LEAP schools unlock the door to a bright future for children from South Africa’s townships by preparing them for tertiary study, success in their chosen career path and to be socially responsible citizens.

It is our aim that each LEAP learner should pass Grade 12 with Mathematics (not Maths Literacy), Physical Science and English Home Language at the highest grade. LEAP focuses on whole learner development and rigorous academic training. This is achieved through:

- Values-focussed life orientation as the cornerstone of educational advancement

- A family-structure method of interaction within the school community

- Small class and school sizes

- Increased overall contact time between teachers and learners

- Double contact time in key subject focus areas (Science, Maths and English)

- An extended school day (08:15 to 17:15)

- Partnering with established successful schools

- A strong community outreach programme

LEAP is a community-focused intervention initiative with each school serving a specific community and drawing its learners from this community. LEAP learners are identified through our outreach work and are selected based on their academic results as well as their personal attributes. An important component of the LEAP Science and Maths School model is that each learner embarks on a personal journey to discover their true identity and voice. This journey is extremely challenging as each learner confronts their fears and weaknesses. It is also tremendously rewarding as they work on overcoming these weaknesses and embracing their identity and discovering their potential. This is a lifelong journey and their time at LEAP is only the start. It is therefore essential that each learner selected be able and willing to embrace this opportunity.

- 100% of LEAP learners are black South Africans from economically disadvantaged households.

- 68% of LEAP learners are girls.

- 50% of our learners live in informal, non-permanent houses.

- 20% of our learners come from homes where one or both parents are deceased.

- Most of LEAP’s learners come from homes where the academic qualification of their parents is Grade 10 or lower.

There are currently three LEAP Science and Maths Schools serving the communities of Langa and Gugulethu in Cape Town and Alexandra in Johannesburg.