St George's Preparatory School to Close at End of 2026

Curro Holdings has confirmed that St George's Preparatory School in Gqeberha will close permanently at the end of the 2026 academic year, citing sustained low enrolment and significant ongoing operating losses. The decision affects 197 pupils and 51 members of staff.

The school, located on Park Drive in Gqeberha, will continue to operate in full through the remainder of the academic year. Teaching, assessments, academic reporting and learner support will continue without interruption until closure.

Why Is St George's Prep Closing?

In a statement, Curro Holdings said the decision followed a comprehensive review of all available options for the school's future. The group said it had pursued a range of interventions over a sustained period to strengthen the school's position, including admissions initiatives, marketing investment and cost-base restructuring.

"Despite these efforts, enrolment has remained materially below the level required for the school to operate sustainably," Curro said. "The school has continued to incur significant operating losses, and the fixed-cost pressures of facilities, staffing, regulatory compliance and utilities are not supported by the current or projected learner base."

Curro added that it was satisfied closure was the responsible course of action, taken only after all viable alternatives had been carefully considered and found to be insufficient.

St George's Preparatory recently celebrated its 90th anniversary. The school became part of the Curro Select Schools network in 2021 — a relationship that lasted just under five years before the closure announcement.

What This Means for Pupils and Families

For the 197 learners currently enrolled, the closure raises immediate practical questions about where they will continue their education in 2027. Curro has confirmed it is providing transition support to all affected families, including individual pupil placement assistance, academic records and handover documentation, and direct engagement with receiving schools.

One parent, who asked not to be named, described the news as a significant disruption. "It's going to affect us because now we have to look for a new school, which is obviously not easy at this time of the year, and it's going to disrupt our child's education," the parent told The Herald. "He has friends in the school, and so he's going to need to get new friends and settle into a new school, which will take some time."

The same parent alleged that problems at the school began after Curro acquired it, claiming that many parents had removed their children because they felt the school had become too focused on commercial considerations rather than community. Curro has not responded publicly to this characterisation.

Families navigating the transition are encouraged to contact the school directly for placement assistance and to request their child's full academic records and handover documentation as early as possible.

What This Means for Staff

The closure affects 51 staff members. Curro said affected employees are being supported through a structured consultation process and that staff have already been placed at vacancies within Curro's national network. The group said it would continue to work with remaining affected employees to identify further opportunities as they arise.

"At Curro, every child and employee matters. That commitment guides every step of the transition that follows," the group said in its statement.

A Broader Context: Enrolment Pressures on Private Schools

The closure of St George's Preparatory is not an isolated case. Private and independent schools across South Africa have faced growing financial pressure in recent years, driven by a combination of economic strain on households, increasing competition in the private education sector, and the rising cost of running fee-paying schools. Where enrolment falls below a sustainable threshold, the fixed costs of staffing, facilities, maintenance and compliance can render continued operation financially unviable regardless of the quality of education provided.

For parents currently considering private schooling options in Gqeberha, it is worth engaging directly with schools about their enrolment trends, financial stability and long-term planning — not to cause alarm, but as part of informed decision-making about your child's educational journey.

Advice for Affected Families

If your child is enrolled at St George's Preparatory School, there are several practical steps worth taking now rather than waiting until closer to year end.

Contact the school to request your child's academic records, progress reports and any relevant assessments. Ask about the placement assistance Curro has committed to providing and ensure you are registered for that process. Begin researching alternative schools early, as places for the 2027 academic year will be allocated during the second half of 2026.

Consider the transition carefully from your child's perspective. Changing schools mid-childhood can be unsettling, particularly for younger learners who are strongly attached to their peer group and routine. Open, honest conversations at home — framed around new opportunities rather than loss — can help ease the adjustment.

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This article draws on reporting by Faith Mtwana published in The Herald on 22 May 2026, supplemented by general information about private school enrolment in South Africa. All figures cited — 197 pupils and 51 staff — are sourced from Curro Holdings' official statement as reported by The Herald.