Advtech, South Africa’s leading private education and resourcing group, has acquired the St George’s School property in Gqeberha, South Africa, to establish an Eastern Cape campus of The Bridge School, expanding its specialised education offering as demand grows for learning environments tailored to neurodivergent children.

The new campus, located in the St George’s Park area, will accommodate up to 450 learners and is scheduled to open in January 2028. It will be the third Bridge School operated by the JSE-listed private education group, which provides specialised academic, emotional and social support through smaller classes and individualised learning programmes.

Building a specialist campus

ADvTECH plans to upgrade the property from 2027, improving its existing academic, cultural and sporting facilities while adding dedicated learning and therapy spaces. The company will also recruit or relocate teachers with expertise in supporting neurodivergent learners to prepare the campus for its opening.

“This acquisition responds to growing demand for specialised schooling and flows from our commitment to provide education of the highest quality for every student,” ADvTECH Group CEO Geoff Whyte said.

Founded in 1978, ADvTECH operates more than 118 education institutions across Africa, alongside a resourcing business serving employers across about 30 African countries. Its education portfolio includes Crawford International, Abbotts College, Rosebank International and Emeris, which brings together several higher education brands.

Enrolments drive earnings growth

The expansion follows a strong first-half performance, with ADvTECH reporting a 16% increase in normalised earnings to R716.5 million ($43.47 million) for the six months ended June 2026.

Group revenue rose 8% to R5.06 billion ($307.07 million), from R4.68 billion ($283 million) a year earlier, while operating profit increased 14% to R1.11 billion ($66.77 million). The operating margin widened to 22%, compared with 21% in the corresponding period.

Total enrolments across the group increased 13% to 119,197 students. Its tertiary division recorded a 19% increase to 71,467 students, while enrolments in the schools division rose 5% to 47,730, reflecting demand across its education businesses.

More schools on the way

ADvTECH is also expanding its mainstream school network. In August, the group announced plans to convert its former Vega Bordeaux site into Abbotts High School Bordeaux, with the new campus expected to open in January 2027.

The two projects highlight the group’s strategy of expanding its school footprint while serving different educational needs. The Gqeberha acquisition adds a specialised learning campus to its portfolio, while the Bordeaux conversion will increase capacity in mainstream schooling.