Curro Holdings
Corporate brand
UnclaimedCurro Holdings is a South African education group operating private schools, colleges, assisted-learning institutions and online education services.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Curro Holdings Limited, generally known as Curro, is a South African education group that develops and operates private educational institutions. Its principal activity is the provision of schooling across the country, spanning early childhood education, primary and secondary schooling, assisted learning, digitally enabled education and selected tertiary or college offerings. The group presents itself as a provider of private education intended to serve a broad range of South African families, including households seeking alternatives to state schooling at different price and service levels. The business began in 1998 when teacher Chris van der Merwe established Curro with 28 students in leased premises. The first Curro campus was opened in Durbanville in the Western Cape in 1999. Van der Merwe was motivated in part by the goal of making private education more affordable in South Africa. During the early period, he concentrated on the financial and commercial development of the organisation, while business partners were responsible for academic matters. The model gradually expanded from a single school into a multi-campus operator. By 2006, enrolment had reached approximately 1,000 students. Curro then added campuses including Langebaan, Silver Lakes and Roodeplaat. A significant ownership and development milestone came in 2011, when Paladin Capital, a subsidiary of PSG Konsult, acquired a 50% interest. The relationship with PSG brought additional financial and business expertise to Curro. In June of the same year, Curro listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange's Alternative Exchange, known as AltX. At listing, the group set an ambitious long-term expansion objective involving 40 schools and 45,000 learners by 2020. Curro subsequently broadened its educational scope. In 2013 it entered tertiary education through the acquisition of Embury, a private teacher-education institution. That tertiary activity later became the basis for Stadio, which was separated from Curro in 2017 and established as the independently listed Stadio Holdings. Curro founder Chris van der Merwe moved to lead the new tertiary-focused entity for a period at PSG Group's request. The group launched Curro Online in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted conventional schooling and increased demand for remote and digitally supported learning. Its operating portfolio includes Curro Castles nursery schools, mainstream Curro schools, Curro Academy, Curro Select, assisted-learning schools, Curro DigiEd, Curro private colleges, Curro Online and Meridian schools. These formats allow the group to address different educational stages, learning needs and affordability segments. By 2025, Curro reported 189 schools across 81 campuses in all nine provinces of South Africa, with total enrolment exceeding 73,000 learners. The organisation therefore occupies a substantial position in the country's private-school sector, although its scale and business model also expose it to scrutiny over affordability, educational access and the treatment of learners from different racial backgrounds. A 2015 controversy involving alleged racial segregation of classes at one Curro school prompted criticism and attention from the Gauteng Department of Education. Curro remains an active, Johannesburg-listed South African education group, with its identity centred on operating and scaling a national network of private learning institutions.
History
Curro Holdings was founded in South Africa in 1998 by teacher Chris van der Merwe. The organisation initially operated from leased premises and served 28 students. Its first dedicated Curro campus opened in Durbanville, in the Western Cape, in 1999. Van der Merwe described the founding purpose as creating a more affordable form of private education in South Africa. Although he did not have formal business training, he directed the early financial planning and commercial model, while partners concentrated on academic matters. The school network grew gradually during its first decade. By 2006, Curro had approximately 1,000 learners and had expanded beyond its original campus. A second campus was established in Langebaan, followed by schools in Silver Lakes and Roodeplaat. These developments marked the transition from a single-school initiative to a network-based education business. In 2011, Paladin Capital, a subsidiary of PSG Konsult, acquired a 50% shareholding in Curro. The investment connected Curro with Jannie Mouton and the wider PSG network, bringing additional financial and management expertise to the company. In June 2011, Curro listed on the AltX segment of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. At that point, management communicated an expansion ambition of reaching 40 schools and 45,000 learners by 2020. Curro expanded beyond primary and secondary education in 2013 by acquiring Embury, a private institution focused on teacher education. The tertiary activities were later separated from Curro. In 2017, Stadio was unbundled from Curro and became an independent company, Stadio Holdings, with a tertiary-education focus. Curro founder Chris van der Merwe agreed to lead Stadio for three years at PSG Group's request. The group continued developing multiple educational formats rather than relying on a single school model. Its portfolio came to include Curro Castles nursery schools, conventional Curro schools, Curro Academy, Curro Select, assisted-learning schools, Curro DigiEd, Curro private colleges, Curro Online and Meridian schools. These formats are intended to serve different age groups, learning requirements and affordability segments. Curro Online was launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 crisis. The service reflected the pandemic-driven need for remote learning and extended Curro's operating model beyond physical campuses. The group subsequently continued as a national private-education operator. By 2025 it reported 189 schools across 81 campuses located in all nine South African provinces, with total enrolment of more than 73,000 learners. Curro's expansion has also generated public scrutiny. In 2015, the Gauteng Department of Education found that one Curro school had segregated classes according to race. The episode became a significant controversy for the group because it raised questions about racial discrimination, institutional practice and the responsibilities of private schools in South Africa. Curro remains active and listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with its core business focused on operating a broad private-school network and related education services.
- 2025
Network exceeds 180 schools
[1]Curro reports 189 schools on 81 campuses across all nine South African provinces and enrolment exceeding 73,000 learners.
- 2020
Curro Online launches
[1]Curro introduces an online education offering during the COVID-19 disruption.
- 2017
Stadio is separated from Curro
[1]The tertiary-education operations are unbundled into Stadio Holdings, which becomes independently listed on the JSE.
- 2013
Entry into tertiary education
[1]Curro acquires Embury, a private teacher-education institution, extending the group into post-school education.
- 2011
Paladin Capital acquires a 50% stake
[1]Paladin Capital, a PSG Konsult subsidiary, purchases half of Curro and contributes additional financial and business expertise.
- 2011
Curro lists on the JSE AltX
[1]Curro Holdings becomes a publicly traded company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange's Alternative Exchange segment.
- 2006
Network reaches approximately 1,000 learners
[1]Curro's enrolment reaches about 1,000 students, with campuses including Langebaan, Silver Lakes and Roodeplaat.
- 1999
First Curro campus opens in Durbanville
[1]Curro establishes its first school campus in Durbanville in the Western Cape.
- 1998
Curro is founded
[1]Teacher Chris van der Merwe establishes Curro with 28 students in leased premises, aiming to develop a more affordable private-education option in South Africa.
Products and positioning
A South African private-education platform combining a national multi-campus school network with differentiated school formats, assisted learning and digital education. Curro's historical positioning has included expanding access to private education at comparatively accessible price points while offering families a structured alternative to state schooling.
Private primary and secondary education
Curro schools
Curro's core school network provides private education across primary and secondary stages. These campuses form the central component of the group's national operating footprint and are designed to provide structured academic, extracurricular and campus-based education to South African learners.
Private schooling
Curro Academy
Curro Academy is one of the group's differentiated school formats. It is intended to broaden Curro's reach within the private-school market through a distinct operating and affordability proposition from the group's other school brands.
Private schooling
Curro Select
Curro Select is a Curro school format serving a defined segment of the group's private-education portfolio. It forms part of the multi-brand approach through which Curro offers different school configurations and market positions.
Nursery and early-childhood education
Curro Castles
Curro Castles provides nursery and early-childhood education. The format gives Curro a presence before the conventional primary-school years and complements the group's broader learner pathway.
Specialised education
Curro assisted-learning schools
Curro's assisted-learning schools serve learners who require additional educational support. They extend the group's offering beyond mainstream schooling by focusing on learning environments and services adapted to different learner needs.
Digital education
Curro DigiEd
Curro DigiEd is the group's digitally enabled education format. It reflects Curro's use of technology and alternative delivery models within school education and forms part of its response to changing expectations around flexible and technology-supported learning.
Online education · 2020
Curro Online
Curro Online is a remote-learning offering launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It extends Curro's education services beyond physical campuses and provides an online route for learners seeking digitally delivered schooling.
Private schooling
Meridian schools
Meridian schools form part of Curro's broader school portfolio and contribute to its multi-format private-education network. They operate alongside the Curro-branded school formats within the group's South African campus system.
College education
Curro private colleges
Curro private colleges represent the group's post-school and college-oriented activities. The tertiary education business was later separated into Stadio Holdings, while Curro continues to identify private colleges among its educational divisions.
Controversies
2015
Racial segregation controversy at a Curro school
The Gauteng Department of Education found that a Curro school had separated classes according to race. The finding led to criticism and public debate concerning discrimination, equal treatment and the responsibilities of private schools in South Africa.
Brand decisions
2020
Launch Curro OnlineProduct launchBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted classroom-based schooling and increased the need for remote education.
Action taken
Curro launched Curro Online as a digitally delivered education offering.
Aftermath
The launch expanded Curro's delivery model beyond physical campuses and added an online component to its education portfolio.
2017
Unbundle tertiary education into StadioM&ABackground
Curro's tertiary activities had developed into a distinct education business with a focus different from the group's school operations.
Action taken
Stadio was separated from Curro and incorporated as an independently listed tertiary-education company, Stadio Holdings.
Aftermath
The transaction created a separately listed tertiary platform, while Curro remained focused primarily on schools and related education formats.
2013
Acquire EmburyM&ABackground
Curro sought to extend its activities beyond school education into tertiary and teacher training.
Action taken
The group acquired Embury, a private teacher-education institution.
Aftermath
The acquisition helped establish Curro's tertiary-education platform, which was later separated into Stadio Holdings.
2011
Accept a 50% investment from Paladin CapitalM&ABackground
Curro was seeking to scale its private-school network and strengthen its commercial and financial capabilities.
Action taken
Paladin Capital, a subsidiary of PSG Konsult, acquired a 50% shareholding in Curro.
Aftermath
The investment brought Curro into a closer relationship with the PSG network and was followed by further expansion and a public listing.
2011
List on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange AltXStrategyBackground
Curro required a public-market platform to support its planned expansion in South African private education.
Action taken
Curro Holdings listed on the JSE's Alternative Exchange segment and communicated a long-term growth target for schools and enrolment.
Aftermath
The listing established Curro as a publicly traded education company and supported its subsequent development into a national network.
Recent events
Sources2 sources
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