Cities / Nairobi / Nairobi International School
Nairobi International School
A British-curriculum school off James Gichuru Road in Lavington, founded in 2008 and offering KS3, IGCSE and A Levels through both Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel.
In brief
A British-curriculum school off James Gichuru Road in Lavington, founded in 2008 and offering KS3, IGCSE and A Levels through both Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel.
NIS draws families with a strong academic line. The school was named the top-performing school nationally in the May/June 2023 IGCSE results, a number that shifts admissions interest in Nairobi. The dual exam-board approach, with Cambridge IGCSE and A Level alongside Edexcel and BTEC options, gives senior students some flexibility on subject mix.
The Lavington campus is compact rather than expansive, smaller than ISK or Hillcrest, but the facilities cover the basics with a gym, computer lab, art and music studios and a food lab. Parents describe a disciplined, structured environment under Radhika Lee's leadership, which suits academically motivated families and may feel tighter than the more relaxed expat schools. Families prioritising exam results and a British university pathway who find a smaller, more controlled school environment acceptable should shortlist it.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Playgroup (195,000/term ×3) | 3 | KES 585,000 |
| KG 1 (225,000/term ×3) | 4 | KES 675,000 |
| KG 2 (225,000/term ×3) | 5 | KES 675,000 |
| Year 1 (235,000/term ×3) | 6 | KES 705,000 |
| Year 2 (270,000/term ×3) | 7 | KES 810,000 |
| Year 3 (270,000/term ×3) | 8 | KES 810,000 |
| Year 4 (300,000/term ×3) | 9 | KES 900,000 |
| Year 5 (300,000/term ×3) | 10 | KES 900,000 |
| Year 6 (300,000/term ×3) | 11 | KES 900,000 |
| Year 7 (375,000/term ×3) | 12 | KES 1,125,000 |
| Year 8 (375,000/term ×3) | 13 | KES 1,125,000 |
| Year 9 (375,000/term ×3) | 14 | KES 1,125,000 |
| Year 10 (420,000/term ×3) | 15 | KES 1,260,000 |
| Year 11 (630,000 ×2 terms; T3 NIL) | 16 | KES 1,260,000 |
| Year 12 (660,000 ×2 terms; T3 NIL) | 17 | KES 1,320,000 |
| Year 13 (660,000 ×2 terms; T3 NIL) | 18 | KES 1,320,000 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee (new student) | KES 2,000 | |
| Admission Fee (one-off, KG-Y10) | KES 25,000 |
Reviews
- NIS surfaces in r/Kenya as a long-running fixture in Lavington, named for both academics and as a basketball venue open to the public after 6pm.
- Alumni look back on it positively; one ex-student described attending NIS after primary at Hospital Hill.
- Parents and aggregators describe a Pearson Edexcel pathway across KS3 to KS5 with a small, mixed student body.
- The pool of recent parent reviews is thin; Reddit signal is mostly older alumni mentions and directory entries.
- No recurring critical theme surfaced; pool is small enough that absence is not the same as endorsement.
Positives
- Alumni recollections. Long-time Lavington families and alumni speak of it warmly years on.
- Community access. School facilities, including the basketball court, are noted as open to the local community.
Considerations
- Curriculum pathway. British KS3 to KS5 with Pearson Edexcel; mixed student body.
- Source pool. Few recent parent reviews; older Reddit comments dominate signal.
Leadership
Radhika Lee
An educator with nearly four decades in international education, Mrs. Lee established Nairobi International School in September 2008 as the first Eschool in East Africa. Beyond her role as an English teacher, she champions sports and arts initiatives in Kenya, particularly basketball development. She founded CATSI to support cancer patients and established various scholarship programs across Africa. Her autobiography Rainbows in my clouds was published in November 2015. In 2020 she received the BETT Award for Women in Technology.