Frequently Asked Questions

Homeschooling involves conducting education at home, while online schooling refers to instruction delivered over the internet. At Sandra’s House, we offer tutoring services specifically tailored to learners who are enrolled in Cambrilearn for online schooling. Cambrilearn provides online or recorded lessons encompassing all the assessments that contribute to students’ final grades. On the other hand, for learners engaged in homeschooling, we provide tutoring for those registered with Impaq. Impaq offers a combination of recorded lessons, textbooks, and assessments. Our facility offers a conducive environment for students to engage in their studies with structure, social interaction, and access to tutoring support.

Obtaining a report is the primary objective. In the case of grades 1 to 9, parents possess the autonomy to decide whether or not to register with a curriculum provider. The parent assumes responsibility for determining the educational content, pace of progress, and readiness for advancement to the next grade. However, opting for a curriculum registration offers enhanced structure for both the parent and child, culminating in a comprehensive end-of-year report that can facilitate future schooling endeavors.

For grades 10 to 12, examinations must be undertaken in collaboration with an accredited exam board, such as the Department of Basic Education, SACAI (Cambrilearn, Impaq, and others), the IEB (Brainline, and others). Additionally, foreign equivalents like the Cambridge Exams (Cambrilearn, and others) are accepted, but learners must ensure that they select the appropriate subjects. It is essential to exercise caution with the GED option and verify its acceptance at the tertiary institution one intends to attend.

There exists a range of options available, contingent upon your child’s specific diagnosis. Timely intervention is crucial for optimal outcomes. It is advisable to seek an assessment from an educational psychologist, as they possess the expertise to provide guidance and assistance in procuring necessary concessions. These may include additional time, a reader or scribe, a separate venue, or other accommodations. At Sandra’s House, we offer support to learners facing learning difficulties like Dyslexia and ADHD. However, our decision to provide assistance will be determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration our capacity to effectively address the specific needs of the individual.

In South Africa, Umalusi serves as the regulatory authority for assessments and exam boards. Alongside the Department of Basic Education, The IEB (Independent Exam Board), and SACAI are registered exam boards for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. The Department of Basic Education oversees assessments in both government and certain private schools. The IEB is predominantly associated with private schools and homeschooling curriculum providers, while the SACAI exam board is affiliated with several homeschooling curriculum providers and some private schools.

For grades 4 to 12, we collaborate with Cambrilearn and Impaq as CAPS curriculum providers. Learners enrolled with us will receive the syllabus, assessments, and tests from their respective curriculum provider. It is important to note that fees pertaining to the curriculum provider must be directly paid to them and are not included in our monthly fee.

In the case of grades 4 to 12 following the IEB curriculum, Brainline serves as the curriculum provider for homeschoolers. Further information can be found at www.brainline.com.

Cambridge qualifications are internationally renowned credentials developed by Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. These qualifications involve two sets of examinations: IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) and AS-levels (Advanced Subsidiary Level).

IGCSE is the equivalent of grade 10 and is assessed solely through a single set of exams, without additional coursework. It encompasses seven subjects, and learners have the flexibility to write these exams at any age between 14 and 16, once they feel adequately prepared.

AS-levels, on the other hand, correspond to grade 12. Similar to IGCSE, grades are determined based on a single set of exams and there are no coursework tasks involved. Learners have the option to write AS-level exams between the ages of 16 and 19, depending on their readiness. It is not mandatory to complete all subjects in the same year, and learners are not required to have passed previous grades to meet the entry requirements for IGCSE. However, completion of grade 10 or IGCSE is a prerequisite for undertaking AS-levels. The duration of each course is typically two years, but learners can extend the timeline as needed to accommodate their individual circumstances.

Should you require assistance in selecting a curriculum, we are more than willing to provide guidance and support.

We value parents who are involved in their child’s education. Research has shown that learners with involved parents do better at school. However, we completely understand that parents may not have the subject knowledge to help with learning.

By being involved, we mean:

• Knowing the dates of tests and assignments,
• Making sure that learners do homework,
• And most importantly: staying in touch with us.

Whenever there is a concern, an absence, or a success – we need to know. We can only solve problems if we are aware of them. We want your child to be happy at Sandra’s House, and we want them to achieve their full potential.

Our teachers are not all certified teachers. We hire people who have a passion for teaching, who can teach with love and empathy, and who have experience working with kids. These qualities are more important to us than a certificate or degree. We train our teachers and supervise classes and progress closely.

Sandra’s House offers lessons in both English and Afrikaans.