The short answer
Five options: CAPS (the South African national curriculum, Grades R–12), Cambridge (international, Reception to A Levels), Special Needs, Special Needs CAPS, and Remedial CAPS for a learner who has fallen behind and needs to catch up.
Saving Grace runs five curricula. They are not tiers of the same thing — they suit genuinely different situations.
CAPS — Grades R to 12
The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement is the national curriculum taught in most South African schools. Choose it if your child may return to a mainstream South African school, or is heading for a National Senior Certificate matric through SACAI. It is the default for most families.
Cambridge — Reception to A Levels
Locally and internationally recognised, preparing learners to write Cambridge examinations. Worth considering if the family may move abroad, or if you want an internationally portable qualification.
Special Needs Curriculum — Grades R to 10
A specialised curriculum for learners with special educational needs, such as high-functioning autism or severe dyslexia, with individualised pacing, visual aids and daily support.
Special Needs CAPS
The same specialised approach, but aligned to CAPS — for a learner who needs the adapted delivery while staying on the national curriculum.
Remedial CAPS — Grades R to 9
For a child who has fallen behind academically. The stated goal is to help them catch up to their peers, rather than to move them permanently onto a different track.
How to choose
Two questions get most families to the answer. Where might your child be schooling in three years — here or overseas? That decides CAPS or Cambridge. Is the difficulty the pace, or the material itself? Pace points to Remedial CAPS; the way material has to be presented points to one of the Special Needs curricula.
If it is still not obvious, ask in the forums with your child’s grade and what is actually going wrong. That is a better question than “which is best”, because there is no best — only best for this child.
This article was written from the curriculums page on the Saving Grace website in August 2026. Figures and dates change — check the curriculums page before you rely on them, or ask in the forums and a member of the team will confirm.