Cities / Nairobi / Hillcrest International Schools
Hillcrest International Schools
A British curriculum day and boarding school in Karen, founded in 1965 and running a full pathway from Early Years through IGCSE, A Level and BTEC for ages 1. 5 to 18.
In brief
A British-curriculum day and boarding school in Karen, founded in 1965 and running a full pathway from Early Years through IGCSE, A Level and BTEC for ages 1.5 to 18.
Hillcrest is one of the three obvious Nairobi options for British-curriculum families, alongside Braeburn and Banda. The Karen campus is genuinely impressive, with a swimming pool, gymnasium, three large playing fields and an active extracurricular programme through the AITCH community-action scheme. Boarding is available at the secondary, which is unusual in Nairobi and useful for upcountry families.
The harder signal is more recent. Ownership has changed hands several times in the last few years and the consistent thread from current parents is that academic standards have slipped while investment has gone into sport and facilities. The 2023 IGCSE A to C rate sat around 80 percent with only 21 percent at A/A, well below the 40 percent A*/A the school was hitting from 2019 to 2022. Worth visiting in person and asking pointed questions about teaching quality and recent leadership before committing.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Playgroup (Mornings Only) | 3 | KES 384,000 |
| Nursery (Mornings Only) | 3 | KES 767,400 |
| Nursery (Full Day) | 3 | KES 946,199 |
| FS1 (Mornings Only) | 4 | KES 844,200 |
| FS1 (Full Day) | 4 | KES 1,022,998 |
| FS2 | 5 | KES 1,133,700 |
| Year 1 | 6 | KES 1,317,900 |
| Year 2 | 7 | KES 1,897,200 |
| Years 3-5 | 8 | KES 2,398,200 |
| Year 6 | 11 | KES 2,466,598 |
| Years 7-8 | 12 | KES 2,574,900 |
| Year 9 | 14 | KES 2,652,900 |
| Years 10-11 | 15 | KES 2,881,500 |
| Years 12-13 | 17 | KES 3,083,099 |
| Weekly Boarding (Years 7-13, additional) | KES 681,898 | |
| Full Boarding (Years 7-13, additional) | KES 1,074,600 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit (refundable, EYFS-Year 6) | KES 25,000 | |
| Boarding Deposit (refundable) | KES 28,955 | |
| Deposit (refundable, Years 7-11) | KES 50,000 | |
| Deposit (refundable, Years 12-13) | KES 100,000 |
Reviews
- Hillcrest sits in Karen and is one of the long-established British-curriculum options in Nairobi, running early years, prep and secondary on a single campus with day and boarding from age 10.
- The Good Schools Guide review describes a multicultural, relaxed and upbeat secondary school with strong music and sport. Around a third of pupils play instruments to grade 8, and the campus runs five football pitches, tennis and squash courts and a swimming pool.
- newer reviews flag a step down. A 2024 parent account on a directory site said classes had become "copying PowerPoint presentations and worksheets," linking the slide to changes in ownership and leadership turnover. IGCSE A-C results sat at 80 per cent in 2023 against around 40 per cent A/A in earlier years.
- A former teacher who worked at Hillcrest 2015 to 2019 described it positively: good work-life balance, decent pay and a great country to live in.
- Reviewers also raise concern that new management is investing in sports facilities ahead of teaching quality, with worries about teacher retention.
- Fees are described as high, comparable to top UK private schools, with parents who feel they get value paying for excellence and others questioning that as ownership has changed hands.
Positives
- music, sport and breadth. Strong instrumental programme, compulsory and competitive sport, and broad facilities define the secondary experience.
- teacher experience. An ex-teacher described decent pay, work-life balance and quality of life in Kenya, though the experience predates current ownership.
Considerations
- academic results trajectory. Recent IGCSE outcomes have softened relative to earlier years and reviewers connect this to leadership and ownership churn.
- ownership and leadership change. Multiple reviews describe instability at the top, with priorities perceived to be moving toward facilities over teaching.
- fees and value. Parents accept high fees if results justify them; the recent results dip is reshaping that calculation.
Leadership
Mr David Dunn
Mr. David Dunn is the Head Teacher of the secondary school at Hillcrest International Schools, overseeing the academic and pastoral care of students. He is committed to fostering a supportive and challenging learning environment that encourages student growth and achievement.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- COBIS Patron's Accreditation and Compliance 02
- ISI 03
Academic results
- A Level performance highest performing school at A level in the Braeburn group
- IGCSE performance third best performing school at IGCSE in the Braeburn group