WCED: late applications for 2027 underway, closes in May

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has confirmed that parents and guardians who missed the initial deadline for the 2027 school applications for Grades R, 1 and 8 can still apply, but these will be treated as late submissions.

This is because the official on-time application window closed at midnight on Tuesday. According to the department, parents of 166,144 learners successfully submitted on-time applications for placement in schools across the province.

“We thank these parents for taking responsibility and applying on time, to help us plan for a place in a school for their children,” said Western Cape Education Department MEC, David Maynier

While the opportunity to apply remains open, the WCED has stressed that late applications will only be considered after all on-time submissions have been processed.

This means that placement options for late applicants may be more limited, depending on space availability at schools.

Parents who have yet to apply are urged not to delay further, as the late application window will close on 17 May 2026.

The next phase of the admissions process will now see schools reviewing all on-time applications in line with their admissions policies. Outcomes for these applications are expected to be released from 28 May 2026.

Once placement offers are made, parents will need to confirm their preferred school by 15 June 2026.

“Parents who receive multiple offers of acceptance but do not select one of those offers by 15 June 2026 will be automatically confirmed to their top-ranked choice.”

Meanwhile, parents seeking to transfer learners in other grades due to relocation will have a separate application window from 3 August to 17 August 2026.