The Guide
Sat, 16 May 2026

Cities / Nairobi / Brookhouse School

Brookhouse School

British-curriculum day and boarding school with campuses in Karen and Runda, founded in 1981 and part of the Inspired group. Fees run from KES 145,000 per term (Early Years) to KES 1,440,000 per term (Year 13), with boarding adding roughly…


Curriculum
British
Fees, annual
KES 435–2880k
Ages
2 to 18
Pupils
~1,000
Founded
1981

Founded in 1981 by the Puxley family in Karen and now spread across two large campuses in Karen and Runda, Brookhouse is one of Nairobi's best-known premium British-curriculum schools and offers premium boarding at Karen.

The Karen campus is the original and remains the boarding base. Runda, off Kiambu Road, opened in 2017 and serves families in the northern suburbs as a day school. Both follow the English national curriculum through IGCSE and A Level, and the intake spans more than 50 nationalities. CIS accreditation and a strong university destination list anchor the Brookhouse pitch.

Parent voice is genuinely mixed. Positive accounts highlight committed teachers, real engagement with parents, and academic improvement after transferring in. The critical strand is consistent: complaints about leadership response to underperforming staff, admissions experiences that put off prospective families, and at least one serious bullying account. Brookhouse rewards families who advocate actively for their child and who are comfortable using the size and resources of the school. It is less forgiving for families who expect the school to surface problems on its own.


Fee Age Type Amount
Little Brookies (Stage 1) 2 Annual KES 435,000
Pre-school Stage 2 3 Annual KES 990,000
Pre-school Stage 3 4 Annual KES 1,020,000
Reception 5 Annual KES 1,095,000
Year 1 6 Annual KES 1,320,000
Year 2 7 Annual KES 2,205,000
Year 3 8 Annual KES 2,250,000
Year 4 9 Annual KES 2,295,000
Year 5 10 Annual KES 2,325,000
Year 6 11 Annual KES 2,475,000
Year 7 & 8 12 Annual KES 2,520,000
Year 9 14 Annual KES 2,760,000
Year 10 15 Annual KES 2,820,000
Year 11 (two semesters) 16 Annual KES 2,820,000
Year 12 17 Annual KES 2,880,000
Year 13 (two semesters) 18 Annual KES 2,880,000
Registration Fee One-time KES 45,000

  • On the international-schools-database the school sits at roughly reviews, with sharp splits rather than a single picture.
  • Parents who like the school single out engaged teachers and improved academic performance, with one parent saying the teachers "engage with the kids and their engagement with the parents" sets it apart.
  • Negative reviews flag two specific issues: bullying serious enough that one parent withdrew their daughter, and admissions handling described as alienating before the family had even seen the school.
  • A 2025 mixed review praised facilities but said leadership "fails to address under performance in teaching staff".
  • the school is treated as one of the established Karen-area British-curriculum names, mentioned alongside Hillcrest, Peponi and Braeburn.
  • Boarding is part of the offer, and the school's profile in East African expat circles extends to families relocating from Tanzania who travel to Nairobi for it.

Head of school

John O’Connor

Guiding children to explore their individuality, expand their opportunities and fulfil their greatest ambitions. I am constantly inspired by our young graduates. They emerge from their time at our international school in Nairobi with a truly 21st Century perspective as young global citizens, ready to contribute to society with a profound sense of justice, tolerance and understanding.

Accreditations

  • Council of International Schools 01

  • A-Level 2025 A* 28%
  • A-Level 2025 A* - A 54%
  • A-Level 2025 A* - B 76%
  • A-Level 2025 A* - C 95%
  • IGCSE 2025 A* 20%
  • IGCSE 2025 A* - A 48%
  • IGCSE 2025 A* - B 75%
  • IGCSE 2025 A* - C 96%

Magadi Road, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya (P.O. Box 24987-00502)

School website