South African ordinary schools follow the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) Grades R to 12. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) organises that span into four phases. Each phase has a fixed grade band. Subject CAPS documents, programme and promotion rules, and assessment policy sit on top of this map.
CAPS123 is not an official DBE site. Always prefer the live files on education.gov.za.
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- CAPS hub (all phases): Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS)
- NCS overview: National Curriculum Statements Grades R to 12
- Short CAPS definition on this site: What is CAPS?
- Foundation Phase classroom map: Foundation Phase CAPS guide
- Assessment across phases: CAPS assessment overview
Four phases at a glance
| Phase | Grades | Official CAPS list |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Phase | R to 3 | CAPS Foundation Phase |
| Intermediate Phase | 4 to 6 | CAPS Intermediate Phase |
| Senior Phase | 7 to 9 | CAPS Senior Phase |
| Further Education and Training (FET) | 10 to 12 | CAPS FET Phase |
Use this table for orientation. Subject lists, time allocations, and promotion requirements come from the programme and promotion policy (PDF) and from each subject CAPS. Do not invent electives or subject combinations from a blog summary.
Foundation Phase (Grades R to 3)
The Foundation Phase covers Grade R (Reception) to Grade 3. CAPS focuses on literacy, numeracy and Life Skills, with Home Language, First Additional Language (from Grade 1), Mathematics and Life Skills as the core subject set on the official FP list. Coding and Robotics appears on the FP CAPS list where DBE has published the Final files.
For planning on this site, start with the Foundation Phase CAPS guide and the Foundation Phase hub. Assessment in this phase is continuous School-Based Assessment (no end-of-year examination weighting in the National Protocol phase table). Detail: Foundation Phase CAPS assessment.
Intermediate Phase (Grades 4 to 6)
The Intermediate Phase covers Grades 4 to 6. Learners build on Foundation Phase skills with a broader subject package (languages, Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology, Social Sciences, Life Skills and related CAPS subjects as listed for the phase). Download subject files from the Intermediate Phase CAPS list.
Assessment mixes School-Based Assessment and an end-of-year examination component. Phase weightings are set in the National Protocol for Assessment. See the CAPS assessment overview.
Senior Phase (Grades 7 to 9)
The Senior Phase covers Grades 7 to 9. The subject package widens further (including Economic and Management Sciences, Technology, Creative Arts and other subjects as listed in policy and on the Senior Phase CAPS list). This phase prepares learners for FET subject choices. Exact offerings and promotion rules stay in the programme and promotion policy (PDF) and the Senior Phase CAPS list.
Do not treat “open electives” as a free menu. Follow the school’s approved package and national programme rules.
Further Education and Training (Grades 10 to 12)
The FET Phase covers Grades 10 to 12. Learners follow a combination of subjects that leads to the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations at the end of Grade 12. Subject CAPS files are on the FET CAPS list.
NSC certification and authenticity sit with Umalusi and DBE certification processes, not with this phase explainer. For certificate routes, see matric certificate: get or view your NSC.
How the NCS pieces fit together
The NCS Grades R to 12 comprises:
- Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) for each approved subject
- National policy pertaining to the programme and promotion requirements of the NCS Grades R to 12
- National Protocol for Assessment Grades R to 12 (recording and reporting)
Open the subject CAPS for the phase and grade you need from the CAPS hub. For recording and SBA versus examination balance by phase, use the CAPS assessment overview and the National Protocol for Assessment (PDF).
Practical tips for parents and new educators
- Confirm the learner’s phase and grade before downloading CAPS or ATP files.
- Prefer education.gov.za PDFs over shared drives or WhatsApp packs.
- Use the Foundation Phase CAPS guide when the learner is in Grades R to 3.
- For assessment language (SBA, formal tasks, report codes), start with the assessment overview.
- Dates, circulars and provincial calendars change. If a date is not on the official portal you are using, monitor that portal.