Over the past years the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has honoured schools that have:

• achieved excellent results in the Senior Certificate examinations
• demonstrated progressive improvement in Senior Certificate results
• demonstrated excellence within a particular context

The year 2007 was the last year that the Senior Certificate examination was conducted for full-time candidates.

The National Curriculum Statement, characterised by high knowledge and high skills was phased in at Grade 10 level in 2006, Grade 11 level in 2007 and Grade 12 level in 2008. This means that the first National Senior Certificate examination will be conducted at the end of 2008.

It is proposed that in 2008, awards to schools be made in the following categories:

Category 1 - Excellence in Academic Performance

Category 1a: Excellence in academic achievement in the context within which the school operates
In this category, awards will be presented to seven schools where the academic performance in 2008 illustrates meritorious outcomes relative to the contexts within which the school operates and where there is consistency in the number of candidates (at least 95% of previous 3 years). The 'context within which a school operates' is based on the quintile (1 - 3) and the pass rate of the school. 'Meritorious outcomes' will be based on a weighted index which will include both number of candidates that wrote (minimum of 35) and number / percentage of successful candidates in the 2008 National Senior Certificate examinations.

Category 1b: Excellence according to a set of given criteria
In this category, awards are made to the top ten schools in the province that have achieved excellence in academic results in 2008 , based on the following criteria:

• Consistency in number of grade 12 candidates over a period of 3 years (at least 95% of previous years);
• an overall pass rate of 100% in 2008
• number of subject distinctions
• endorsement rate for Bachelor's degree of at least 60%

CATEGORY 2: Excellence in the National Senior Certificate outcomes

Category 2b: Most improved NSLA schools
Awards will be made to two schools with the most improved Grade 12 pass rate over the period 2006-2008, while maintaining or increasing enrolment levels of full-time candidates in Grade 12.

Category 2c: Most improved Focus schools
Awards will be made to two schools with the most improved Grade 12 pass rate over the period 2006-2008, while maintaining or increasing enrolment levels of full-time candidates in Grade 12.

Category 2d: Most improved Dinaledi and MST Schools
Awards will be made to two schools with the most improved Grade 12 pass rate over the period 2006-2008, while maintaining or increasing enrolment levels of full-time candidates in Grade 12.

Category 3 - Excellence in Individual Subjects

Category 3a: Excellence in Mathematics
This is awarded to two schools in the province that excelled by producing the highest number of passes in Mathematics (40% and above) with the subject average in Mathematics as a second criteria. The school must have a minimum of 35 candidates who wrote Mathematics.

Category 3b: Excellence in Physical Science
This is awarded to two schools in the province that excelled by producing the highest number of Physical Science passes (40% and above) in 2008, with the highest subject average as a second criteria. The school must have a minimum 35 candidates who wrote Physical Science.