Cities / Lagos / Lagos Preparatory & Secondary School
Lagos Preparatory & Secondary School
The most heavily UK accredited British prep in Africa, founded in Ikoyi in 2002 by 18 founder families, with a small community feel and consistently strong early results.
In brief
The most heavily UK-accredited British prep in Africa, founded in Ikoyi in 2002 by 18 founder families, with a small-community feel and consistently strong early results.
Lagos Prep was set up on 2 May 2002 by a group of founder families wanting an English prep-school style education in Ikoyi, and the school later added a secondary phase. It runs the UK National Curriculum and Cambridge IGCSE, and is the only school in Africa accredited by both IAPS and COBIS, with ISI inspection and BSO status alongside.
Year 6 SATS routinely run above the UK national average, and the first IGCSE cohort posted strong A* to B grades. The school is deliberately small, which fits families who want every child known by name and visible to the head. The flip side is fewer subject and team-sport options than larger Lagos schools, and limited cohort size at the senior end. Families on the Ikoyi-Victoria Island commute, especially expat and returnee families used to UK prep culture, are the natural fit.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Nursery (from 18 months) | 1 | $2,534 |
| Reception (from 4 years) | 4 | $3,452 |
| Primary Years 1-6 | 6 | $3,531 |
| Secondary Years 7-8 | 11 | $4,432 |
| Secondary Years 9-10 | 13 | $4,461 |
| Secondary Year 11 (IGCSE) | 15 | $4,996 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $72 | |
| Acceptance fee (non-refundable) | $145 | |
| Caution fee (refundable) | $181 | |
| Joining fee (non-refundable) | $507 | |
| Development levy (non-refundable) | $870 |
Reviews
- IAPS-accredited British prep with COBIS executive membership, the only African school in both bodies and on the DfE's overseas-schools list.
- ISI inspection found parent communication strong: weekly newsletters, daily diaries, frequent emails. Inspectors noted a minority of parents felt concerns weren't always handled well, though the complaints record didn't support that view.
- One parent testimonial flagged on the school's site praises how the school nurtures pupils' talents.
- Independent forum signal is sparse, so reviews lean on the inspection record rather than parent posts.
Positives
- Accreditation and oversight. IAPS, COBIS executive member, and DfE-recognised British overseas school. Externally inspected by ISI.
- Parent communication. Inspectors describe links with parents as excellent: weekly newsletters, regular emails, daily communication diary.
Considerations
- Handling of concerns. Most parents report concerns resolved professionally, but a minority told inspectors their concerns weren't handled well.
Leadership
John Samuel
John Samuel served as the long-standing Headmaster of Lagos Preparatory School. Under his leadership, the school became the first in Africa to be accredited by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and to meet the UK Department for Education's standards for British Schools Overseas (BSO). He has been a vocal advocate for the British curriculum in Nigeria, emphasizing high academic standards and the holistic development of students. He has also been actively involved in educational competitions, such as the spelling bee, to enhance student learning. While recent leadership transitions have occurred, his tenure established the school's reputation as one of the top British preparatory schools in Africa.
Accreditations
- ISI 01
- British Schools Overseas (DfE) 02
- COBIS Patron's Accreditation and Compliance 03
Academic results
- IGCSE first cohort 100% A*/A/B
- ECM Award First international school in Nigeria (2010)