Crawford International

What Crawford International does

Crawford International is a South African private school network founded in 1993, operating 10 campuses and 24 schools across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and an international campus in Tatu City, Nairobi, Kenya. The organisation delivers a three-phase educational continuum: Pre-Primary (ages 14 months to Grade 0), Preparatory (Grades 1-7), and College (Grades 8-12), with curricula combining the South African CAPS framework, IB Primary Years Programme authorisation (scheduled to transition away from January 2027), and IEB National Senior Certificate examinations at the College level. Supporting programmes include the Crawford Matric Preparation Programme (CMPP), Crawford Leadership Programme, Crawford CARES community service initiative, MAP international benchmarking assessments, and the ADvLEARN digital learning platform that integrates with the Toddle Learner Management System and offers AI-driven personalised academic support.

The business model is a recurring subscription tuition model, with annual and monthly fees ranging from approximately R58,000 at Pre-Primary to R334,080 for Grade 12 boarding at the North Coast campus. Fees are largely all-inclusive, covering academics, certain extracurriculars, digital yearbooks and support services. Crawford is wholly owned by the JSE-listed Advtech Group, operating as part of its Schools Division, which provides corporate infrastructure including the STASY online application portal, shared marketing systems and centralised technology platforms. The go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct enrollment through campus-specific applications, Open Days, school tours, digital content marketing, and parent referrals targeting affluent South African and East African families seeking premium private education with international curriculum recognition.

Crawford's commercial differentiators include its 90+ nationality student community, 20+ subject choices at College level, established IB and IEB credentials, and bundled leadership, community service and academic support programmes. Outcomes-based marketing is anchored in disclosed matric results (Class of 2025: 1,428 distinctions averaging 2.7 per candidate). The network operates in a fragmented South African private education market but positions itself as one of the largest single private school organisations in the country by campus count.

Name

Crawford International

Legal name

Crawford International

Website

https://crawfordinternational.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Crawford International is a South African private school network operating 10 campuses and 24 schools across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Nairobi, delivering Pre-Primary through Grade 12 education via IB, IEB and CAPS curricula to fee-paying families seeking premium international-standard schooling.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

Keywords

• Private school education
• International baccalaureate curriculum
• Primary secondary schooling
• Boarding school facilities
• Independent school network

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Annual and monthly tuition fees charged across Pre-Primary, Preparatory and College phases. Fees vary by campus and grade level. Additional costs include application fees, enrolment fees and boarding fees where applicable.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Crawford International operates as one of South Africa's largest private school networks, offering Pre-Primary (ages 14 months to Grade 0), Preparatory (Grade 1–7), and College (Grade 8–12) education across 10 campuses. The schools deliver the South African CAPS curriculum enriched with the IB Primary Years Programme at Pre-Primary and Preparatory levels, and prepare College students for IEB National Senior Certificate examinations. Boarding facilities for Grades 6–12 are available at the North Coast campus, with an additional international campus in Tatu City, Nairobi, Kenya.

Product overview

Crawford International operates as a unified private school network offering educational programmes across three phases: Pre-Primary (ages 14 months-6 years), Preparatory (Grades 1-7), and College (Grades 8-12). The network comprises multiple campus locations across South Africa (Bedfordview, Bryanston, Fourways, La Lucia, Lonehill, North Coast, Pretoria, Ruimsig, Sandton) plus one in Kenya (Tatu City Nairobi). Core academic delivery follows the South African National Curriculum (CAPS) quality assured by Umalusi, enriched with IB Primary Years Programme at Pre-Primary and Preparatory levels, and IEB examinations at College level. Supporting programmes include the Crawford Leadership Programme, Crawford CARES community service initiative, Crawford Matric Preparation Programme (CMPP), and MAP International Benchmarking for assessment. The ADvLEARN digital platform provides integrated online learning. Boarding facilities are available at the North Coast campus. The network is part of the Advtech Group, a JSE-listed company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Schools Division of Advtech Group: Crawford International operates as part of the Schools Division of Advtech Group, a JSE-listed educational conglomerate.

Products and services

• Pre-Primary Schools

Quantifiable outcome

• Crawford International Class of 2025 achieved 1,428 distinctions averaging 2.7 per candidate
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Global EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership connecting Crawford students with leading universities worldwide. Global Education is Southern Africa's leading agency for overseas studies with almost 20 years of experience. They provide personalised university application advice, visa processing, accommodation support, UCAS applications, and personal statement assistance at no additional cost to students. Benefits include 100% visa success record and fast-tracked applications.
• International Baccalaureate (IB)coreTechnology or IntegrationCrawford International is an authorised IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) at Pre-Primary and Preparatory levels. IB framework develops creativity, critical thinking and international-mindedness. Note: Beginning January 2027, Crawford will transition away from the IB Programme.
• Independent Examinations Board (IEB)coreTechnology or IntegrationGrade 12 students complete the National Senior Certificate through IEB examinations, which are quality assured by Umalusi and internationally recognised for university entrance.
• UmalusiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuality assurance body for the South African National Curriculum (CAPS), ensuring academic standards are maintained across all Crawford campuses.
• Advtech GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of Crawford International's Schools Division. Advtech is a JSE-listed education group providing ongoing investment, financial stability, efficient online systems and academic excellence support across all Crawford campuses.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dulwich College International: Dulwich College International operates premium British-curriculum schools across Asia and increasingly Africa. It is comparable to Crawford on premium international curriculum positioning, multi-campus operations, and the model of exporting a globally recognised brand into emerging markets.
• International Schools Partnership (ISP): ISP is a global K-12 school network with 80+ schools across multiple countries, built through acquisition-led growth. Its model of standardising premium international-curriculum delivery across diverse markets is structurally analogous to Crawford's network expansion strategy, including into Africa.
• Curro Holdings: Curro Holdings is the largest private school operator in South Africa, with 200+ campuses serving premium and value segments. It is the most directly comparable competitor to Crawford in target market, fee positioning, and IEB-aligned curriculum, and competes head-to-head for the same Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal families.
• Harrow International Schools: Harrow operates a global network of premium British-curriculum schools including in Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong and Johannesburg. The Harrow Johannesburg campus competes directly with Crawford's Sandton and surrounds for the same elite-segment families, and its international franchise model is a comparable premium positioning strategy.

Emerging players

• Spark Schools: Spark Schools is a fast-growing South African private school network focused on affordable premium education and a tech-enabled model. It overlaps with Crawford on the modernised-curriculum and parent-experience dimensions but targets a lower price point, making it an emerging adjacent competitor in the same metro areas.

Broad incumbents

• GEMS Education: GEMS Education is one of the largest K-12 private school operators globally, with a portfolio spanning premium international schools and value brands across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Its scale, multi-brand strategy, and African footprint make it a direct strategic comparable to Crawford's growth model.
• Nord Anglia Education: Nord Anglia is one of the world's largest premium international school operators with 80+ schools globally. It is comparable to Crawford on premium international-curriculum positioning, multi-campus operations, and tech-enabled learning (in partnership with MIT and Juilliard), representing the global benchmark for the model Crawford operates at smaller scale.
• Cognita Schools: Cognita is a global K-12 school group operating 100+ premium and mid-premium schools across Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. It is comparable to Crawford on multi-campus premium-curriculum operations, leadership development programmes, and the playbook for international expansion acquisitions.
• Advtech Group (sibling brands): Advtech is the JSE-listed parent of Crawford International and also operates other premium South African school brands (Jeppe High School for Boys, St Mary's School, Trinityhouse). It is a sibling/parent entity rather than a direct competitor, and its consolidated accounts provide the most direct market proxy for Crawford's scale and economics.

Regional players

• St Stithians College: St Stithians is one of Johannesburg's most established independent schools, competing with Crawford's Sandton and surrounding campuses for the same elite families. It is comparable on premium pricing, IEB pathway, and holistic education model, though it remains a single-campus institution rather than a network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/crawfordedu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crawfordinternational
• Instagraminstagram.com/crawfordinternational
• Facebookfacebook.com/CrawfordInternational

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Crawford International