Cities / Nairobi / Braeburn School
Braeburn School
The original Braeburn school, founded in 1979 on Gitanga Road in Lavington, offering the English national curriculum from Reception through A Level for around 700 students. This is the flagship of the wider Braeburn group, with COBIS and BSO accreditation and a long track record in Nairobi.
In brief
The original Braeburn school, founded in 1979 on Gitanga Road in Lavington, offering the English national curriculum from Reception through A Level for around 700 students.
This is the flagship of the wider Braeburn group, with COBIS and BSO accreditation and a long track record in Nairobi. The intake is broadly international and the central Lavington location is convenient for families across the western suburbs.
Parents speak of a happy, well-disciplined school with strong sport, arts and academic balance, and an open-door culture that rewards engaged families. The recurring critique is that the system suits self-motivated learners more than children who need structured intervention. One expat review captures the common refrain that parents who want close, hands-on involvement in their child's day-to-day learning may find the school's approach frustrating. Families pick Braeburn for the heritage, the breadth of activities, and the international community rather than for tightly individualised academic support.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Creche / FS1 (Mornings Only) | 3 | KES 946,200 |
| Creche / FS1 (Full Day) / FS2 | 3 | KES 1,052,400 |
| Years 1-6 | 6 | KES 2,142,600 |
| Years 7-8 | 12 | KES 2,216,100 |
| Year 9 | 14 | KES 2,236,500 |
| Year 10 | 15 | KES 2,385,000 |
| Year 11 (IGCSE) | 16 | KES 2,384,999 |
| Years 12-13 | 17 | KES 2,551,600 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Fee (non-refundable) | KES 5,000 | |
| Deposit (refundable) | KES 50,000 |
Reviews
- Online commentary on the Lavington campus splits between satisfied parents who value the international mix and the strong sport and arts provision, and a sharper expat-parent group that flags secondary-school weaknesses.
- The most substantive independent review is a parent report from an expat parent. Positive lines describe dedicated faculty across early years, primary and secondary as the backbone of the school. The same parent then said high school is primarily for self-motivated learners and that for children needing structured support the system is seriously lacking.
- The same parent flagged that recent IGCSE syllabuses were not fully covered before exams, that students out representing the school are not formally reintegrated into academics, and that dialogue with parents has become defensive rather than collaborative as the school has grown. High teacher turnover and a large share of young, short-tenure teachers are also raised.
- Other reviews are positive but short. One parent said the school caters to each student as an individual and works with their interests, strengths and weaknesses. Parents in Nairobi name Braeburn alongside Brookhouse, Peponi, West Nairobi and Roslyn as the standard British-curriculum shortlist.
- Editorial profiles consistently praise the 400-seat theatre and the swimming and football programmes.
Positives
- Student diversity and ethos. International mix of around 80 nationalities and an open-door, non-selective ethos are recurring positives.
- Facilities and co-curricular. Theatre seating 400 and swimming and football programmes are repeatedly cited as standout strengths.
Considerations
- Faculty quality. One detailed expat review calls early years, primary and secondary faculty exceptional; the same review flags high turnover and a large share of young, short-tenure teachers.
- Senior school structure. Parent review describes senior school as built for self-motivated learners, with weaker structured support, incomplete IGCSE syllabus coverage in some years, and no protocol to reintegrate pupils after representing the school.
- School-parent dialogue. Same parent says the school resists adverse comment as it has grown and that dialogue with parents has become defensive.
Leadership
Mr Warwick Bailey
Raja Ali joined Braeburn School as Executive Principal in summer 2024, overseeing both Braeburn School (Nairobi) and Braeburn Mombasa International School. He also holds a group-wide role focused on educational technology. He has extensive leadership experience in primary, secondary, and all-through schools in the UK and abroad. He is committed to educating the whole child and fostering excellence across multiple disciplines, with a focus on building strong relationships with the school community to ensure students remain well-rounded and academically strong.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- British Schools Overseas (DfE) 02
Academic results
- IGCSE results similar to worldwide norms
- A-level results in-line with UK national average