Tucked into the valley of the Keiskamma River in the Eastern Cape, St. Matthew’s High School is one of South Africa’s oldest continuously operating schools — a place where Xhosa heritage, Anglican mission history, and modern state education converge on a single piece of land donated by a chief in the 1850s. For parents researching secondary schools in the Amahlathi Local Municipality, and for Grade 7 learners preparing to transition to high school, this guide covers everything: application forms, admission requirements, fees, boarding, subjects, and academic performance.
School Overview & History
St. Matthew’s High School in Keiskammahoek, Eastern Cape, has roots that predate South Africa as a country. It began operating in 1856 after John Armstrong — the first Bishop of Grahamstown — committed the Anglican Church to serving Xhosa communities caught in the devastating aftermath of the frontier wars. Chief Socishe donated 690 acres (280 hectares) of land, and with approval from colonial governor Sir George Grey, the St. Matthews Mission was established. The school that grew from that mission has educated generations of Eastern Cape learners ever since.
The link between St. Matthews and St. Andrew’s College in Grahamstown (now Makhanda) stretches back to the 1860s, when mission learners were sent to what was then called the Kaffir Institute within St. Andrew’s. The Revd Charles Taberer introduced academic morning classes and industrial afternoon work in the 1860s, and was instrumental in laying the foundation stone of the school church and opening the girls’ hostel — a facility that, in one form or another, continues to this day.
The school’s Anglican connection was severed in 1957 when the Church of the Province of Southern Africa, in a difficult and painful decision, withdrew from education under the Bantu Education Act of 1953. Like hundreds of mission schools across the country, St. Matthews was taken over by the state. Decades later, a restoration project emerged following a 2007 brainstorming session between then Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan and Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane. St. Matthews was identified by the Historic Schools Restoration Project as deserving of rebuilding and expansion — recognition of both its heritage and its continuing educational value.
Today the school operates as a public government secondary school under the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE), within the Amathole District Municipality, AW Circuit 8. It carries the EMIS number 200200816 and serves the broader Keiskammahoek and Amahlathi community.
St. Matthews High School is classified as a Quintile 1–3 no-fee school, which means the school does not charge tuition fees to learners. As a public school designated for a disadvantaged community, the South African Schools Act (SASA) and the Eastern Cape Department of Education cover operational costs. Parents are not legally required to pay school fees, and learners cannot be denied admission or reports for non-payment.
Admission & Application: How to Apply for 2026–2027
St. Matthews High School does not operate a centralised online application portal — admission is handled directly through the school. The Eastern Cape Department of Education opens applications for new learners annually, typically from April to June for the following year. For the 2026–2027 academic year, prospective Grade 8 learners and transfer students should contact the school as early as possible, as placement is not guaranteed for out-of-feeder-zone applicants.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply
Required Documents for Application
School Fees for 2026–2027
St. Matthews High School is designated as a no-fee public school. The school falls within the lower quintile categories under the national school funding norms, meaning the government subsidises tuition in full. There are no compulsory tuition fees charged to learners.
However, parents and guardians should budget for items that remain the responsibility of the household. Voluntary contributions to school activities, stationery, school uniforms, and — for boarding learners — hostel costs, are not covered by the state subsidy. Contact the school directly for the latest hostel fee structure, as these amounts are set by the School Governing Body (SGB) and can change annually.
| Cost Item | Amount (Approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | R0 | No-fee school — state funded |
| School Uniform | Contact school | Parent responsibility; enquire with SGB |
| Stationery & Textbooks | Varies | LTSM (learning materials) partly state-supplied |
| Girls’ Boarding Hostel | Contact school | Set by SGB; confirm current rate at admission |
| Voluntary SGB Contribution | Optional | Not compulsory; cannot affect admission |
Boarding School Facilities
One of the defining features of St. Matthews High School is its girls’ boarding hostel, which dates back to the school’s earliest years under Anglican mission management. The school accepts day learners of both sexes, but residential boarding is available exclusively for female learners. In 2014 the boarding facility housed approximately 300 girls — a substantial proportion of the total enrolment at the time.
For families living in the rural areas surrounding Keiskammahoek — or further afield in the Amathole district — the boarding facility makes St. Matthews a viable option for girls who would otherwise face impractical daily commutes. The hostel provides accommodation and meals, and learners living on campus benefit from structured study environments in the evenings.
Hostel space is limited and allocated on a first-come basis. Parents of prospective female boarders should enquire about hostel availability at the earliest opportunity — ideally during the initial application visit. Do not assume boarding space is available simply because a learner has been accepted academically.
Academics: Subjects, Vision & Dinaledi Status
St. Matthews is registered as a Dinaledi school — a South African government designation given to secondary schools that demonstrate capacity and commitment to improving learner performance in Mathematics, Science, and Technology. Dinaledi schools receive additional resources, teacher support, and targeted intervention programmes from the Department of Basic Education to strengthen their STEM offering.
The school’s vision is to become a centre of excellence in Culture, Mathematics, Science and Technology, helping learners realise their potential and make meaningful contributions to their communities and the broader nation. The curriculum delivered is the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) as administered through the CAPS framework — the same curriculum offered at all public secondary schools in South Africa.
Subject Areas Offered (Grades 8–12)
IsiXhosa Home/FAL
Afrikaans (FAL)
Mathematical Literacy
Life Sciences
Geography
Economics
Life Orientation
Creative Arts
Computer Applications Technology
Note: Subject offerings are confirmed at enrolment. Subject availability may vary per grade and academic year. Contact the school for the current full subject list.
Matric Results & Academic Performance
St. Matthews High School’s annual matric results are published by the Eastern Cape Department of Education and can be verified on the national school performance database. While the school does not publish detailed pass-rate breakdowns on its own website, its status as a Dinaledi school reflects a recognised commitment to academic improvement, particularly in Mathematics and Science.
Provincially, the Eastern Cape achieved an 85% matric pass rate in 2024 — a significant improvement from 81.42% in 2023, and part of a national trend in which the overall SA pass rate climbed to 87.3%. The province’s gains reflect targeted interventions in historically underperforming districts, including parts of the Amathole region where St. Matthews is situated.
For school-specific matric results, parents can search the national matric results database using the school name or EMIS number (200200816). The school’s own website at stmatthewshighschool.com also maintains a historical results section.
Extracurricular Activities & School Culture
St. Matthews has a strong tradition of learner activities beyond the classroom. The school supports a range of clubs, creative arts programmes, and cultural activities — with particular emphasis on poetry, which has its own dedicated section on the school’s website. The school’s roots in Xhosa culture mean that indigenous language arts, performance, and oral traditions remain valued parts of school life.
Sports and physical activity are also part of the school’s programme, and the school’s partners include the Sifunda Kunye organisation, an NPO that supports under-resourced schools in tackling South Africa’s education crisis. Sifunda Kunye has been active at St. Matthews in areas including literacy development, library services, and school infrastructure support.
Contact Details & How to Get There
Keiskammahoek
Eastern Cape, 5680
St. Matthews
Keiskammahoek, 5680
27°10’57″E
Keiskammahoek is accessible via the R352 provincial road connecting Stutterheim to Dimbaza. The school is situated within the St. Matthews Mission compound, a historically significant site that predates South African unification. Public transport to Keiskammahoek runs from King William’s Town (eKomani / Komani district). If travelling from East London, the drive is approximately 90 kilometres via the N2 and R352.
Over 168 Years of Education in the Eastern Cape — Still Going Strong
St. Matthews High School, Keiskammahoek is a government no-fee secondary school with a distinguished history stretching back to 1856. It operates as a Dinaledi school with a girls’ boarding hostel, serves over 780 learners, and falls under the Amathole District Municipality. Applications for 2026–2027 are handled directly through the school office — there is no online portal. Contact the school on 040 658 8161 as early as possible, especially if you require boarding accommodation. Tuition is fully state-funded; no school fees are charged.
