Isipho Sethu Special School
Perseverance, Brightest Future
A school for learners with Severe Intellectual Disabilities — growing at their own pace, in classrooms, in workshops, and with their hands in the soil.
About us
Every learner has their own pace, and we make room for it.
Isipho Sethu is a school for learners with Severe Intellectual Disabilities (SID), including learners living with ADHD, epilepsy, Down syndrome, microcephaly and hydrocephalus. Classes are small, days are structured, and teaching is practical — learning by doing, with dignity at the centre.
- ADHD
- Epilepsy
- Down Syndrome
- Microcephaly
- Hydrocephalus
R–5
Grades offered
5–21
Ages welcomed
610
Learners on roll
Admission & Curriculum
Admissions
All admissions are handled by the Department of Education.
Ages & Grades
Learners aged 5 to 21 are accepted, from Grade R through to Grade 5.
Curriculum
We follow the Differentiated Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (DCAPS).
Placement
Placement into classes is age-based, so learners stay with their peers.
Language of instruction: English.
Facilities
Space to move, play and gather — as important as any classroom.
Soccer Field
Open ground for play, teamwork and celebration days.
Basketball & Netball Court
A shared court where coordination and confidence grow together.
School Hall
Home to assemblies, concerts, choir and community gatherings.
Skills subjects & vocational centres
Skills for life beyond the school gate
Needlework & Sewing
Learners cut, stitch and finish garments — patience turned into something wearable.
Hospitality
Kitchen and service skills: preparing food, laying tables, welcoming guests.
Woodwork & Timber
Measuring, drilling, sanding and varnishing — real tools, real furniture.
Beauty & Haircare
Grooming, care and salon practice that builds pride and steady hands.
Agriculture & Tunnel Farming
Bed preparation, planting, watering and harvest under the school shade nets.
Poultry & Egg Production
Incubating eggs, brooding chicks, feeding, watering and daily flock care.
Exit Programmes
Learners exit at age 21, prepared for life after school through practical vocational programmes.
- Barista Training
- Massage
- ICT Robotics
- Detergent & Candle Making
School Departments
Nine departments, one aim: helping each learner find what they are good at.
- Foundation Phase
- Art
- Needlework & Sewing
- Bricklaying & Plastering
- Woodwork & Timber
- Office Administration
- Hospitality
- Agriculture
- Beauty & Haircare
Sports & Activities
Our learners compete at regional, provincial and national levels.
- Soccer
- Netball
- Basketball
- Cricket & Mini Cricket
- Swimming
- Athletics
- Blackpool
- Rowing
- Futsal
Beyond the field
- Cultural dances
- Scouting
- Choir
The Garden Project
Where perseverance is planted, watered and harvested
Under the shade nets, our learners prepare beds, plant seedlings, water, weed and harvest. Onions, spinach, beetroot and young citrus grow alongside their patience. The garden feeds our kitchen and teaches real agriculture.
Garden, poultry, woodwork and community — all in one place, no long scroll.
Staff & Community
A team of educators, therapists and support staff who know every learner by name.
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Principal
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Deputy Principals
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Departmental Heads
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Educators
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Therapists
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Support Staff
Partnership
Supported by Mzali
We are proud to partner with Mzali, an organisation committed to nurturing young lives through care, learning and community support.
