CAPE TOWN – Fish Hoek High School has celebrated an exceptional milestone with a perfect 100% pass rate for their Matric Class of 2025 on Tuesday 13 January.
The outstanding results included: 23 A aggregates, 53 B aggregates, and 73 C aggregates among the graduating class.
The Western Cape achieved its highest pass rate of 88,2% this year, up from the record-breaking 86,6% in 2024. The province’s bachelor’s pass rate increased from 47,8% to 49,2%. This is also the highest ever for the province, and the second highest in the country. David Maynier, provincial education minister, lauded the learners for their “exemplary achievement”.
Top academic performers shine
Three learners stood out as exceptional achievers. Danielle Downes topped the class with 90,9% and seven A aggregates, followed closely by Leo Mostert with 90,7% and seven A aggregates, and Nina Gibson with 86,7% and six A aggregates.
Study success strategies
People’s Post spoke with Mostert who shared insights into his study approach, crediting early morning study sessions and focusing on understanding fundamentals rather than just memorising past papers.
He says he breathed a great sigh of relief upon finally obtaining his results.
“My mom came with me to fetch my results and her reaction was even greater than mine. There was a lot of mixed emotions filling the hall foyer where the matrics received their matric certificate, despite this, my mom and I both celebrated. Later that evening I finally saw my father; when he first received my results he shed a tear of happiness,” he recalled.
He said one of his goals was to maintain his School Based Assessment (SBA) average.
To study he would practise tests and past papers as much as possible.
“In Grade 11, I found it quite difficult to find the necessary time to study with sports taking up most of my afternoons, so I started studying in the morning before school. This became a very useful habit in matric.
I preferred to learn the fundamentals of each topic. For maths and physics I would learn the basics of each concept and do my best to understand it, allowing me to apply this understanding to much higher order questions,” Mostert explained.
Although he found time management quite challenging he says practising the art or reading with friends allowed him to relax and enjoy his studies.
“My mother, father and brother definitely did their part in helping my success. They sacrificed braais and get-togethers during finals and ensured to leave me to my studies. My friends were always very supportive. Above all my faith in God helped me to get through many challenges. All this contributed a great deal to my journey,” he says.
Mostert has been accepted into the University of Cape Town’s medical school programme and hopes to eventually work with Doctors Without Borders. He encourages this year’s Class of 2026 to plan and discover their best study methods. “This year’s matrics should know to enjoy every moment of it, make memories, and keep a healthy balance between studies and your social life. For studying, a good piece of advice is to fall in love with studying: listen to music if you like, do something you love in breaks. If you love the process, it makes it a lot easier. Don’t be scared to put effort in, you can’t see a shooting star if you don’t look up,” he says.
Principal Steven Joubert expressed immense pride in the achievement. “We are incredibly proud to celebrate our Matric Class of 2025 and their outstanding achievement of a 100% pass rate. It’s a testimony of our shared purpose from our parents, matrics, educators and support staff in achieving academic excellence,” he said.
Joubert highlighted that the school maintains a 99,9% pass rate from Grade 8 to matric.
“Well done to our Matrics of 2025 for being an inspiration to our 1 080 learners and our incoming Grade 8’s”, Joubert added.
ALSO READ ‘Hard Work Paid Off’: Western Cape matrics celebrate record NSC results
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