International School of Cape Town

What International School of Cape Town does

International School of Cape Town (ISCT) is a private, co-educational Cambridge international school operating two campuses in Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa. Founded in 1998, ISCT delivers the full Cambridge curriculum pathway from Nursery (age 3.5) through to A Levels, mapped across Cambridge Early Years, Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3), Cambridge IGCSE, and Cambridge AS & A Levels. The Woodland Heights campus (4 Edinburgh Close) serves Key Stage 2 and High School (Years 3-13), while the purpose-built Struben House campus (31 Eden Road), opened in 2016, houses Early Years and Key Stage 1 learners (Nursery through Year 2). The school serves approximately 460 students from over 45 nationalities and employs 107 staff, with class sizes capped at 20-24 students.

The core technology stack is built around the Cambridge Assessment International Education curriculum platform, supplemented by a parent portal (ed-space.net), online application system, and digital learning resources. ISCT is a member of the Braeburn Group of International Schools, ISASA, and is OISESA-accredited and WCED-registered. Differentiated offerings include enrichment programs (Adventure Hub for ages 2-3, comprehensive ECAs) and external/private Cambridge exam centre services (Centre Number ZA037). ISCT consistently reports academic outcomes exceeding Cambridge global averages across grade bands.

The business model is tuition-driven and subscription-based, with families paying annual school fees aligned with ISASA member and global Cambridge school averages. ISCT is not government-subsidized. Supplementary revenue streams include the Adventure Hub toddler program (R2,100/term), PTA-managed uniform sales, and external exam registration fees. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via website enquiries, school tours, annual Open Days, Instagram, and parent referrals. The school is governed by a Board of Directors and Board of Governors under Braeburn Group oversight, with Beacon Equity Trust scholarship distribution broadening the demographic reach.

Name

International School of Cape Town

Legal name

International School of Cape Town

Website

https://isct.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

International School of Cape Town is a private Cambridge international school in Claremont, Cape Town, offering the full Nursery-through-A-Level Cambridge curriculum to approximately 460 students from over 45 nationalities across two campuses, operating under the Braeburn Group of International Schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K–12 Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)

Keywords

• Cambridge international education
• Private primary schooling
• Secondary school IGCSE
• A Level preparation
• External exam centre

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: School fees for Cambridge curriculum education from Nursery through A Levels. Fees are inline with ISASA member schools and global Cambridge school standards. Not government subsidized.
2. External Exam Registration: Revenue from private candidates registering for Cambridge IGCSE, O Level, AS Level and A Level examinations at ISCT's exam centre (Centre Number: ZA037). Candidates include homeschool and external students.
3. Uniform Sales: School uniforms sold through PTA-managed uniform shop with new and second-hand stock available
4. Adventure Hub Program: Weekly enrichment sessions for children aged 2-3 years at Struben House campus, priced at R2,100 per term or R350 per session

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

International School of Cape Town is a private co-educational school delivering the Cambridge international curriculum from Nursery through A Levels across two campuses in Claremont. The school offers Early Years, Primary, Lower Secondary, IGCSE and AS/A Level programs, supplemented by extra-curricular activities and an Adventure Hub enrichment program for toddlers. It also operates as an authorised external Cambridge exam centre (ZA037) for private candidates.

Product overview

The International School of Cape Town (ISCT) is a private, co-educational Cambridge school offering a comprehensive educational pathway from Nursery through to A Levels across two campuses. The Struben House campus houses Early Years (Nursery, Reception) and Key Stage 1 (Years 1-2) for children aged 3.5-7 years, while the Woodland Heights campus serves Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6) and High School (Years 7-13) for students aged 8-18. The academic program follows the Cambridge curriculum, progressing through Cambridge Early Years, Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3), Cambridge IGCSE (Years 10-11), and Cambridge AS & A Levels. The school also offers enrichment programs including Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA) spanning sports and arts, an Adventure Hub for toddlers aged 2-3, and external examination services for private candidates (Centre ZA037).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Adventure Hub: An engaging program designed for children aged 2-3 years old at Struben House, focusing on fostering exploration, communication skills, and personal development through hands-on activities and outdoor experiences.

Products and services

• Cambridge Early Years (Nursery and Reception) Foundation-stage program for children aged 3 years 6 months to 5 years 6 months, following the Cambridge Early Years Framework with focus on cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and language development through play-based learning, delivered at the Struben House campus.
• Cambridge Primary Program for Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6) students aged 5–11, designed to engage students in their own learning with structured progression into Cambridge Lower Secondary.
• Cambridge Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3) High school foundation program covering Years 7–9 (ages 12–14), offering a broad range of subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, Languages (French, Spanish, Afrikaans), Humanities, Arts, and Computing to prepare students for IGCSE, delivered at Woodland Heights campus.
• Cambridge IGCSE The world's most popular international qualification for 14–16 year olds, equivalent to GCSE. ISCT prepares students over 18 months starting in Year 10 (January) through to June of Year 11, with students typically choosing 8 subjects.
• Cambridge AS & A Levels Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced (A) Level qualifications for students aged 16–19, accepted by universities worldwide including Harvard, MIT, Stanford and Yale. AS is a full-time on-campus course beginning in late July running 18 months; A Level includes tutor-led independent study with approximately three contact hours per subject per week.
• Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA) Comprehensive program of sports, arts, and enrichment activities for students from Nursery through High School. Primary students must sign up for at least one after-school activity; High School students commit to two afternoons per week.
• Adventure Hub Interactive enrichment program for children aged 2–3 at Struben House campus, offering weekly sessions focused on exploration, communication skills and personal development through hands-on activities and outdoor experiences. Caregiver accompaniment required. Priced at R2,100 per term or R350 per individual session.
• Cambridge External/Private Candidate Examinations Professional examination venue services for private candidates requiring Cambridge IGCSE, O Level, AS Level and A Level examinations (Centre Number ZA037), serving homeschool and external students with organised exam administration.

Quantifiable outcome

• ISCT consistently outperforms Cambridge global average across different grade bands in subjects offered

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Cambridge Assessment International EducationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerISCT is an authorized Cambridge school offering the complete Cambridge curriculum from Early Years through A Levels since 1998. Cambridge qualifications are recognized by over 1,400 universities worldwide. The partnership provides access to Cambridge assessments, resources, teacher training, and international exam administration.
• Braeburn Group of International SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISCT is a member of the Braeburn Group of International Schools. The group operates multiple international schools primarily in Kenya and now South Africa. The affiliation provides governance support, shared best practices, and network benefits across the group.
• Independent Schools Association of South Africa (ISASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISCT is a member of ISASA, the largest and oldest independent schools association in Southern Africa, representing over 360 independent schools. ISASA traces origins to 1929 and provides professional development, advocacy, and networking for member schools.
• Western Cape Education Department (WCED)minorOthersISCT is registered with WCED as an Independent School. While not government subsidized, the school fulfills all WCED curriculum criteria and maintains regulatory compliance with provincial education requirements.
• Office of Independent Schools Evaluations Southern Africa (OISESA)minorOthersISCT is officially accredited with OISESA, which establishes partnerships with independent schools using globally aligned standards and indicators to facilitate institutional reflection for continuous improvement.
• Beacon Equity Trust / Beacon Scholarship ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISCT is a Beacon Partner School offering the Beacon Scholarship for Schools Leadership. This scholarship supports high-achieving students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds with academic ability and leadership potential. The Beacon Equity Trust contributes one-third of tuition, ISCT matches one-third, and parents/sponsors cover the remainder.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hout Bay International School: Cambridge international school in Cape Town serving students from early years through IGCSE/A Levels. Directly competes with ISCT in the same metropolitan market for expatriate and South African families seeking Cambridge international education.
• Reddam House Constantia: Premium independent school in Constantia, Cape Town offering IEB curriculum from pre-school to Grade 12. Directly competes with ISCT in the premium Cape Town market for affluent families.
• St George's Grammar School: Independent co-educational school in Cape Town offering IEB curriculum from pre-school through Grade 12. Competes with ISCT for Cape Town families seeking premium independent education.
• American International School of Cape Town: International school in Cape Town offering pre-K through Grade 12 with an American/IB-aligned curriculum. Competes directly with ISCT for international and expatriate families seeking globally-recognized qualifications in Cape Town.
• Herschel School: Independent girls' school in Claremont, Cape Town offering IEB curriculum through Grade 12. Operates in the same premium Cape Town southern suburbs market as ISCT, competing for similar high-income families.
• Lycée Français Jean Mermoz: French international school in Cape Town offering French national curriculum through high school. Directly competes with ISCT for French and francophone expatriate families in the same metropolitan market.
• German International School Cape Town: International school in Cape Town offering bilingual (German/English) education. While curriculum differs, it directly competes for German and other European expat families seeking international education in Cape Town.

Broad incumbents

• Braeburn Schools: Network of international schools primarily based in Kenya, of which ISCT is a member. Sister schools share governance, best practices, and potentially student transfers under the same parent group.
• Bishops (Diocesan College): One of South Africa's oldest and most prestigious independent boys' schools in Cape Town. While using IEB curriculum rather than Cambridge, it competes for the same premium end of the Cape Town private school market.

Emerging players

• Greenhill International School: International school in Nairobi, Kenya operating under a similar international curriculum model. Comparable as a regional peer in East Africa offering similar international education offerings to expat and local families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/isct
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/international-school-of-cape-town

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 International School of Cape Town