A private institution in Cape Town’s city centre, Growing Minds school, has been closed after allegations surfaced that it has been teaching learners from grades eight to 11 without proper registration for nearly three years.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) confirmed that Growing Minds Summerfield Campus, based in Gardens, was registered in 2018 — but only for grades R to seven.
It was later discovered that the school had expanded to include higher grades without authorisation.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the department became aware of the issue in 2024.
“They had registered with our department in 2018, but they registered for grades R to seven. In 2024, we became aware that they extended their operation to grade eight to 11 learners as well. That’s where the problems come in. They were operating for those other grades illegally,” Hammond said.
She added that the department acted quickly after discovering the unregistered grades, saying that the learners’ academic records could not be validated.
“We have to address that immediately, and we’re concerned about the learners because their academic qualifications are null and void,” she said.
Following the revelation, the school reportedly decided to close its doors voluntarily. This decision, Hammond said, created additional challenges, as parents were now rushing to find placement for their children.
“We’ve been in contact with lots of parents. A lot have already registered their children in other schools,” she explained.
“Other parents want to get into public schools, but the choices they want to go to are proving difficult because of the demand in some of our top schools.”
Despite the disruption, Hammond confirmed that affected learners would not lose a school year when they move to other institutions. The WCED is assisting families in securing placements.
She also issued a reminder to parents to verify a private school’s registration status before enrolling their children.
“Parents should request a registration certificate and check which grades are officially registered to prevent similar issues in the future,” she said.
Growing Minds school’s closure has sparked frustration among parents, many of whom were unaware of the registration problem.
Some have expressed concern over potential gaps in their children’s academic records and the impact on future examinations.
The WCED has assured that it is working to minimise the impact on learners and has opened communication lines for affected families seeking assistance.
Swisher Post has reached out to Growing Minds school for comment but has not received a response at the time of publication.
