With tears, runny noses, smiles and laughter aplenty, 2025’s Grade Ones officially started their time in ‘big school’.

After toiling away at preschool and Grade R, in the words of The Lion King character Mufasa, ‘the time has come’. The Grade Ones at schools all over the Lowveld and the country started their journey in primary school on Wednesday, January 15.

This marks the start of a 12-year journey through the school system that will shape the leaders of tomorrow. Many schools went a long way to ensure the transition into Grade One was as smooth and simple as possible for both the kiddies and their parents.

While it would be expected of the little ones to be nervous as they donned their new school clothes for the first time, it was instead their parents who became emotional. Through gritted teeth and undoubtedly difficult smiles, they put on their bravest faces to bid their children farewell.

A long road lies ahead, and we look forward to seeing everyone’s results when they graduate from high school as the matric Class of 2036!

You can see the list of schools featured below. Simply click on the photo of the school you’re interested in to see their gallery of photos.

Curro Nelspruit

Laerskool Bergland

Laerskool Laeveld

Laerskool Nelspruit

Nelspruit Primary

Penryn School

Uplands