Admissions

WATCH: Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) 2025 Online Admissions Tutorial:

Specialised Curriculum

The NSA falls under a select group of schools known as the SOS Schools – Schools of Specialisation. These schools offer a highly “specialised curriculum seeking to nurture the development of top talent in South Africa across key disciplines, breeding the country’s future generation of leaders.”

Grade 8 Applications Process

The NSA is on the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) online system for admission to Grade 8. It is listed under the Special Schools due to its classification as a School of Specialisation.

All prospective Grade 8 learners MUST register online.

Auditioning will not bypass the GDE online system in any way at all. Registering with the GDE and auditioning are parallel processes.

In addition to a GDE online application, all Grade 8 applicants must submit an NSA online application to audition.

* All applicants to upload the following documents with their NSA online application:

• Copy of learners Birth certificate – Certified
• Copy of learners academic latest report – Certified
• Copies of both parents/guardians, sponsors ID document (guardians must provide the legal document giving them guardianship. – Certified Copy
• Proof of Residence – Certified Copy
• Immigrants – Copy of study permit

The outcome of auditions will be communicated to applicants by email and/or SMS.

Grades 9 - 11 Application Process

All potential learners Grade 9 – Grade 11 must complete an online application to audition at the NSA

* All applicants to upload the following documents with their NSA online application:

• Copy of learners Birth certificate – Certified
• Copy of learners academic latest report – Certified
• Copies of both parents/guardians, sponsors ID document (guardians must provide the legal document giving them guardianship. – Certified Copy
• Proof of Residence – Certified Copy
• Immigrants – Copy of study permit

The outcome of auditions will be communicated to applicants by email and/or SMS.

School & Hostel Fees - 2024

Annual School Fees: R 34,340

Hostel Fees:

• Weekly Boarding: R 44,520 p.a.
• Termly Boarding: R 59,360 p.a.

Creativity and empathy will be as important as AI in the jobs of the future.

Nurturing top talent to be the leaders of tomorrow.

DDG , Gauteng Education Department

The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.

Art

Art – NSA ONLINE APPLICATIONS AND LIVE AUDITIONS FOR ART.

Grades 8 and 9

Submission of Artwork Guidelines :

• • • One-page essay in English.
    • One clear photo of your complete wooden chair
    • One clear photo of your complete self-portrait
    • One clear photo of your complete paper/textile
    • AFFIDAVIT from a police station stating that the work submitted is the original and unaided work of the applicant (learner).

    1. ESSAY: Write a One-page essay in English on: Why I would like to study at the NSA and the career that I want to follow after Grade 12.

    2. ARTWORK 1: A3 size Pencil drawing of a wooden chair. The chair must be drawn from life. In other words do not copy from a photo or a drawing from the internet. Use a chair from the place where you are staying. Your artwork will be assessed on the following criteria:

    • • Understanding of (positive & negative) space and perspective drawing
      • Use of formal design elements and principle of art/design
      • Technique and craftsmanship and use of material
      • Professional presentation of work (neatness)

      3. ARTWORK 2: A self-portrait of at least 50 cm x 30 cm: You may use pencil, colour pencils, paint, etc. Your self-portrait must be drawn from life. Draw yourself in the mirror. Pay attention to how the face is divided before working on your final portrait. Do not copy from a photo or a drawing from the internet Your artwork will be assessed on the following criteria:

      • • Creativity and originality
        • Use of formal design elements and principle of design
        • Technique and craftsmanship, evidence of design involvement (own work)
        • Professional presentation of work (neatness)

        4. ARTWORK 3: A design of a wall paper/textile for any purpose, in colour (e.g. pattern for fabric/tile etc. or a poster). Your artwork will be assessed on the following criteria:

        • • Creativity and originality
          • Use of formal design elements and principle of design
          • Technique and craftsmanship, evidence of design involvement (own work)
          • Professional presentation of work (neatness and functionality of the design)

          Grades 10 and 11

          Submission of Artwork Guidelines :

          • • • Two-page essay in English.
              • One clear photo of your complete still life (Visual Art)
              • Three clear photos of each of the three logo ideas and One photo of your final logo for your Cheese Label and Logo
              • Four clear photos of your 3-Dimensional (3D) self-portrait. You must capture the Top-View, Left Side-View, Right Side-View and Front-View of your Self Portrait. All of the photos must have a LION matchbox next to them for reference purposes.
              • AFFIDAVIT from a police station stating that the work submitted is the original and unaided work of the applicant (learner).

              1. ESSAY: Write a Two-page essay in English on: Why I would like to study at the NSA and the career that I want to follow after Grade 12.

              2. ARTWORK 1: Visual Art (Still Life) A still-life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which are either natural (food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or man-made (drinking glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes, etc.

              • • Set-up a still-life of different objects that describe you as a person e.g. your favorite clothes, shoes, toys, books, precious items.
                • Firstly make three small A5 size sketches of your still-life in different views/perspectives.
                • From your three sketches decide which one has interesting composition and use it to RE-DO it on A3 as your final artwork. When you do this keep in mind the proportions of your objects and how they relate to each other. It is best to first draw the outline of your still-life in line pencil and when you are happy with your composition and proportions then start using your chosen mediums.
                • Divide your still-life into four or more sections in any configuration of your choosing. For each section of your still-life choose a medium that you are comfortable with and use it there. Note that you may not repeat any medium in the different sections. For each section of your still-life you can add a different drawing surface to draw on.
                • The main aim of this activity is for you to display how you handle different art materials, your understanding of elements of art e.g. space (negative& positive), texture, light/tone, shape, form and colour. One of your sections must be done in colour medium.
                • This artwork must be in A3 size or bigger and part of it can be a collage, painting, mixed media, charcoal, drawing ink, soft pastel, water colour, pencil, kokipen, permanent marker or highlighters Look at the examples below for reference.

                

                3. ARTWORK 2: 2D DESIGN (CHEESE LABEL AND LOGO). The main function of graphic design is to convey a brand in an eye catching and striking manner. Graphic design deals with the more commercial side of art:- advertising, printing, promotional work. It can include symbols, lettering, logos, labels, signs, posters, billboards, CD and DVD covers, book covers, book illustrations and book/magazine layout. Graphic design is also used in brochure design, menu design, invitations, catalogues, tickets and packaging and label design. Graphics are also used in films and animation.
                

                Graphic design is two dimensional. This two dimensional work is normally applied by printing or painting on a flat surface, such as paper, card or board, which is then made into packages, boxes or containers. It can also be printed on a three dimensional structures such as bottles.
                

                The message to be conveyed in graphic design can involve visual images, lettering or a combination of both.

                Design brief:

                • • To design an Irish farmhouse cheese label & logo for Claire Coogan
                  • You need to submit three ideas for the design and one final logo
                  • Materials : Poster or gouache paint, firm white paper, sharp pencil (to design rough ideas first – then to draw out final design)
                  • Size of Label : 170 mm across
                  • Use only two colours. The label must be round, as that is the shape of the cheese. The cheese is yellow/cream in colour, and slightly lighter on the inside.
                  • The design must also be suitable for use on posters, letterheads and business cards ∙ Keep in mind that your label must be based on the three “C”s namely C laire C oogan’s C heese

                  Your artwork will be assessed on the following criteria:

                  • • Creativity and originality
                    • Use of formal design elements and principle of design
                    • Technique and craftsmanship, evidence of design involvement (own work)
                    • Professional presentation of work (neatness)

                    4. ARTWORK 3: 3D DESIGN (3-D SELF-PORTRAIT). Create a 3-Dimensional Interpretation of self-portrait , in any medium and executed in any way that is appropriate .

                    • • A self-portrait is defined as a drawing, painting, or written description that you do of yourself.
                      • In simple terms a self-portrait is a representation of an artist that is drawn, painted, photographed, or sculpted by that artist.
                      • In a deeper sense it is one of the identifying and distinguishing factors that is the artist’s way of seeing.
                      • Think of things that create ‘’SELF’’ or things that distinguish you from others, especially considering that the object is one of introspection or reflexive action.
                      • The dictionary defines a self-portrait as: a likeness of a person, especially of the face, as a painting, drawing, or photograph; a verbal picture or description, usually of a person: a biography that provides a fascinating portrait of an 18th-century rogue.

                      NOTE: This must be a 3-DIMENSIONAL SELF-PORTRAIT. Your artwork will be assessed on the following criteria:

                      • • Likeness, eit her Physical or Emotional
                        • Use of material/s and technical ability
                        • Understanding of elements and principles of Art/Design
                        • Understating of 3D interpretation.