Nova Now is our limited-time enrolment offer for families joining Nova Pioneer in 2026. Enrol between 23 January and 10 February 2026 to get 100% off the enrolment fee and 50% off the first month’s tuition. This offer applies to all grades, from Tots to Grade 13, at all Nova Pioneer campuses in South Africa. To qualify, families must complete the full enrolment process, submit all required documents, complete the assessment, complete the affordability process and finalise form and document submissions on the parent portal within the offer period.

 

Terms and Conditions

1. Campaign Duration

1.1. This promotion runs from 23 January 2026 to 10 February 2026.
1.2. To qualify, families must complete all enrolment steps during this period.

 

2. Eligibility

2.1. This offer is for new families enrolling a student for the 2026 academic year.
2.2. Enrolment is subject to available space in the requested grade.
2.3. Students already enrolled for 2026 before 23 January are not eligible.

 

3. Enrolment Process

3.1. To receive the incentive, families must complete the full enrolment process during the offer period, including:

    3.1.1. Submitting all required admissions documents

    3.1.2. Completing student assessments 

    3.1.3. Passing affordability checks

3.2. Enrolment will only be confirmed once all standard Nova Pioneer admissions requirements are met.

3.3. To benefit from this promotion, the student must start attending school by 1 March 2026. If the student does not start by this date, the enrolment fee waiver and tuition discount will not apply.

 

4. Application of Incentive

4.1. The 100% enrolment fee waiver applies to the standard enrolment fee for the grade applied for.
4.2. The 50% tuition discount applies only to the first month’s tuition.
4.3. The tuition discount does not cover:

    4.3.1. Aftercare fees

    4.3.2. Extracurricular programmes

    4.3.3. Uniforms

    4.3.4. Stationery

    4.3.5. Transport

    4.3.6. Other non-tuition fees

4.4. The discount cannot be carried forward to future months or academic years.

 

5. Financial Standing

5.1. Families with an existing Nova Pioneer account in arrears (e.g., a sibling) will not qualify for this incentive.
5.2. Families must remain in good financial standing for the incentive to be applied.

 

6. Non-Transferability

6.1. The offer is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash, credit, or any other benefit.
6.2. The incentive applies only to the student and enrolment for which it was granted.

 

7. Exclusions

7.1. Nova Pioneer staff are not eligible for this promotion.
7.2. Students already receiving a bursary, scholarship, or other tuition discount (except approved sibling or referral discounts) are not eligible.

 

8. Withdrawal

8.1. If enrolment is withdrawn after completion, there will be no refund or credit for the waived enrolment fee or tuition discount.

 

9. General Conditions

9.1. Nova Pioneer reserves the right to change, suspend, or withdraw this promotion at any time.
9.2. Any disputes regarding eligibility, application, or interpretation of these terms will be resolved at Nova Pioneer’s discretion.
9.3. Enrolling during this promotion means you accept these terms and conditions.

We’re excited to offer a 10% discount on tuition fees to families joining Nova Pioneer through our Feeder School Partnership Programme with selected schools. If you’re getting ready for Grade 1 or High school, here’s everything you need to know!

 

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1. Who’s Eligible?

• Partner Schools: The 10% discount is available exclusively to families whose children are transferring to Nova Pioneer from one of our Partner Schools, those that have an agreement with Nova Pioneer as feeder schools.
  • Check if Your School Is a Partner: Parents should contact their school or Nova Pioneer directly to confirm if their child’s current school is part of our partnership programme.
• Grade Eligibility for Discount: The 10% discount only applies to the first grade your child enters at Nova Pioneer that is not offered by your child’s Partner School. This means:
  • If the Partner School does not offer Grade 1, your child will receive the 10% discount when they start Grade 1 at Nova Pioneer.
  • However, if your child switches to Nova Pioneer for a grade that is already offered by the Partner School (e.g., Grade R), the discount will not apply.

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2. The Discount Details

• How Much: You’ll receive a one-time 10% discount on the total tuition fees for your child’s first year at Nova Pioneer in the grade that’s not offered by the Partner School.
• Payment Plans:
  • Monthly Payments: The discount will be split equally over 11 months.
  • Termly Payments: The discount will be spread across the three terms.
• Non-Refundable Fees: Please note, the discount does not apply to non-refundable application or enrolment fees.
• The discount will apply to tuition fees only and not 
  • Aftercare fees
  • Extracurricular programmes
  • Uniforms, stationery, or transport
  • Or any other ad hoc fees.

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3. How to Apply for the Discount

• Eligibility for Discount: To qualify, the student must be exiting the Partner School at an official exit point (e.g., the end of a grade) and joining Nova Pioneer.
• Non-Transferrable: This discount is tied to the specific child named in the enrolment contract and cannot be transferred to a sibling or any other student.
• No Cash Substitution: The discount can’t be converted to cash or refunded—it’s strictly for tuition fees.

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4. Enrolment Conditions

• Space Availability: A spot at Nova Pioneer is subject to space availability in the grade your child is enrolling in.
• Entry Assessments: Every student will need to successfully complete an entry assessment to ensure they’re ready for their new grade.
• Affordability Assessment: Families must also complete an affordability assessment as part of the admissions process to qualify for the discount.
• Enrolment Documentation: Families are required to submit the necessary enrolment documentation as part of the application process.

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5. Exclusions

• Fee Arrears: The discount will not apply if your fee account is in arrears at any point—whether at the Partner School or at Nova Pioneer if you’re already a Nova Pioneer parent enrolling a sibling.
• Scholarships & Bursaries: If your child qualifies for a scholarship or bursary from Nova Pioneer, they will not be eligible for the 10% discount. Instead, the financial assistance based on the scholarship or bursary will apply.
• Nova Pioneer staff do not qualify for this discount.

R2000 Off January School Fees 

Details:

• Offer Period: 1 August 2024 – 9 September 2024
• Discount: R2000 off January 2025 school fees
• Applicable Transition: Current Nova Pioneer students transitioning from Grade 7 (Primary School) to Grade 8 (Senior School)
• Schools: All Nova Pioneer schools in South Africa

Terms and Conditions:

 

Campaign Duration:

• Runs from 1 August 2024 to 9 September 2024.

Eligibility:

• The R2000 discount is available to current Nova Pioneer families whose child is transitioning from Grade 7 to Grade 8 in 2025.
• Parents must pay the remaining balance (top-up) of the high school deposit/ enrolment fee and send proof of payment to their campus admissions person by the deadline.

Payment Requirements:

• Parents who paid a refundable deposit of R6000 or R7000 are required to pay either R1000 or R2000 respectively to make up the difference to the high school deposit of R8000.
• Parents who enrolled their child and paid a non-refundable enrolment fee of R3900 are required to pay the difference of R600 to meet the high school enrolment fee of R4500.
• All payments must be made in full by the deadline to qualify for the discount.

Application of Discount:

• The discount applies only to the January 2025 school fees for Grade 8.
• The discount cannot be used to offset any other costs, such as arrears, Cambridge fees, enrolment fees, aftercare, or extra-curricular programs.

Space Availability:

• The offer is subject to space availability in Grade 8 for the 2025 school year.
• If space is not available, the Top Up amount will be refunded.

Sibling Accounts:

• The discount will not be applied if there is a sibling at Nova Pioneer with an account in arrears at the time of the Top Up payment.

Non-Transferable:

• The offer is non-transferable and cannot be substituted for cash or a refund/credit.

Exclusions:

• Nova Pioneer staff do not qualify for this incentive.
• Students receiving a Nova Pioneer bursary, scholarship, or any other discount (except sibling and referral discounts) are not eligible for this incentive.

Over the past few days, a lot has been published about the Cambridge AS pass rate at some independent schools offering the Cambridge curriculum. While I am in no position to comment on the dynamics internal to those schools, I am concerned about the apparent misunderstandings around the nature of the Cambridge curriculum that may have been perpetuated in those articles.

As more and more parents are looking for alternatives for their children’s schooling, we have seen a surge in the popularity of the Cambridge curriculum. Many new, smaller, private institutions (and some bigger ones), are attempting to capitalise on this trend. Quite often, none of the parties involved will have a full understanding of the actual progression pathway to a University school exit with this qualification.

 

Is there a “matric equivalent” in the Cambridge curriculum? The short answer is, no. Here is why:

 

The Cambridge Curriculum is designed as a 13-year programme. At Secondary school level, there are three main exit examinations: IGCSE which is their version of a General Academic Literacy band, followed by AS and then A-levels. The confusion arises from the separation of AS and A-levels. 

Exiting school after doing AS (especially if that AS is offered over just one year), is very challenging. The difference between IGCSE and AS is significant. Remember that AS and A-levels are seen as University Preparation courses. The workload and difficulty levels do not increase in a linear fashion from IGCSE to AS. In our experience, (and this is borne out by international data), students who achieved a “B” for a subject at IGCSE, can expect to achieve a “C” or even a “D” at AS level. Students who then proceed to A-levels, tend to perform far better at the A-levels than they did with just AS.

Why is there the misconception that AS “equates” matric? It stems, in part, from the Universities South Africa  (USAF) entry requirements to University for students doing the Cambridge Curriculum. There are three different combinations of subjects for students to gain University entry, which stretches across IGCSE, AS and A-levels. This is why schools who offer the full Cambridge curriculum cannot report on a “Matric pass rate”. There isn’t a single pathway or a single year that counts as “matric”. Instead Cambridge offers students multiple pathways to tertiary studies from IGCSE through A-levels, and which they can change over the course of their studies to suit their evolving interests and marks. And this does not even include the pass requirements set by SAQA for a Diploma pass or simple exit pass.

 

As an illustration, I will only compare two:

 

A University pass can consist of passing four AS subjects with a minimum of a D symbol plus one (or two) IGCSE subjects with a C minimum. Or, it can also be three A-level (Year 13) subjects with an E minimum plus one IGCSE with a C. And so on.

The option to exit after Grade 12 with a one-year AS is by far the most challenging. We also had to learn this through hard experience. Students and parents who embark on the Cambridge journey should really see it as a 13-year pathway to full A-levels, with the option to exit after Grade 12 with AS being a possible bonus – which a number of students do achieve. This might not sit comfortably with many students who are used to the South African 12-year pathway, but the benefits are real. Students are far better prepared for success at University and they are much more competitive when applying to Universities both locally and abroad. However, students need to be guided by experts to make the best possible decisions about the appropriate pathways available to them.

 

A question that might also be asked is: Why is this trending right now? Cambridge has been around for a while?

 

Many of the schools that offered the Cambridge curriculum in the past, only offered it as an extension programme for their academically stronger pupils. Most of these schools only report on their final A-level results, not AS. The academic screening of students before being granted admission at these schools is very rigorous.

What is happening now is that there are more and more inclusive schools, offering the curriculum to a broader range of students. Offering this challenging programme to a broader range of abilities does present a challenge for which these schools must be well-prepared.

It is the duty of schools and parents to develop a deep understanding of what is really required by this demanding – but ultimately rewarding – curriculum. When taught, managed, and structured properly, it can provide wonderful opportunities to many more students than what was previously assumed.

 

Celebrating academic distinction at Nova Pioneer with commendable performances in their Cambridge A-Level, AS-Level and IGCSE examinations.

 

Nova Pioneer Schools, a pan-African independent school group that builds and operates world-class, affordable schools, offering students grades from preschool through to senior school, with established campuses in South Africa and Kenya, proudly announces the noteworthy achievements of their students in the Cambridge A-Level, AS-Level and IGCSE examinations. 

The school network offers Cambridge, an internationally accredited curriculum, where students can write their A-Level, AS-Level and IGCSE examinations, across their Ormonde, Midrand and West High Schools. The noteworthy performance of these learners is a testament to the innovation-driven education provided by Nova Pioneer, which is dedicated to developing future leaders and Innovators for the African Century.

 

Student Spotlight

 

Top performing A-Levels student, Isabel Enechi, who is set to study Dentistry in the European Union, exemplifies the high calibre of Nova Pioneer’s students. “I am particularly proud of my classmates who successfully completed the year – it was collectively one of our most difficult years, and witnessing the resilience and determination within our cohort has been a great source of inspiration.”

Enechi credits her achievements to the school’s ethos. “My school has played a crucial role in my journey by instilling in us culture principles like ‘Joy of Learning’ and ‘Always Growing’. The push for ongoing learning and growth has fueled my interest in Health Sciences and my passion for Dentistry”, she adds.

Nova Pioneer’s commitment to excellence is further reflected in the accomplishments of its AS Level scholars. Arjun Thulsie, recipient of the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Dux Scholar Award and future UP Actuarial Science student, is testament to the resilient spirit and academic prowess fostered at Nova Pioneer. “Looking back I am the most proud of having the opportunity to give back some good results to the Nova Pioneer Ormonde community, it’s a shared victory.”

In moments of hardship, Nova Pioneer’s supportive community has been pivotal. “When times were uncertain and life was really happening to my family and I, Nova Pioneer gracefully offered a helping hand. I will be eternally grateful to everyone at Nova Pioneer for embracing my pursuit of knowledge. Since day one, Nova Pioneer has academically supported and cheered me on through the world’s best teachers!”, shares Thulsie, emphasising the school’s nurturing environment.

Fellow classmates, Kewell Moodley, who secured the top position globally for Cambridge International IGCSE Business Studies in 2022, and Ungowakho Madolo, were both recently accepted for a Biomedical Engineering degree at the University of the Witwatersrand. 

“Not only did our amazing teachers help me significantly, but the culture principle of ‘High Expectations’ stuck with me throughout. The idea that we should always strive to do our best and compete only with our past selves helped me a lot. I can’t forget all the wonderful people at Nova Pioneer who kept me sane,” said Madolo. 

Nova Pioneer’s IGCSE students, who have exceeded expectations with a total of 32 A*, 85 A’s, 198 B’s and 239 C’s, felt a sense of relief and excitement, and concurred that they were ready to tackle the new year head-on.  

With aspirations to pursue a range of careers from Nanotechnology, Thermodynamics, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Medicine and Finance, students are pleased that all the hard work they have put in has paid off. 

When asked about their journey in class, Bhavesh Thulsie from Grade 10 IGCSE said, “Nova Pioneer has helped by providing amazing teachers and a coach who were always available and willing to help and always provided helpful and meaningful feedback.”

Simphiwe William a Grade 10 IGCSE student said, “I am most proud of how I was able to prepare myself mentally, physically, and emotionally for my examinations. The teachers motivate and encourage us. They were always there to assist us with any and all questions we had. Nova really helped us stick to their culture principle of ‘High Expectations’.”

Theuns Opperman, the school leader for Nova Pioneer Ormonde Secondary, said, “Our students have performed exceptionally well and we are proud of all our learners and their individual accomplishments! Nova Pioneer has a record of achieving a 90%-100% pass rate at A-levels and we are happy to report that this has been accomplished once more”.

“In the coming weeks, as data becomes available from Cambridge International, we will be comparing our students’ performance to that of students worldwide and fully expect our students to continue Nova Pioneer’s custom of outperforming global benchmarks,” said Opperman.

“It brings immense joy to partake in the triumphs of our students and the enthusiasm they exude for their future endeavours. Listening firsthand to their stories, it’s clear that Nova Pioneer has constructed a strong base for their dreams. The outcomes they’ve achieved are a testament to our students’ persistent efforts and resolve, augmented by the unwavering encouragement and motivation provided by their educators,” expressed Opperman.

“Innovation in education is at the heart of Nova Pioneer’s curriculum, empowering its students with not only knowledge but also the culture principles essential for leadership and lifelong learning. As Nova Pioneer celebrates these young achievers, it continues to pioneer a path of academic and personal development, setting its students on a trajectory towards becoming the leaders and innovators the world needs,” said Opperman.

 

Cultivating a Foundation for Student Achievement 

 

Cambridge is a flexible curriculum that offers students a number of pathways for exit. At a senior school level, there are three main exit examinations: IGCSE which is Cambridge’s version of a General Academic Literacy band, followed by AS and then A-levels. A-Levels are a recommended 13th year at a high school level and provides students a world-recognised and very highly regarded exit qualification to widen the scope of their university studies both locally and internationally. Depending on how students perform in their IGCSE and AS levels, A-levels improves their exit results and gives students the opportunity to improve their options of getting into their preferred course.  

Nova Pioneer works closely with each student and their families, often as early as Grade 8, to create an individual pathway. Families are consulted throughout their time at Nova Pioneer Ormonde to ensure clarity and understanding of the recommended exit pathway. 

As a school network, Nova Pioneer also does extensive predictive work and is happy to report that their AS and A-level students performed in line with or better than expected, whilst their students writing IGCSE outperformed all expectations. Many of their AS students have opted to stay with the school for A-levels to ensure an even more competitive set of results. 

 

Ready to Excel Beyond the Classroom 

 

Departing Nova Pioneer students who have completed their A-Levels, leave feeling confident as they know what they want to pursue beyond school. Chief of Schools, Rahel Wondwossen says this was made possible through the support of the Post School Success (PSS) Team and the school’s Psycho-social Support Team.

Wondwossen explains, “We established the PSS Team with the aim of equipping students with practical tools for preparation in life after school. The team supports students in understanding their options and what benefits and challenges each may come with.” 

The PSS team, in collaboration with the Psycho-social Support team, provides students with personalised assessments and career guidance based on each of their unique talents and skills. Nova Pioneer’s emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership training is rooted in their vision to empower generations of innovators who will drive progress across the continent. The PSS Team’s strategy is particularly integral, as it guides students in their exploration of career and higher education options, equipping them with practical tools and knowledge for life after school.

Wondwossen added, “By focusing on the unique strengths and interests of each student, Nova Pioneer fosters a community of forward-thinking leaders. The nurturing of such talent is essential to their mission of influencing the socio economic landscape of Africa, which requires a cadre of creative and adaptable leaders.”

“In addition to academic excellence, the school pledges continued engagement with its alumni, underscoring the importance of a supportive network in cultivating long-term success. The resilience and adaptability instilled in students are the qualities envisioned by Nova Pioneer to resonate through their alumni’s future initiatives and leadership roles, expressed Wondwossen.

As Nova Pioneer celebrates these achievements, it strengthens its resolve to inspire and support students to shape a promising horizon for Africa.

 

The end-of-year holidays are a special time, but they also come with their own stresses: managing relations with the in-laws, resolving fights between siblings, soothing that sunburn whilst also trying to manage last minute shopping and entertaining!

One thing you don’t have to worry about is January school fees – Nova Pioneer has you covered! We are offering 100% off your January tuition (Terms and Conditions apply). 

Receive a 100% discount on your January 2024 tuition if you secure one of the first 100 spots before 31 July 2023! Kickstart your application process by visiting our website and then join us for one of our upcoming Open Days or book a personalised tour.

What you need to know: 

• The campaign will run from 1 May 2023 to 31 July 2023 
• The incentive (100% off tuition for January 2024) will only be awarded to the first 100 students who enrol before 31 July 2023, whichever comes first (number of enrollees or incentive end date). No students after the 100th student limit or after 31 July 2023 will receive the Januworry incentive.
• Enrolments joining within the 2023 year (with a start date of 1 May 2023 or later) and joining in January 2024 qualify
• In order to qualify for this incentive, a student’s spot will need to be fully secured by 31 July 2023 (the full enrolment process needs to be complete – assessment, documentation, affordability checks and full application fee and full enrolment fee paid).
• Qualification for this offer is provisional on space availability in the requested grade – spaces are limited – as well as all other admissions requirements being completed in full.
• Confirmed enrolment at Nova Pioneer will be subject to all admissions requirements. We draw your attention to the following specific requirements:
  • Space being available in the requested grade
  • An entry assessment completed to establish grade readiness
  • An affordability assessment completed with financial clearance for admission granted. 
  • Payment of the full enrolment fee
• The discount will be applied to tuition costs, equivalent to the tuition amount billed for the month of January 2024, specifically.  The discount cannot be for any other month’s tuition costs. For termly or annual payers the equivalent discount will be applied as follows to equate to approximately 1 month of tuition.:
  • of 27% for Term 1’s tuition (calculated as 3 x terms tuition multiplied by 1 month/11 months)
  • of 9% for annual tuition (calculated as full annual fee multiplied by 1 month/11 months)
• The discount will not be applied should the student account be in arrears at the time of the January 2024 statements being sent (which is approximately end November 2023). If fees are not paid-up and the associated account is in arrears before 2024 statements are issued, the discount will NOT be applied for January 2024 tuition.
• The offer is non-transferrable and cannot be substituted for cash or a refund/credit.
• In order to benefit from the offer, the student needs to be enrolled at Nova Pioneer in January 2024 (and all other conditions met).
• The discount can only be applied to the tuition costs for the specified child who enrolled between 1 May 2023 or by 31 July 2023, and not to the tuition costs for a sibling or any other student.
• Where the student qualifying is a sibling, and therefore eligible for a sibling discount, a MAXIMUM of one month’s tuition will be applied to the fee account and no more. As an example if the student that qualifies for this No Januworry discount AND is eligible for a 5% sibling discount, then a 95% discount to January’s tuition will be applied. So the total possible discount will not exceed the equivalent of January (or equivalent if termly/annual payers) tuition
• Nova Pioneer staff do not qualify.
• This does not apply to current Grade 7 students required to make a top-up enrolment fee for Grade 8. Students already enrolled at Nova Pioneer in Grade 7 before 1 May 2023 are not eligible for this discount – they are not deemed a “new enrollee” which is a prerequisite for the incentive.
• The discount cannot be applied to the enrolment fee.
• Should a student receive a Nova Pioneer bursary or scholarship or any other discount, the student will not be eligible for the Januworry incentive.

Nova Pioneer Schools for Innovators and Leaders, recently celebrated their Ormonde Senior School students’ Cambridge A-Level results, with 83% of Nova Pioneer’s graduating class already achieving University Exemptions. Nova Pioneer students exceeded the global subject pass average in English, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Business and History.

Nova Pioneer is a pan-African independent school group that builds and operates world-class, affordable schools, offering students grades from preschool through to secondary. The school offers Cambridge, an internationally accredited curriculum, where students can write their IGSCE, AS-Level and A-Level examinations.

The A-Level year is ostensibly the equivalent of Grade 13 at a high school level and provides students a world-recognised exit qualification to widen the scope of their university studies both locally and internationally and, depending on how they performed in their IGCSE and AS levels, gives students the opportunity to improve their options of getting into their preferred course.  

Theuns Opperman, the school leader for Nova Pioneer Ormonde Secondary, said that he was proud of students’ results as they, again, did Nova Pioneer’s “Always Growing” culture principle proud.

“It is a pleasure to share in our students’ successes and excitement about their futures and to hear personally from them how attending Nova Pioneer has laid the foundations for  their aspirations. Their exceptional results reflect the tremendous diligence of our students and their tenacity, as well as the unstinting support and inspiration of their teachers,” said Opperman.

“We believe these results demonstrate the value in the completion of an A-Level year for those who wish to apply to the top South African and international tertiary institutions, and also for those students wishing to improve on their previous year’s AS level results.”

 

Academic excellence a priority 

 

Chief of Schools, Rahel Wondwossen said they were proud of the results achieved by their Grade 13 class of 2022. 

“I wish to commend our students and teachers for their commitment and hard work. The results achieved this year are a testament to their hard work and dedication leading up to this point and will underpin their successful progression into the future. Many of our students have now earned the necessary grades to secure places at universities locally or internationally should that be their plan,” said Wondwossen.

“We want to see students leave Nova Pioneer with the best possible academic qualifications for them and a love of learning that will remain with them for life. We are passionate about ensuring excellent outcomes for our pupils in order to improve their life opportunities. Thus, we are exceptionally proud of what the students have achieved,” she said.

 

Student spotlight

 

Top performing student in 2022, Andrew Williamson who will be pursuing his tertiary education at Stellenbosch University says he is excited about the newfound independence he will gain and finding both like-minded people and unlikely friends at university. 

“I’m most proud of the increased effort I have put into my studies this year. It was far more intensive than last year and it allowed me to discover a level of endurance that I didn’t know I had.”

When asked about what she is most proud of when looking back on 2022, top performer Sinovuyo Titi says, “If I had to pick just one, I would say I’m proud of my growth on how to adapt in uncomfortable situations. The past year has been a roller coaster academically and mentally and I taught myself that the only way to achieve your goals is to navigate through your challenges with a Novaneer “Solutions First” mindset. In that way, you don’t allow inconvenience to overwhelm you and you learn to overcome it.”

Isabel Enechi, another top performer receiving A’s in English and Maths says, “I think I’ve grown to really understand my psyche, and this has helped me in achieving a lot of goals I set for myself this year.” 

 

 

Prepared to thrive post school

 

Departing Nova Pioneer students who have completed their A-Levels, leave feeling confident as they  know what they want to pursue beyond school. Wondwossen says this was made possible through the support of the Post School Success (PSS) Team and the school’s Psycho-social Support Team.

Wondwossen explains, “We established the PSS Team with the aim of equipping students with practical tools for preparation in life after school. The team supports students in understanding their options and what benefits and challenges each may come with.” 

The PSS team, in collaboration with the psycho-social support team, provides students with personalised assessments and career guidance based on each of their unique talents and skills. They support students in cultivating pathways for success after leaving Nova Pioneer.  For many of our students, that may be university, but others pursue launching businesses amongst other pursuits.  Our PSS program, with the aid of our other support structures, supports students in their self discovery of passion and interest as they lead our communities beyond Nova Pioneer.

Both teams have, and continue to, support all students’ as they explore their options to study further or to pursue other paths.

“Also, it is important to note that the journey of a Nova Pioneer student does not end with their exit examinations – once a Novaneer, always a Novaneer. We look forward to engaging with our Novaneers who will now be part of Nova Pioneer’s active and networked pan-African Alumni community,” she added. 

Nova Pioneer is currently operational in both South Africa and Kenya with the  mission to develop generations of innovators and leaders who will shape the African Century. 

The expectations we set for our students are based on the data we collect, that also guides us in mapping their educational growth goals. 

Our view, is that our students are capable and competent individuals with unique abilities to achieve their goals. Our job is to facilitate the process and assist them in developing a growth mindset.

Teaching and learning at Nova Pioneer is firmly grounded in our culture principles, especially: Always Growing, High Expectations, and Joy of Learning. We continuously seek feedback on our students and the learning process in order to inform our teaching, and in turn enable our students to grow and reach their individual academic potential. The learning environment created by the teachers is pivotal in ensuring that each student meets their individual academic goals. 

Here are some of the methods our teachers use to collect data during teaching and learning: 

• Questioning during small group and whole class instructions 
• Observations during centre rotations 
• Student self-reflections 
• Reading assessments 
• Regular checks for understanding 

In addition, we also use more formal assessments such as end of term assessments, Cambridge Progression and Checkpoints, as well as Measure of Academic Progress (MAP). The end of term assessments are written tests used to gauge whether students have mastered concepts covered during a term or year. 

The Cambridge Progression Tests (taken from Grade 3) and Checkpoints (taken in Grade 6) are written tests used to assess knowledge, skills and understanding in English, mathematics, and science. MAP is an international adaptive computer test which measures students’ growth in reading and mathematics, and helps us compare our students’ growth with their peers internationally. Our rotational small group teaching model creates multiple opportunities for students and teachers to provide feedback on the learning process.

We assess our students on a continuous basis, and this provides us with rich data that we use to improve academic performance. The purpose of this data is threefold: 

1. To understand where our students are currently at and what their current needs are 
2. To outline where our students need to be 
3. It helps us develop the path necessary to get them there 

Once this is clearly defined to us, we then continuously revisit and develop these skills using our teaching and learning model. The data we collect is the cornerstone of our teaching and learning, and the individually tailored learning experiences. 

It’s that time of the year again and we have an exciting incentive to share. 

Stand a chance of receiving 25% of the first term’s tuition fees in 2023 if you pay your enrolment fee between the 21st of November and the 16th of December. Lookout for a pop-up ‘Mystery Day‘ each week, on a specific day between this period (21 Nov-16 Dec) and if you made payment on this day, you are one of the lucky winners to receive 25% of your child’s first term’s tuition in 2023. 

 

Term’s and Condition’s below: 

• The campaign runs from 21 November 2022 to 16 December 2022.
• During the campaign, there will be six randomly selected ‘Mystery Days’. These dates will be selected prior to the campaign commencing by an independent party and kept confidential. These dates will not be made public and will only be known by that party and only revealed the day after the ‘Mystery Day’ date has passed. 
• Should a prospective parent make their enrolment fee payment on any one of these ‘Mystery Days’, they will receive 25% off their Term 1 fees for 2023 at Nova Pioneer.  
• The ‘Mystery Day’ will only be publicised the day after and those parents, who made payment, will be informed that they will have the discount applied to their Term 1 fees in 2023, at Nova Pioneer.
• Parents are required to pay at least 50% of their enrolment fee on one of these ‘Mystery Days’, in order to qualify for the discount. 
• Parents who have already part-paid their enrolment fee would not be considered for the discount. That is, settling of- or contribution to a partial enrolment fee payment will not qualify for a discount should said part payment be made on a ‘Mystery Day’.
• A parent’s eligibility of this discount is provisional on there being space available in the requested grade – spaces are limited.
• Only “enrolment fee” payments will qualify for entry should the payment take place after all of Nova Pioneer’s due processes have been completed (e.g. an academic assessment, an affordability assessment, documentation verification etc.). 
• The discount will be applied to tuition costs, equivalent to 25% of the amount due for tuition for the Term 1 2023, specifically.  The discount cannot be used for any other Term’s tuition costs or on non-tuition costs.
• The discount will be 25% of the termly fees of the students grade regardless of their school fees payment option (i.e Monthly, Termly or Annually) The offer is non-transferrable and cannot be substituted for cash or a refund.
• The offer is non-transferrable and cannot be substituted for cash or a refund
• In order to benefit from the offer, the student needs to be enrolled at Nova Pioneer in January 2023.
• The discount can only be applied to the tuition costs for the child for which the refundable enrolment fee is intended, and cannot be applied to any other child’s fees.
• Nova Pioneer staff do not qualify.
• This does not apply to any current students making top-up enrolment fee payments.

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity! Apply today!

Simikazi Deyi expresses the importance of mother tongue languages in an article in 2018 that states, “Language is not just a series of words, but includes certain nuances that emerge in the form of idioms, metaphors and euphemisms, as well as praises. Language is therefore tied intrinsically to a sense of belonging, which is in turn linked to society and its values”. In a country where our differences have so often divided us, our school is always looking for tangible opportunities to acknowledge the spectrum of who we are. 

 

Language has historically been a divisive tool in education. Used to disempower, to segregate, and to alienate children from access to quality education. One simply needs to reflect on the 1976 Soweto Uprising to realise how powerful a tool language is in creating equitable access to education. In modern day South Africa, we still struggle with classism and bias based on people’s accents when they speak in English. As schools serving children on the African continent, it is our responsibility to work to create a cohesive society, and the acknowledgement of our language diversity is one of many ways we can make this possible for our learners. 

 

A starting point for us was to embrace the different languages spoken by our students. In social and break settings, we do not prohibit students from speaking in their mother tongue. Rather, we seek to empower our students to understand how to include their peers, and not allow children of differing languages to feel excluded from a social group. We also encourage our students to learn language through socialising with their peers, who may speak a different language. This is a more complicated approach than simply saying everyone must speak English, however, the long term impact on social cohesion is more meaningful. 

 

With all this in mind, our team launched our first Love Your Mother Tongue Week (LYMT Week) in 2019. LYMT Week is a week where parents can book a slot to come in to visit their child’s class during the Morning Meeting, which is the first half hour of the day. During this time parents are invited to read a story, teach the children a song, or recite a poem in their mother tongue. During COVID parents have been able to join via Zoom. Since starting LYMT Week, we have been treated to the most rewarding recognition of who we are as a nation. Our children have experienced parents celebrating the various indigenous South African languages, Asian languages, English, Afrikaans, languages from the Middle East, as well as languages from throughout Africa, by introducing them to the rich nuances of their languages, through music, poetry and storytelling. 

 

We host this each term in an effort to normalise the differences that make us who we are, and being mindful to not just doing this once a year on a national holiday. Operationally, this is a very simple event, which requires no changes to our timetable, and is facilitated with a simple booking form. While it is very little work to organise, the power and impact of it is huge. It is however, important that the true shift does not just come from a termly event, but rather from interrogating our policies about language, and language diversity, both formal and informal. We should continue to strive to create cohesion through our everyday actions and daily acknowledgement of our differences, or else events like this will remain hollow and will be unable to affect the change we need to see in our society.