One of South Africa’s best-performing private schools shutting down
King David Victory Park in Johannesburg is set to close its doors, despite being one of the best-performing schools in South Africa.
Part of the larger King David school network in South Africa, King David Victory Park opened its doors in 1960 to cater to the sizable Jewish community living in Emmarentia, Greenside and Victory Park.
The school now offers schooling from Grades 1 to Matric. It is also home to King David Ariel, Johannesburg’s first Jewish remedial school.
King David is the largest Jewish school network in South Africa, and also includes King David Linksfield; King David Sandton; Minnie Bersohn Pre-Primary School; and King David Rosabelle Klein Nursery School, Waverley.
It is also one of the best-performing schools in South Africa, according to the latest stats from the IEB.
In the 2024 academic year, King David Victory Park was the eighth best-performing co-educational private school in the country.
The average candidate received 3.39 distinctions in 2024. One of the best in the country, even if its sister school in Linksfield received 3.73 per candidate.
Set to shut down
However, the South African Board of Jewish Education (SABJE) has completed its consultation process with its staff and has decided to close King David Victory Park at the end of 2025.
The decision comes after a lengthy review of the school’s sustainability and future role within the broader King David network.
Speaking with BusinessTech, General Director of King David Schools, Rabbi Ricky Seeff, said many factors contributed to the decision to close the school.
Seeff said that a King David school needs to deliver on its promise of teaching excellence, a wide array of subjects, a robust sports program and world-class sports facilities.
“The student numbers in the vast majority of grades at King David Victory Park have reached levels where maintaining this excellence and offering has become compromised,” said Seeff.
“The Jewish community in Johannesburg has become increasingly concentrated in the north-eastern and eastern suburbs, particularly Sandton, Glenhazel, and Linksfield.”
These areas feed stronger student pipelines into other King David campuses, while Victory Park’s numbers have diminished.
Seeff said the closure forms part of a long-term vision to strengthen the King David system by consolidating schools.
The plan is to reduce from 10 schools on 5 campuses to 7 schools on 4 campuses, creating a unified “ONE King David” that is more resilient, efficient, and sustainable.
“The proposed consolidation of the campuses will unlock significant value and enable us to offer an unparalleled academic, holistic and Jewish education experience to all of our students,” said Seeff.
Regarding where the current students go, Open Days were held at other King David campuses so Victory Park families could understand what each school offers.
Seeff is confident that there is a place for every Victory Park family, and there are plans to ensure a smooth transition for all students.
Special care is also being taken for the Matric Class of 2026, with a united Student Leadership body comprised of 2 Head Boys and Head Girls from both Victory Park and Linksfield.
Over 200 students from Victory Park have also requested to transfer to other King David schools over the last two weeks.
Seeff added that maximum staff retention was also at the top of their minds, and they are currently consulting with staff to retain as many staff as possible.
Regarding the large Victory Park Property, no decision has been made yet. King David Schools is not rushing into any deals and will take a considered position on any sale.
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