child has been accepted. If you have not heard back within two weeks, follow up via phone or email.
Pay the R2,500 Deposit via EFT
Once accepted, you are required to pay a R2,500 registration deposit by EFT into the school’s bank account. This deposit is deducted from your total annual school fee for the year — it is not an additional charge on top of the listed fees. Banking details will be provided by the school upon acceptance.
Email Proof of Payment
Send your EFT proof of payment to colsec@getaheadproject.org to confirm the deposit transaction. The school will acknowledge receipt, and enrolment is then confirmed.
Your Child Starts Their Journey at Get Ahead College
With deposit confirmed and enrolment complete, your child is formally registered. The school will communicate the start date, orientation details, uniform requirements, and any additional information needed for the first day.
Required Documents for Application
The application form itself will list all required supporting documents in full. Based on standard independent school admissions requirements in South Africa, you should prepare the following before submitting your application:
Application Document Checklist
Certified copy of learner’s birth certificate
Unabridged preferred; certified abridged accepted with proof of application for the full version
Most recent school report (Grade 6 or 7)
Required to assess academic readiness and appropriate grade placement
Certified copy of parent or guardian’s ID
South African green barcoded ID or smart card; passport for non-SA parents
Proof of residence
Utility bill, rates account, or signed lease agreement in the parent or guardian’s name
Completed Parent Contract (downloaded from school website)
This is a separate required document — download, sign, and submit alongside the application form
Transfer letter (if currently enrolled at another school)
Must be issued officially by the previous school if your child is transferring mid-year or between schools
Quick Reference: Key Facts
| School Type | Independent (IEB) · Grade 8–12 |
| Location | Faraday Road, Queendustria, Komani, Eastern Cape |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Head of College | Alan Thompson |
| Number of Learners | ~319 |
| Co-Educational | Yes |
| Boarding | No |
| Accreditation | Umalusi · IQAA · IEB |
| Ethos | Christian |
| 2026 Grade 8/9 Annual Fee | R27,790 + R800 books + R750 extramural = R2,440/month |
| Admission Deposit | R2,500 (deducted from annual fee) |
Contact Details
📍 Address
Faraday Road
Queendustria
Komani (Queenstown)
Eastern Cape
📞 Phone
+27 45 858 8044
Mon–Fri, school hours
✉️ Email
colsec@getaheadproject.org
🌐 Website
gac.getahead.org.za
getahead.org.za (full project)
Explore Top High Schools in South Africa
The Bottom Line
Get Ahead College occupies a genuinely unusual position in South Africa’s educational landscape. It is the only IEB school in Komani, offering a globally benchmarked, internationally recognised curriculum to learners who are predominantly from rural township backgrounds — at fees that are a fraction of what equivalent IEB schools in major cities charge. At R2,440 per month for Grades 8 and 9 (all-inclusive), and with an active 4iR and STREAM academic focus, the school is building something rare: serious access to serious education, outside of the major metros. For families in the Komani area seeking an independent school alternative to the public system, Get Ahead College is the strongest and most distinctive option in the region.
To apply: Download forms at gac.getahead.org.za/enrolment-and-fees · Email colsec@getaheadproject.org · Call +27 45 858 8044 · Updated March 2026
