Growing Minds school has responded to reports that its Summerfield Campus in Cape Town was closed for operating without registration for higher grades.
The school has denied these claims, stating that it remains a fully registered institution and continues to function as normal.
In a statement to Swisher Post, Growing Minds school director Denise Pape said the campus is registered with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) for grades R to 11.
“The school is fully registered from Grade R to 11 as can be confirmed with the WCED,” she said.
This follows an earlier report in which the WCED alleged that the private school had been teaching learners in grades 8 to 11 without official authorisation.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond stated that while Growing Minds had been registered in 2018 for grades R to 7, the department became aware in 2024 that the school had “extended its operation to grade eight to eleven learners as well” without the necessary approval.
According to Pape, the school’s recent decision to phase out its high school division has been misunderstood as a closure.
“The decision was taken to focus on the junior grades where we are able to make the most positive impact with the aim of reintegrating the pupils into a mainstream environment for high school,” she said.
Pape added that the move was also based on financial considerations and the small number of high school students enrolled.
“With only 11 high school pupils, it isn’t financially viable to continue beyond 2025. Teaching and learning is continuing for all high school pupils until the end of the year,” she explained.
She confirmed that all current grade 11 learners have been successfully placed in other schools, while the six students in grades 8 and 9 are in the process of securing placements for 2026.
“All five grade 11s have already been placed in other schools with a handover directly to those schools,” Pape said.
The WCED earlier expressed concern that academic records for affected learners could not be validated due to the registration issue.
However, Growing Minds insists that learners’ education has not been disrupted and that all transitions are being handled directly with receiving schools.
In response to questions about the future of the institution, Pape said that Growing Minds will continue operating within its registered scope.
“Growing Minds is a unique, nurturing and inclusive environment with staff dedicated to supporting children who don’t fit into a traditional mainstream environment,” she said.
“The school has been registered since 2017, starting with two learners, and has since supported many children with a high standard of education and care.”
While the WCED maintains that parents should verify a private school’s registration status before enrolling their children, Pape reiterated that the school remains committed to transparency and compliance.
