Port Rex Technical High School: Fees, Admissions, Courses And Results

There are very few schools in South Africa where a learner can finish Grade 12 knowing how to strip an automotive engine, wire an electrical power system, or read structural engineering drawings — and walk straight into a trade, an apprenticeship, or a university engineering programme with confidence. Port Rex Technical High School in East London is one of them. This is the complete guide to what the school offers, what it costs in 2026, and how to apply for the 2027 academic year.

What Makes Port Rex Different: One of Only Two Fully Technical High Schools in SA

Port Rex Technical High School sits on Chamberlain Road in the Berea suburb of East London, Eastern Cape. It is a public, dual-medium (English and Afrikaans), co-educational secondary school operating under the Eastern Cape Department of Education. What sets it apart from virtually every other school in the province — and most of the country — is its curriculum model. Port Rex is widely described as one of only two fully technical high schools in South Africa. Every learner, from Grade 8 to Grade 12, is required to study both Mathematics and Physical Science to matric level. That’s not standard practice at most schools, where learners can opt for Mathematical Literacy instead.

The school’s roots stretch back to 1928 and the Technical Section of the East London Technical College. In 1969, day scholars split off from the Technical College to form two new schools: the East London Technical High School and the East London Commercial High School (now Stirling High School). In 1974, headmaster Dr Johan Brittz — who also designed the school’s current badge — proposed renaming the school. The name “Port Rex” was chosen in honour of George Rex, a British sea captain who landed at the Buffalo River mouth in 1823 and after whom East London was originally named before 1847. The current campus on Chamberlain Road has an additional historical layer: the premises were previously occupied by De La Salle College (1935–1976), which was purchased from the Irish Catholic Brothers for R6 million in the early 1980s after the Lukin Road premises became too cramped for three co-located institutions.

Until 1989, Port Rex was an all-boys school. Girls were admitted that year, making it co-educational, and in 1993 it became a Model C school open to all race groups. The boarding facility, Frank Cowie House, remains exclusive to male learners. The school’s current headmaster is Mr Ettiene Theron, who took over after a period of acting headmasters following the passing of long-serving headmaster Mr Rob Piderit in May 2015.

Port Rex School Fees for 2026

The official 2026 fee schedule, published by the school and available as a downloadable PDF at portrexths.co.za, sets out tuition and hostel fees in detail. These are the confirmed figures for the current academic year — not estimates from third-party directories. The fee structure uses a sibling discount model and an early-payment incentive.

Source: Port Rex THS official 2026 School/Hostel Fees PDF (portrexths.co.za). Fees payable over 11 months Jan–Nov, due by 7th of each month. Grade 8 new learners: R3,400 deposit required. Early payment discount applies when annual fee is paid before end of February 2026 (1 month free).

Application Form & Admission: How to Apply for 2027

Applications for the 2027 academic year are currently open as of March 2026. Port Rex publishes a downloadable PDF application form directly on its admissions page at portrexths.co.za/application-form — making it one of the more accessible school application processes in East London, requiring no in-person visit simply to obtain a form. The school also offers an online application submission option, and applicants can save progress mid-form and return to complete it later.

An important note for transfer learners: the school confirms that there will be a limited number of vacancies in Grades 9 and 10. Applications for those grades will only be considered if a vacancy exists. The school’s Admission Policy and Code of Conduct are both available to download and review before applying — learners and parents should read both before submitting. All applications without the full set of certified documentation will not be processed.

Step-by-Step: The Application Process

Required Documents for Application

Academic Programme: Subjects & Three Engineering Specialisations

The curriculum at Port Rex is structured in two distinct phases. In the GET phase (Grades 8 and 9), all learners follow the standard CAPS curriculum with a deliberate shift in emphasis toward technology. From Day 1 in Grade 8, learners are exposed to Engineering Graphics and Design and workshop practice — hands-on experience with tools and equipment they will encounter in senior technical subjects. This early exposure means that by the end of Grade 9, learners can make an informed, experience-backed choice about which engineering specialisation to pursue in Grade 10.

In the FET phase (Grades 10–12), all learners share a compulsory core and then choose one of three engineering specialisation subjects. Specialisation allocation is based on a learner’s achievement in Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology at the end of Grade 9. Each specialisation has a cap on class numbers, determined by workshop safety requirements and the number of available workstations — meaning high demand does not automatically translate into placement in a first-choice specialisation.

Note: Mathematics and Physical Sciences are taken together. Technical Mathematics and Technical Sciences are taken together. Learners cannot mix these pairs.

The Three Engineering Specialisations: What Each One Leads To

These are the three specialisation pathways available in the FET phase, and why each one matters for a learner’s post-school future.

Boarding at Port Rex: Frank Cowie House

Frank Cowie House is Port Rex’s boarding facility for male learners only. It is named after Frank Cowie, one of four Board Councillors who served the East London Technical College and whose contribution to technical education in the Border region is commemorated in the school’s house system (the four houses — Christopher, Bisseker, Cowie, and Bowie — are all named after these councillors).

The hostel accommodates boys from outside East London and further afield in the Eastern Cape and beyond. Per the school’s own description, Grade 8 boarders often find hostel life challenging initially — particularly those who have never been away from home — but by Grade 12, they are typically described as independent and well-prepared for the demands of post-school life. The camaraderie built in the hostel is something Old Port Rexians consistently highlight at alumni gatherings.

The hostel operates on a zero-tolerance policy toward integration, initiation, or bullying. Hostel management is entrusted with ensuring the safety, wellbeing, and happiness of each boarder, within a structured environment of house rules. The 2026 annual boarding fee for weekly boarders is R53,900 (R4,900 per month × 11 months), paid via the separate hostel ABSA account. Termly boarders have one compulsory weekend out per month (every fourth weekend). A private boarding option is also available at R3,300 per month over 12 months (R39,600 annually).

Sport, Culture & Campus Life

Sport participation at Port Rex is not optional — learners are required to take part in one summer sport and one winter sport each year. The school views this as essential to developing sportsmanship, commitment, and teamwork, and recognises achievement through a Merit and Colours Awards System. All coaching for school sporting codes is provided free of charge by staff, with additional professional coaches employed for selected codes.

The campus sports facilities sit among tall trees with panoramic views of the sea and the Ihlanza River Valley — a setting that is unusual for a school in an East London suburb. Facilities include 2 squash courts, 4 tennis courts, cricket nets, and 3 dual-function fields that serve cricket, hockey, and rugby across seasons. All sporting codes are supported by the school’s own First Aid Team — a practical extension of the technical and pastoral ethos.

Culturally, Port Rex supports debating, a Scripture Union, library society, First Aid club, Interact, and a Cultural Society. A Junior Leader Camp for Grade 11 learners is held annually at Cefane Beach Resort to develop leadership capacity, and a Grade 8 integration camp — also at Cefane — helps new learners settle into the Port Rex family at the start of each school year, with prefects taking the lead and staff in oversight.

Matric Results & Academic Context

Port Rex’s technical curriculum means its matric results are evaluated differently to general academic schools. All learners write full Mathematics and Physical (or Technical) Sciences — subjects that drag down pass rates at many schools where they are compulsory. The school reports results annually at its prize-giving ceremony, which was held in December 2025 and noted as a “glitzy” occasion recognising excellence across academic, sporting, and cultural categories. Unofficial matric performance data from 2017 to 2024 is tracked on platforms like Schools Digest — though for verified figures, the Department of Basic Education’s official results portal is the authoritative source.

The Eastern Cape recorded a pass rate of 84.98% in the 2024 NSC examinations — up from 81.42% in 2023, representing one of the bigger provincial improvements that year. The national average was 87.3%, a historic high. Within this context, Port Rex — with its uniquely demanding technical curriculum — delivers graduates who are equipped not simply to pass matric, but to enter the skilled trades and engineering pipeline that South Africa’s economy needs. Employers in automotive, construction, and electrical industries in the Border region actively recruit Port Rexians by name.

Contact Details & Location

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