Apex Pinelands

About our Apex Network

Apex Education has a strong track record of opening and sustaining well-run schools. Our first campus, Apex High School in Eersterivier, opened in 2018 as a Collaboration School in partnership with the Western Cape Education Department. It is now recognised for its structured learning environment, strong academic performance, and culture of high expectations and support.

In 2024, we opened Apex Stellenbosch, our first low-cost private school, with an initial group of 100 Grade 8 learners. The school is growing steadily and will offer Grades 4, 5, and 8-10 by 2026, expanding each year until it reaches its full capacity of 1,780 learners.

With Apex Pinelands, we are building on a model that has already proven itself in real classrooms over many years. Our systems, training structures, and instructional approach are established, tested, and continually refined.

This is not new for us. We know how to build schools where children are known, supported, challenged, and able to thrive.

Apex Pinelands will open its doors in January 2026, with the first group of Grade 1's and Grade 8's.

The Language of Instruction is English.

Please note that the school fees for Apex Pinelands will be R9 020 per scholar for the 2026 school year.

Apex Pinelands Launch

OUR STAFF

Jana Du Plooy

CEO

Renate van der Westhuizen

Head of Schools

Sanrie van der Westhuizen

Head of Blended Learning, Apex Education

Read About

Jana Du Plooy is the Founding CEO of Apex Education, an organisation built on a simple but powerful belief: every child deserves access to high-quality education, no matter their background.

Jana and her team are rethinking what school can look like — creating learning environments where teachers are deeply supported, technology is used purposefully, and every child is known, challenged, and cared for.

Jana has worked in education and social development for more than ten years, always focused on making learning more meaningful and more accessible. She holds both an LLB and an MBA (cum laude) from the University of Stellenbosch, and is a 2024 HP Cambridge EdTech Fellow, recognised for her leadership in innovative school design.

As a mother and lifelong learner, herself, Jana is passionate about schools being places where children feel safe, inspired, and confident in who they are becoming.

At Apex, her vision is that every child leaves school with a strong heart, a strong mind, and a strong sense of purpose.

Read About

Renate van der Westhuizen is the founding Principal of Apex High School, the first Apex campus, opened in 2018 in Eersterivier. In 2026, she will step into the full-time role of Head of Schools for Apex Education, where she will focus on developing school leadership and working closely with principals across all Apex campuses.

Renate studied Theology at the University of Potchefstroom and completed her Master’s degree at the University of Stellenbosch in Gender and Health. She then earned her Postgraduate Certificate in Education, leading her into a career grounded in both teaching and strong school culture development.

Before founding Apex High School, Renate served for eight years as a Deputy Principal, where she gained deep experience in academic systems, pastoral support, and staff development.

Under her leadership, Apex High School has become known for its strong academic performance, calm and purposeful learning environment, and well-supported teaching teams. The school has consistently delivered excellent Matric outcomes and is recognised for its structured approach to developing confident, capable learners.

Renate’s leadership has been celebrated nationally, including:

National Best Secondary School Leader
EduPulse Trailblazer Award
Education for Social Change Award

She leads with the belief that growth happens in the everyday effort. Her guiding philosophy is:

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Read About

Sanrie van der Westhuizen is the Head of Blended Learning at Apex Education, where she leads the design, alignment, and ongoing development of Apex’s blended-learning model. She holds a BCom Honours in Industrial and Organisational Psychology (University of South Africa), a BDram Honours in Applied Theatre (University of Stellenbosch), and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (University of South Africa).

Sanrie focuses on strengthening the daily learning experience in classrooms. She works closely with teachers and blended-learning facilitators to refine lesson delivery, support strong instructional routines, and ensure that technology is used purposefully to enhance—not replace—human connection and teaching. Her work centres on building confident, skilled adults who can guide and inspire young people.

Deeply committed to continuous improvement, Sanrie leads the ongoing refinement of Apex’s curriculum tools, instructional systems, and technology-supported learning practices. Her goal is to ensure that our model becomes stronger every year, offering children learning experiences that are engaging, rigorous, and meaningful.

Sanrie is guided by a simple belief: when we invest in the adults in the classroom, we change the experience of the child.