Working as a student teacher at a top-tier private school is completely exhausting. You do not just teach a few classes and go home at two o’clock. Applying for the ISASA internships means you are signing up to live and breathe the school culture while trying to pass your own university degree in the background.
Most teaching students spend four years sitting in normal university lecture halls. The ISASA system works differently by putting you straight into an active classroom at places like Roedean, St John’s, or Hilton College. Your mornings are spent helping senior teachers mark test papers and manage younger students.
The physical demand is heavy because academics are only half the job. Independent schools expect their interns to run the afternoon extramural programs. Most days, you will have to change into a tracksuit to coach cricket, referee water polo, or manage a debate team before you can even think about going home.
When the sports buses finally leave at five o’clock, your second job begins. Because you are studying your BEd or PGCE via distance learning through UNISA, your evenings are spent entirely on your own university assignments and lesson plans.
There is a very clear preference for specific subjects. If you want to teach History or Life Orientation, finding a funded spot is difficult. However, if you have strong matric marks in Mathematics or Physical Science, schools will actively fight to get you into their math departments.
Our Honest Take: Private Schools vs Government Schools?
Our Analysis: Teaching at a government school gives you job security, but teaching at an ISASA member school gives you access to world-class resources, smartboards, and smaller classes. The trade-off is the parent pressure. Private school parents pay up to R150,000 a year in fees; if their child drops 5% in a math test, you will be answering emails from angry parents at 8:00 PM.
Expert Pro Tip: “The Extramural Trap.” A huge mistake applicants make is only talking about academics in their interview. Private schools want “all-rounders”. If you have a background in debate, choir, swimming, or hockey coaching, put that at the top of your CV. A school will often pick a B-average student teacher who can coach the 1st team rugby over an A-student who has no sports background.
Job Overview: Stipends & Allowances (2026 Estimates)
| Qualification Level | Est. Monthly Stipend (ZAR) | Programme Type |
| BEd Student (Years 3 & 4) | R6,500 – R8,500 + Tuition | Senior Student Intern |
| PGCE Candidate (Postgrad) | R7,000 – R9,000 + Tuition | PGCE Trainee Teacher |
| BEd Student (Years 1 & 2) | R4,000 – R6,000 + Tuition | Junior Intern |
| Hostel Duty Assistant | Free Boarding + Meals | Resident Intern |
Which Teaching Divisions Take Interns? (2026 Breakdown)
ISASA member schools look for specific subject specialists. You need to target the stream that matches your academic background:
1. Senior Phase STEM (Maths, IT & Science)
- Target Audience: Students pursuing a BEd or PGCE specializing in Mathematics, Physical Science, or Information Technology.
- The Daily Grind: The most high-pressure phase. You will help senior teachers set up complex science lab practicals, mark Grade 10 algebra tests, and help students prepare for their final IEB (Independent Examinations Board) matric exams.
2. English & Humanities
- Target Audience: Students specializing in English Home Language, History, or Geography.
- The Daily Grind: Heavy reading. You will spend hours marking long literature essays, helping students prepare for inter-school debate tournaments, and organizing the school’s drama productions.
3. Foundation & Intermediate Phase
- Target Audience: Students studying to teach Grades R to 7.
- The Daily Grind: Managing the chaos. You will focus on early childhood literacy, basic numeracy, tying shoelaces, and dealing with younger children who struggle to focus during long school days.
The Reality of Working in Independent Education
Being a student teacher in a wealthy private school is a lifestyle, not just an 8-to-5 job:
- Boarding House Duty:
If you accept a placement at a school with a boarding house, you will likely live on campus. This means your workday never really ends. You will be scheduled for night-time prep duty, making sure teenagers are studying, and dealing with homesick kids at 10:00 PM.
- The Weekend Sacrifice:
Private school sports are highly competitive. Your Saturdays are not your own. You will spend almost every Saturday morning standing on the side of a hockey field or rugby pitch, managing a team, and riding the bus back with the students.
- The Distance Learning Struggle:
Balancing a heavy school workload with your UNISA studies is brutal. You are exhausted from teaching all day, but you still have to write a 3,000-word educational psychology essay before midnight. Many interns drop out because they cannot manage this dual workload.
Featured “Hot” Programme: SAM&E Mathematics Teacher Intern
The South African Mathematics and English (SAM&E) programme is the flagship ISASA intake. It heavily targets school leavers and graduates who want to teach critical shortage subjects.
- Estimated Stipend: Full UNISA tuition + R6,000 monthly living stipend.
- Location: Various ISASA Member Schools Nationwide (Johannesburg, Cape Town, KZN).
- Requirements:
- A strong Matric pass with at least 60% in Core Mathematics (Not Math Lit).
- Must secure provisional acceptance into a UNISA BEd degree or PGCE.
- A proven track record in high school sports or cultural activities.
- Must clear strict child protection and criminal background checks.
How to Apply Correctly? (The 3 Official Channels)
Getting an internship at a private school requires bypassing the general noise. You cannot just walk into a private school and ask to be a student teacher. Independent schools are obsessed with child safety and strict academic standards. If you want a funded spot, here are the three real ways to get in:
The ISASA SAM&E Portal Trap
The main route for fully funded bursary placements is through the official ISASA Careers Portal. The trap here is university registration. ISASA does not register you for your degree. Before you even apply on their portal, you must have proof of provisional acceptance from UNISA for a BEd or PGCE. If you upload your CV without that UNISA student number or acceptance letter, the screening committee automatically bins your application because they cannot legally fund a non-student.
Direct “Learn-to-Teach” School Boards
Elite schools like Michaelhouse, St Stithians, or Hilton College do not wait for January to hire interns. They do their budget and hiring in Term 3 (August to September) for the following year. They rarely use generic job boards. You have to watch the ‘Vacancies’ tabs on their specific school websites. The smartest backdoor here is your sports CV. If you have provincial colors in water polo, cricket, or hockey, sending your CV directly to the school’s Director of Sport in August often gets you an intern interview faster than applying through the academic HR desk.
The Corporate Bursary Backdoor
The secret to getting into the ISASA system with top-tier financial backing is applying through corporate sponsors. Companies like Investec and Sanlam have specific CSI (Corporate Social Investment) funds dedicated to producing math and science teachers. Applying directly for an “Investec Teacher Bursary” often acts as a backdoor. If Investec selects you for funding, they directly facilitate your placement into an elite ISASA member school, bypassing the standard school interview queues.
Thabo Mandla is the lead Career Guide Expert at DurbanTalent.com. With over 10 years of practical experience in South African recruitment, he specializes in connecting professionals with top employers in Aviation, Finance, and Hospitality. Thabo combines his background in Human Resources with direct insights from local hiring managers to provide job seekers with accurate, actionable, and reliable career advice. He is passionate about helping candidates navigate the Durban job market and achieve their professional goals.