Only South African girls school ranked among the top 100 in the world

·3 May 2026

Spear’s Magazine has published a list of the best private schools in 2026, with five South African institutions maintaining their ranks among the top 100 in the world.

Among these five schools is St Anne’s Diocesan College in KwaZulu-Natal, which remains the only South African private all-girls school to feature on the list.

The Spear’s Schools Index is in its seventh year and is “the definitive guide to the world’s top 100 leading private schools,” the magazine said.

It added that it serves as a key reference point for internationally mobile families, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, and the advisers who support them.

Since its launch in 2020, the index has evolved into a trusted benchmark and offers insight into academic excellence and the broader qualities that define leading global institutions.

The ranking is compiled using expertise from educational consultants and specialists to identify institutions that value academic performance alongside other important qualities.

These include cultural, pastoral and reputational qualities that are increasingly being prioritised by families who are privileged to choose from the very best.

This year, Spear’s again worked closely with Thuso Group, whose international team contributed additional research and insight.

Unlike conventional rankings, Spear’s noted that the index does not focus solely on results. Instead, it reflects shifting global wealth patterns and lifestyle preferences.

“The distribution of schools within the Index offers a revealing snapshot of global wealth patterns and the institutions that continue to attract internationally mobile families,” Spear’s said.

“Factors such as social development, cultural life, pastoral care, diversity, inclusivity, and a school’s sense of purpose all play a central role.”

Reputation and character are also key considerations, shaping both the families a school attracts and the environment it creates for students.

According to the publication, families are becoming increasingly mobile, with new global hubs emerging across regions such as the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

Top private South African all-girls school

Interestingly, Spear’s added that some families are opting for more traditional institutions, especially outside the United Kingdom, the United States, and Switzerland, often citing cultural considerations in places such as Africa and South Africa.

To compile the rankings, the Spear’s Research Unit gathered information directly from schools through online submissions and interviews, supported by independent research and expert input.

“The goal was to use common sense as much as metrics, emphasising that no school was included simply because it was well-known,” the publication said.

It also said no deserving school was excluded simply because it was less internationally famous.

In the “rest of the world” category, which features boarding and day schools from regions including India, Pakistan, Kenya, Argentina, Chile, and South Africa, five South African schools earned recognition.

These are Cordwalles Preparatory School, Hilton College, Michaelhouse, St Anne’s Diocesan College, and Western Province Preparatory School.

In its review of St Anne’s, Spear’s said the school distinguishes itself for its longstanding reputation for developing confident and well-rounded young women.

Its academic performance also remained consistently strong. In 2025, 100% of its pupils achieved a bachelor’s degree pass.

Many also progressed to leading universities around the world. The matric class recorded 248 distinctions, averaging 2.9 distinctions per student.

Spear’s said that since its founding in 1877, it has focused on “nurturing girls to make positive impacts on others through the values of humility, respect, compassion and empathy.”

It also added that the curriculum is designed to encourage pupils to “possess an intellectual curiosity and a love of learning for its own sake,” while offering a broad range of academic and extracurricular opportunities.

Beyond the classroom, students participate in sports including swimming, tennis, netball, hockey and football, as well as outdoor pursuits such as canoeing, horse riding and cross-country running.

“Every girl at St Anne’s is allocated a boarding house, even if they are a day pupil, building ‘a sense of belonging’ within the college,” Spear’s said.

It added that day pupils are encouraged to spend much of their time on campus alongside boarders, reinforcing a shared school experience.

St Anne’s fees for 2026 are R335,040 per year for boarders and R180,672 for day scholars.