Queens Park High celebrates a remarkable 95.2% matric pass rate

Queens Park High has reason to celebrate its matric results after the school achieved an improved 95.2% pass rate.

Their matric class of 2025 improved to a 95.2% pass, compared to 79.2% last year, which is the greatest improvement in the Metro Central Education District.

Their top performing pupils are Liyema Ntakana, who achieved three distinctions, and then Mariah Thoma,s who achieved two distinctions.

Queens Park High principal Nicolene Abrahams said these groups of pupils showed quite a bit of potential when they were in Grade 11.

“We knew we needed to put measures in place to motivate and encourage them,” she said. 

During the past year, the Woodstock-based school offered Saturday classes over a specific period in each term, as well as having an Autumn, Winter, and Spring school.

“The focus at these sessions was exam technique; working through past papers, drilling down on areas where they struggled,” she said.

Ms Abrahams said they focused on pupils who were struggling, though the stronger pupils also attended the extra classes.   As it is a commuter school, some pupils even went the extra mile by sleeping over at a friend’s place in Woodstock to be able to attend the Saturday classes. 

Ms Abrahams said many of the teachers showed dedication as they were teaching more than two classes.

“It did not hamper their eagerness to give up additional time on weekends or in the term breaks to assist the pupils,” she said. 

Ms Abrahams said the goal for this year is to achieve a 100% pass rate.

“We will be offering a similar program to what we had last year, including a few sessions in the afternoon after school,” she said. 

Queens Park High teacher, Lee-Anne Smith, said the results were better than they had anticipated. “We're pleased to be counting not only bachelors but also distinctions now, purely due to additional work done weekends and after hours on WhatsApp. We intend to nurture this growth,” she said.