SPARK Schools

About SPARK Schools

SPARK Schools operates as a network of independent private schools in South Africa, targeting the affordable education market. The company was founded in 2012 by Stacey Brewer and Ryan Harrison, who identified a need to address the country's education crisis. The founders' journey began while they were pursuing their MBAs at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), where they conceived the idea to create a sustainable, high-quality educational model. Despite lacking direct experience in the education sector, their business acumen drove them to research various models, leading them to the blended learning approach pioneered in the U.S. by organizations like Rocketship Education.

The company's business model is centered on providing internationally competitive education at a cost comparable to government schools. Revenue is generated primarily from school fees, which are structured to be affordable for a broad segment of the South African population. To supplement its operational costs and fuel expansion, SPARK Schools employs a hybrid funding strategy, securing investments from both for-profit impact investors and non-profit foundations. Notable investors include Omidyar Network, Pearson Affordable Learning Fund, CREADEV, and Finnfund.

SPARK Schools' core offering is a unique blended learning model, a first for primary schools in Africa. This educational product combines traditional, teacher-led classroom instruction with technology-based learning in a 'Learning Lab'. Here, students use adaptive software that personalizes education, allowing them to progress at their own pace. For older students in grades 4-7, a flex model is used, where they are grouped by ability rather than age, further individualizing their education. The curriculum follows national standards and is designed to develop core values summarized by the acronym SPARK: Service, Persistence, Achievement, Responsibility, and Kindness. The school day is structured with subject-specific classroom rotations, and significant emphasis is placed on teacher development, with educators receiving over 245 hours of professional training annually.

The first institution, SPARK Ferndale, opened its doors in 2013 with 165 students. The network has since expanded significantly, growing to over 20 primary schools and five high schools across Gauteng and the Western Cape, serving more than 17,000 students. The first high school was launched in 2019, and the network celebrated its first graduating matric class in 2023. A key milestone was achieved in November 2023, when SPARK Soweto won the World's Best School Prize for community collaboration.