Cities / Nairobi / Brookhouse School
Brookhouse School
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.
In brief
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.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Little Brookies (Stage 1) | 2 | KES 435,000 |
| Pre-school Stage 2 | 3 | KES 990,000 |
| Pre-school Stage 3 | 4 | KES 1,020,000 |
| Reception | 5 | KES 1,095,000 |
| Year 1 | 6 | KES 1,320,000 |
| Year 2 | 7 | KES 2,205,000 |
| Year 3 | 8 | KES 2,250,000 |
| Year 4 | 9 | KES 2,295,000 |
| Year 5 | 10 | KES 2,325,000 |
| Year 6 | 11 | KES 2,475,000 |
| Year 7 & 8 | 12 | KES 2,520,000 |
| Year 9 | 14 | KES 2,760,000 |
| Year 10 | 15 | KES 2,820,000 |
| Year 11 (two semesters) | 16 | KES 2,820,000 |
| Year 12 | 17 | KES 2,880,000 |
| Year 13 (two semesters) | 18 | KES 2,880,000 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Fee | KES 45,000 |
Reviews
- 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.
Positives
- Engaged teaching and academic improvement. Several parents report better grades after moving from other schools and praise teacher-parent communication.
- Facilities. Parents and reviewers consistently rate facilities highly across the Karen and Runda campuses.
Considerations
- Bullying concerns. One parent says their daughter asked to leave because of "critical bullying" and warns other parents to be cautious.
- Leadership and admissions handling. A 2026 review reports being alienated during the prospective-parent stage; another flags weak management of underperforming staff.
- Position in the Nairobi market. commenters in the Kenya and East Africa subreddits group it with Hillcrest, Peponi and Braeburn as established British-curriculum options.
Leadership
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
Academic results
- 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%