Holy Family College Durban

What Holy Family College Durban does

Holy Family College Durban is an independent, co-educational Catholic school located in the Glenmore suburb of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Founded in 1875 by the Sisters of the Holy Family Congregation from Bordeaux, France, it is the first private Catholic school in Durban and the second oldest school in the city. The school delivers continuous education across three phases — Pre-Primary (Grades 000, 00, R), Primary (Grades 1–7), and High School (Grades 8–12) — following the South African CAPS (Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement) framework and culminating in the National Senior Certificate examination administered under Umalusi accreditation. It is governed by a Board of Governors (up to 12 elected and co-opted members) under the Holy Family School's Trust.

The core academic offering is supplemented by a Primary School STEAM Lab covering coding and robotics (Scratch, Web Design, Programming), an air-conditioned Computer Literacy program for high school learners, an extensive extracurricular catalog (sports including soccer, netball, swimming, and athletics; cultural activities such as drama, choir, art, debate, and etiquette clubs), and After School Care services operating from 13h30 to 17h00 for Grades 1–7. The school holds memberships and accreditation with Umalusi, ISASA, NAISA, and CIOE.

The revenue model is tuition-driven with annual school fees as the primary recurring stream (specific fee schedule not publicly disclosed beyond the 2024 application fee of R750 non-refundable and admission fee of R5,500 non-refundable), supplemented by subscription After School Care fees of R500/month (Grades R–3) and R480/month (Grades 4–7) plus casual drop-in fees of R40/hour. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct admissions — application submission with documentation, payment of fees to FNB Davenport, and acceptance — amplified by Open Evening events, an active YouTube/Facebook/Instagram presence, alumni referrals, and community/religious-institution networks. The customer base is individual families in the Durban metropolitan area seeking Catholic, values-based holistic education; the school prepares for its 150-year celebration in 2025.

Name

Holy Family College Durban

Legal name

Holy Family College Durban

Website

https://holyfamilycollege.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1875

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Holy Family College Durban is an independent, co-educational Catholic school in Glenmore, Durban, founded in 1875, offering continuous education from Pre-Primary through Grade 12 under the CAPS framework for families seeking values-based holistic schooling.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Early Learning Academies (EDACADAH), Faith-Based Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAE)

Keywords

• Independent school education
• Catholic K-12 education
• Primary school programs
• High school education
• After school care

Headquarters

HQ city

Durban

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. School Tuition Fees: The primary revenue stream is school fees paid by families. Fees include application fee (R750 non-refundable), admission fee (R5,500 non-refundable), and annual school fees per the 2024 schedule. Additional revenue comes from after-school care services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Holy Family College is an independent co-educational Catholic school providing education from Pre-Primary (Grades 000, 00, R) through Primary School (Grades 1-7) and High School (Grades 8-12), following the South African CAPS curriculum and culminating in the National Senior Certificate examination. The school also offers After School Care services, a STEAM Lab for coding and robotics, Computer Literacy, cultural activities, and an extensive sports program, all delivered within a values-based Catholic framework.

Product overview

Holy Family College Durban is an independent co-educational Catholic school offering a comprehensive educational program from Grade R (ages 4-5) through Grade 12 (matriculation). The school provides a unified educational service structured across distinct phases: Pre-Primary (Grades 000, 00, R), Primary School (Grades 1-7 divided into Junior and Senior phases), and High School (Grades 8-12 with GET and FET phases). The curriculum follows the South African CAPS framework and National Curriculum, culminating in the National Senior Certificate examination. Beyond core academics, the school offers specialized programs including a STEAM Lab for coding and robotics, Computer Literacy, cultural activities, sports programs, and After School Care services. The institution emphasizes holistic development through religious education, outreach programs, and character building rooted in the Catholic tradition and the motto 'Quid Retribuam' (What shall I render?).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pre-Primary School (Grades 000, 00, R) A loving and nurturing early childhood development environment focusing on laying a strong foundation for future learning through emergent reading programs, numeracy using extended CAPS curriculum, and play-based activities for children in Grades 000, 00, and R.
• Primary School (Grades 1-7) A vibrant primary school community equipping children to become well-rounded, team-oriented members through CAPS curriculum, value-based education, and opportunities in academics, sports, and cultural activities. Includes Junior Primary (Grade 1-3) and Senior Primary (Grade 4-7) phases.
• High School (Grades 8-12) Comprehensive secondary education following the National Curriculum of the Department of Basic Education, culminating in the National Senior Certificate examination. Divided into GET (Grade 8-9) and FET (Grade 10-12) phases with a wide variety of subject choices including Sciences, Commercial, and Creative subjects.
• After School Care A well-structured after-school care facility for Grade 1 to Grade 7 learners with supervised homework, creative activities, and snacks, operating from 13h30 to 17h00.
• STEAM Lab Technology-focused learning space in the Primary School engaging learners in Coding and Robotics using Scratch, Web Design and Programming, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) activities.
• Cultural Activities Program Wide range of cultural activities including Art Club, Master Chef, Music Academy, Mini-Toastmasters, Drama, Yoga, Choir, Debating, Environmental Club, and Gentleman/Etiquette Club.
• Sports and Extra-Mural Program Comprehensive sports program including soccer, netball, basketball, swimming, athletics, cross country, volleyball, golf, and chess for both primary and high school learners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tournament of Minds 2023 - Won arts challenge in KZN regional, received Spirit of TOM award
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve / Ezemvelo Honorary OfficersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 August 2023Environmental education partnership where Honorary Officers delivered talks on Arbor Day about the vital role of trees in the environment.
• 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela DayminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2023Social initiative founded by Carolyn Steyn that encourages people to knit blankets for needy people. Holy Family College hosted the 2023 event on their campus, demonstrating community service commitment aligned with their 'Quid Retribuam' motto.
• University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Holy Family College participates in the UKZN Science Expo and has hosted visiting academics from UKZN. The school is located overlooking the UKZN campus, and maintains educational collaboration for science programs and academic enrichment.
• UmalusicoreOthersUmalusi is the quality assurance body for general and further education and training in South Africa. Holy Family College is accredited by Umalusi, which validates the school's educational standards and qualifications including the National Senior Certificate examination.
• ISASA (Independent Schools Association of South Africa)coreOthersISASA is the largest and most influential association of independent schools in South Africa. Holy Family College is a member, gaining access to professional development, networking, and advocacy support for independent education.
• NAISA (National Association of Independent Schools)minorOthersNational association supporting independent schools in South Africa.
• CIOE (Catholic Institute of Education)minorOthersCatholic educational institute providing resources and support for Catholic schools.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• St Stithians College: Independent Methodist co-educational school in Johannesburg with a similar faith-rooted ethos and full-spectrum K-12 offering. Comparable positioning but in Gauteng rather than KZN.
• St Andrew's College: Independent Anglican school in Grahamstown (Makhanda) offering Pre-Primary through Matric with ISASA accreditation. Comparable faith-based independent model but based in the Eastern Cape, not KZN.
• Kingsmead College: Independent girls' school in Johannesburg offering a comparable ISASA-accredited holistic education. Same model and tier, but operates in a different region (Gauteng) and does not directly compete for Durban families.

Direct peers

• Hilton College: Prestigious private boys' boarding school in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal. Operates a similar full-curriculum independent model in the same province and competes for the same KZN premium-family segment.
• Michaelhouse: Independent boys' school in Balgowan, KwaZulu-Natal, offering a comparable ISASA-accredited holistic education. Operates within the same KZN private-school ecosystem and competes for similar premium Durban feeder families.
• Clifton School: Independent co-educational school in Durban serving similar K-12 cohorts with comparable tuition profile and ISASA affiliation. Directly competes for the same Durban premium-independent family segment.
• St Mary's DSG: Independent Catholic girls' school in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Operates within the same city, faith-based tradition, and independent-school accreditation ecosystem (ISASA), directly competing for the same Durban Catholic-family cohort.
• St Henry's Marist College: Catholic Marist boys' school in Durban with a similar faith-based ethos and full K-12 offering. Competes directly for Durban Catholic families and shares the same ISASA/Umalusi accreditation framework.
• Epworth School: Independent girls' school in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, offering Pre-Primary through Matric under the same Umalusi/ISASA accreditation. Comparable faith-rooted, holistic education model within the same province.

Broad incumbents

• Crawford College: National chain of independent schools operated under the ADvTECH group across South Africa. Comparable in curriculum (CAPS/NSC) and tier, but operates at much larger scale with multi-campus reach and corporate backing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCItzmNsMgpmsKtU9f_9tiEg
• Facebookfacebook.com/HolyFamilyCollegeDbn
• Instagraminstagram.com/holyfamilycollegedurban
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/holy-family-college-durban

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Holy Family College Durban