Five Ways to Learn: More Learning Options Than Any Other Online School in South Africa
Teneo offers five distinct learning options in one school: 100% Live Classes, Mix of Live and Recorded Classes, 100% Recorded Classes, and two homeschooling options — Without Classes and Without Classes and Reports. In 2027 they run from R800 to R6,800 a month. The point isn’t choice for its own sake. A child who needs a live classroom in Grade 4 may be ready for recorded lessons by Grade 9 and want live teaching again for matric — and five options means they can change how they learn without changing school.
Teneo Online School offers five learning options — more than any other online school in South Africa: 100% Live Classes, Mix of Live and Recorded Classes, 100% Recorded Classes, and two homeschooling options, Without Classes and Without Classes and Reports. In 2027 they cost from R800 to R6,800 a month.
Most online schools offer one way to learn. A few offer two or three. But children don't all learn the same way, families don't all have the same time or budget, and what suits a Grade 4 learner rarely suits the same child in matric. Teneo offers five distinct learning options in one school, from a full live school day to homeschooling. Here's what each includes, who it suits, and how to choose.
The five learning options at a glance
Online school — every lesson taught by a qualified teacher
100% Live Classes — 100% live, timetabled, teacher-led lessons
Mix of Live and Recorded Classes — live lessons on a timetable, with some lessons recorded to watch on a schedule
100% Recorded Classes — all lessons recorded to watch on a schedule
Homeschooling — the parent guides the learning, from Grade 4 4. Without Classes — content modules on a schedule, with timetabled assessments set, invigilated, marked and moderated by qualified teachers 5. Without Classes and Reports — content modules on a schedule only
One school, one platform. Families can move between options as their child's needs change, and different children in the same family can learn in different ways.
See the full comparison on ways to learn.
1. 100% Live Classes
A full live school day, online.
Includes: 100% live, timetabled, teacher-led lessons; the complete lesson recordings library; paired content modules for every subject lesson; timetabled assessments set, invigilated, marked and moderated by qualified teachers; direct messaging with teachers; 24/7 access to MyTeneo; subject-specific gap detection and personalised academic support; termly promotion reports; subject-specific mastery reports; the recognition and reward programme; and after-school, teacher-led group tutorials.
Best for: learners who need the structure and contact of a live classroom, and younger learners — it's the only option in Grades R to 2.
2027 fees: R4,800 a month in Grades R to 6, rising to R6,800 in Grade 12 (IEB). Offered through matric on the IEB.
2. Mix of Live and Recorded Classes
Live lessons for structure, recorded lessons for flexibility.
Includes: everything in 100% Live Classes, except that some lessons are recorded to watch on a schedule.
Best for: learners who benefit from live teaching but need some flexibility in the week — for sport, therapy, travel or a learning pace that varies by subject.
2027 fees: from R3,700 a month (Grades 3 to 6) to R5,300 in Grade 12 (IEB), or R4,400 on SACAI in Grades 10 to 12.
3. 100% Recorded Classes
Every lesson taught by a qualified teacher, on a schedule you can fit around life.
Includes: everything in 100% Live Classes, except that all lessons are recorded to watch on a schedule. Learners still have direct teacher messaging, teacher-marked timetabled assessments, gap detection and academic support, reports and group tutorials.
Best for: self-motivated learners, families in different time zones, and young athletes or performers with demanding schedules.
2027 fees: from R2,600 a month (Grades 4 to 6) to R4,300 in Grade 12 (IEB), or R3,000 on SACAI in Grades 10 to 12. Available from Grade 4.
4. Without Classes
Homeschooling, with teachers assessing the work.
Includes: all content modules for every subject lesson, with a schedule to follow; timetabled assessments set, invigilated, marked and moderated by qualified teachers; termly promotion reports; after-school, teacher-led group tutorials; and 24/7 access to MyTeneo. No teacher-led classes and no teacher direct messaging.
Paid add-ons: lesson recordings library (per subject); gap detection and personalised academic support (for all subjects); mastery reports (for all subjects).
Best for: families where a parent can guide the learning day, but wants a qualified teacher's assessment of progress.
2027 fees: from R1,333.33 a month (Grades 4 to 6) to R2,083.33 (IEB Grades 10 to 12), or R1,666.67 on SACAI. Full curriculum or single subjects, from Grade 4.
5. Without Classes and Reports
Teneo's content and schedule, for families who manage teaching and assessment themselves.
Includes: all content modules for every subject lesson, with a schedule to follow, and 24/7 access to MyTeneo. In IEB Grades 4 to 9, prior-year content and assessments with memorandums, on a schedule, for families to use and mark themselves. In Grades 10 to 12, current-year content with no assessments.
Paid add-on: lesson recordings library (per subject).
Best for: experienced homeschoolers, families on the tightest budgets, and learners at other schools who want Teneo's content in a single subject.
2027 fees: from R800 a month (Grades 4 to 6) to R1,562.50 (IEB Grades 10 to 12), or R1,250 on SACAI. Full curriculum or single subjects, from Grade 4.
See every grade on the 2027 fees.
Which options are available in each grade?
Grades R to 2: 100% Live Classes, in English
Grade 3: 100% Live Classes or Mix of Live and Recorded Classes, in English
Grades 4 to 9: all five options, in English or Afrikaans
Grades 10 to 12, IEB: all five options, in English
Grades 10 to 12, SACAI: Mix of Live and Recorded Classes, 100% Recorded Classes and both homeschooling options, in English or Afrikaans
Afrikaans-speaking learners follow the IEB route in Grades 4 to 9 and SACAI from Grade 10.
Why more options matter
Your child changes. A Grade 4 learner who needs a live classroom may be ready for recorded lessons by Grade 9 — and may want live teaching again for matric. Teneo's options let them change without changing school. Learning options can be changed in the first term of the school year.
Your family's circumstances change. A move, a new job, a sports season or a health setback can all change what's workable. Five options make it far more likely one fits.
Siblings differ. One child may thrive on 100% Live Classes while another learns best through recorded lessons or homeschooling. One school can serve both.
Budgets differ. From R800 to R6,800 a month, families can choose the level of teaching support they need — and pay for it, not for more.
How to choose
Ask three questions:
Does my child need a teacher to teach every lesson? If yes — one of the three class options. If a parent can guide learning — a homeschooling option.
How much live contact does my child need? A lot — 100% Live Classes. Some — Mix of Live and Recorded Classes. Little, with a teacher still on hand — 100% Recorded Classes.
Who will assess the work? Teneo's teachers — any class option, or Without Classes. You — Without Classes and Reports.
Compare like for like. If you're weighing Without Classes plus add-ons against 100% Recorded Classes, price both: the recorded option includes teaching, teacher messaging and academic support as standard.
Beyond the five options
Full curriculum or single subjects on both homeschooling options
Two exam boards for matric — the IEB and SACAI, both Umalusi-accredited. See Teneo's accreditation
English or Afrikaans, depending on grade and exam board
A Hybrid Campus, in person, for eligible Grades 10 to 12 learners, depending on location and eligibility
See primary school and high school by grade, or talk to admissions about the right option for your child.
Frequently asked questions
How many learning options does Teneo offer? Five: 100% Live Classes, Mix of Live and Recorded Classes, 100% Recorded Classes, Without Classes and Without Classes and Reports — more than any other online school in South Africa.
What's the difference between online school and homeschooling at Teneo? In the three online school options, qualified teachers teach every lesson and learners can message them directly. In the two homeschooling options, the parent guides the learning using Teneo's content modules and schedule.
Can I switch learning options? Yes, in the first term of the school year, by submitting a form before the monthly cut-off.
Which learning option is cheapest? Without Classes and Reports, from R800 a month in Grades 4 to 6. The cheapest option with a teacher for every lesson is 100% Recorded Classes, from R2,600 a month.
Is 100% Live Classes available on SACAI? No. In Grades 10 to 12, 100% Live Classes is offered on the IEB. SACAI learners can choose Mix of Live and Recorded Classes, 100% Recorded Classes or a homeschooling option.
Can my children learn in different options? Yes. Each child is enrolled in the option that suits them.
Does 24/7 access to MyTeneo mean teachers are available 24/7? No. MyTeneo is available around the clock; teachers are available through lessons, messaging (in the class options) and tutorials.
"More learning options": a learning option is a distinct way of learning a school offers, with its own inclusions and fee. Based on Teneo's review of the published offerings of every accredited online school in South Africa. Mixing one package across subjects is not counted as an additional option.