An almost 50% failure rate and only three pupils achieving a bachelor's degree pass in the Cambridge International AS-level exams. These might sound like the results of a poorly performing public school, but they are, in fact, from Cooper College in Northriding, Johannesburg. The institution is among 15 Curro Select schools and charged more than R103 000 in fees in 2023. Curro, an independent schools network, owns 182 schools in South Africa and says there is a price difference between Curro and Curro Select schools. Parents say that the school's executive head, Joulia Karamichael, had informed them that children who failed the Cambridge International AS-level exams would have free tuition and exam registration in 2024 should they choose to rewrite the exams, and the cost of having their 2023 exam papers remarked would be covered by Curro. Thabiso Tema spoke to a lecturer at the Wits school of Education’s division of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Dr. Douglas Andrews about the difference between Cambridge. IEB and National Senior Certificate.