Three top matriculants share their secrets to success at Reddam House schools

THREE of the top matriculants at two of the Inspired Education Group’s KwaZulu-Natal schools  - Reddam House Ballito and Reddam House Umhlanga - have shared their journeys to achieving success. 

They wrote the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) examination. 

Amara Nathoo, 18, who attended Reddam House Umhlanga, achieved eight distinctions and a Bachelor's degree pass. 

Her subjects were English, Afrikaans, history, mathematics, biology, physics, life orientation, and advanced programme mathematics. 

Amara said she was motivated to excel, so she could pursue her studies in medicine. 

“This goal pushed me to constantly do my best. To prepare for the finals I revised past papers throughout the year, instead of leaving all of my work for the year-end. I found the final examination, particularly biology, to be quite difficult, but besides that, everything was much better than I expected. 

“From my experience, my advice to others when preparing for a test or examination is to not leave all of your work to the last minute. Prepare in advance as it takes some of the pressure off. You should put in as much effort as possible because you will reap what you sow,” she said. 

Amara, of Durban, said her parents were her greatest support. 

"Without them, my nerves would have been uncontrollable for sure. They motivated me every day.”

Her advice to the matric class of 2026 and Grade 8 pupils as they step into the new school year is to keep working hard. 

“Every extra hour, or every minute that you put in, will definitely be worth it in the end.”

While she hopes to study medicine, she is awaiting feedback from the institutions she has applied to. 

Priyasha Govender, 18, of Ballito, attained seven distinctions and a Bachelor's degree pass. Her subjects comprised English, Afrikaans, accounting, mathematics, life sciences, physics and life orientation. 

Priyasha, who attended Reddam Ballito, said throughout her schooling career her desire was to do better with each year. She did this by staying consistent with her studies and identifying the weak areas she needed to work on early.

“I found the examinations to be challenging but rewarding. It tested the hard work I put in during the year. My advice to other pupils is to make use of past papers, actively participate in class, and eliminate all distractions around you when studying.”

She said leaning on those around her was helpful in managing the stress of her final year. 

“The support of my friends and knowing that I wasn't going through this journey called matric alone helped me manage my stress. My parents also kept me motivated during the days I felt burnt out and tired from studying. They also reminded me that hard work always pays off.”

Priyasha's advice to matric and Grade 8 pupils for 2026: “Embrace every new experience as it comes. Cherish every new friendship you make, and never take those around you for granted.” 

She will study data science at Stellenbosch University.

Samishka Govender, 18, of Ballito, also obtained seven distinctions and a Bachelor's degree pass. Her subjects were English, Afrikaans, mathematics, life orientation, life sciences, physical sciences, visual arts, and English further studies. 

Her motivation throughout her schooling was to make her parents proud. 

“I have worked tenaciously with the hope of continuing to make them smile, knowing their efforts to make a better life for my sister and me is being successfully reciprocated. 

“However, leading up to matric and finals is where my motivation shifted more towards making myself proud. I am hard on myself and I am competitive. So I am constantly working at trying to better myself. Making myself proud suits the criteria of achieving high results, staying consistent and healthy, and realising my own goals through perseverance." 

She said in preparation for the final examination, she paid attention in class, asked questions, got clarification when needed, studied in advance and used past papers to revise. 

“I also got eight hours of sleep."

Samishka said the final examination was "the least stressful period of my life". 

"Of course there is a lot of weight behind these papers and results, so I definitely felt the pressure. However, I never felt stressed. I have always worked and tried hard, so the work ethic required to achieve good results in these exams felt natural. So staying consistent makes the preparation for finals much easier. I am also an active fan of K-pop groups, so being able to have something that I enjoy and can escape to, helped me manage my stress."

She said she called her best friend, Lashana Krishnaswamy, every day since Grade 8 to do homework and study together.

"Lashana has kept me accountable and inspired when I felt unmotivated. I owe her the biggest thanks for always being there for me. Of course, I would like to thank my parents for always listening to me rant and meltdown, always offering a shoulder to cry on, a hug when needed and a dad joke to make me feel better.”

Samishka wished the Grade 8 pupils for 2026, all the best in their high school career. 

“It is a lot of fun and a lot of work. You will learn a lot about yourself, change, make friends, lose friends, cry, laugh and ultimately leave feeling whole and ready for the big world. 

“To the matric pupils of 2026, good luck and work hard for yourself. You are responsible for your own future, so make yourself proud and be kind to yourself. Remember these marks do not define your personal worth. There is so much more to life, so try not to get too caught up in the external noise that can feel consuming or overwhelming at times," she said. 

She will study dentistry at the University of Western Cape. 

“I plan on opening a dental practice overseas. I also intend on specialising in either orthodontics or dental cosmetic surgery.”

Reddam House Umhlanga achieved an average aggregate of 75.53%, with pupils securing a total of 264 distinctions. Seventy-five percent of pupils achieved an A or B aggregate. 

Reddam House Ballito achieved an average aggregate of 75.25% and recorded a 100% Bachelor's degree pass rate. Eighty-one percent of pupils achieved an A or B aggregate.

Ravi Nadasen, the chief executive officer of Inspired Education Group Africa & the Middle East, said the outcomes reflect the strength of the Inspired education model. 

“These results demonstrate how a globally aligned curriculum, outstanding teachers and strong pastoral care can develop young people who are academically capable, emotionally intelligent and prepared for the demands of a rapidly changing world. The stories emerging from Umhlanga and Ballito exemplify what holistic education should achieve.”

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