How many British schools in Lagos
Lagos has around 18 schools delivering the British national curriculum through to IGCSE in Year 11. About 12 of those carry through to A Level or Cambridge International AS and A Level at sixth form. The remaining six finish at Year 11, expecting families to transfer their children for the final two years of school. Most of the British curriculum capacity sits on Lagos Island and the Lekki peninsula, with The Grange School in Ikeja GRA as the mainland anchor.
The British curriculum is the dominant pathway for Lagos expat families and a strong second choice behind the Nigerian senior secondary curriculum for upper-middle-class Nigerian families. Cambridge International (CAIE) is the dominant exam board, accounting for around 90 percent of IGCSE entries in the city. A small number of schools also enter students for Edexcel International IGCSE in selected subjects. Both boards align with the May and November examination series.
Outcomes data is more comparable at IGCSE and A Level than at any other stage because the qualifications are externally examined. The best Lagos British schools, in particular British International School Lagos and The Grange, post IGCSE grades 7 and above in the 55 to 70 percent range, and A Level A and A star rates of 35 to 50 percent. That is below the strongest UK independent schools but well above UK state school averages.
Fees and the dollar question
British curriculum fees in Lagos sit in three tiers. The value tier, $4,000 to $7,000 a year, captures Nigerian-owned IGCSE providers that serve middle-class Lagos families, with the curriculum delivered alongside Nigerian senior secondary studies. The mid tier, $7,000 to $14,000, includes most established British-pathway schools serving the Nigerian professional class and returning diaspora families. The premium tier, $14,000 to $22,000, is British International School Lagos and Day Waterman College, where international expat families and the wealthiest Nigerian families overlap.
A Level fees typically carry a 10 to 15 percent uplift over Year 11 IGCSE tuition. Cambridge exam fees sit between $1,200 and $2,000 a year and are billed separately. Transport, lunch, books and trips add roughly 20 to 25 percent on top of headline tuition. Most international-tier schools quote in US dollars because of naira volatility, with naira-denominated payment accepted at the day school rate on the date of invoice. See our Lagos fees guide for the loading mathematics, or use the fees comparison tool to compare cities side by side.
Not sure which Lagos British school is the right fit?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three schools based on your child's year group, sixth form ambition, and your budget. Free, no obligation.
Illustrative example schools
The five schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each delivers the full British IGCSE and A Level pathway, has a settled identity in the Lagos market, and is well known to UK university admissions officers.
The Grange School in Ikeja GRA is one of the oldest British curriculum schools in Lagos, founded in 1958 to serve the expatriate community around the federal capital territory. Now serves a majority Nigerian student body with a strong UK university pipeline. Day school, with extended-day options.
British International School Lagos in Lekki Phase 1 is the largest international-tier British school in the city. Full IGCSE and A Level provision, the strongest UCAS team in Lagos, and a diverse expat enrolment from over 40 nationalities. Premium fees and selective Year 7 entry.
Lagoon Secondary School in Lekki is a single-sex boys' school running Cambridge IGCSE and the Nigerian senior secondary curriculum in parallel. Strong sciences, distinctive Catholic ethos.
Avi-Cenna International School in Ikoyi serves the diplomatic and oil-major families on the island. Cambridge IGCSE and A Level, with smaller cohort sizes than BISL.
Day Waterman College in Asese, Ogun State, roughly 90 minutes from central Lagos, is the main full-boarding British curriculum option for Lagos families. IGCSE and Cambridge International A Level, with strong drama, music and sport.
Where British-pathway families live
British-curriculum families in Lagos cluster around three areas. Lekki Phase 1 and Lekki Phase 2 for proximity to British International School Lagos and Lagoon Secondary, with most newer expat families on the peninsula. Ikoyi and Banana Island for Avi-Cenna and for families willing to make the mainland school run to The Grange. Ikeja and Magodo on the mainland for The Grange's local feeder pipeline, and for Nigerian professional families who work in the airport corridor.
British schools attract three distinct family profiles. Returning Nigerian-diaspora families resettling from the UK and seeking continuity with the British system. Expat oil-major and finance families on three to five year postings. And Nigerian upper-middle-class families with explicit UK university ambitions for their children. The mix at any individual school varies sharply, and is worth asking about during open days because it affects peer-group culture significantly. See our best areas guide for a fuller picture of Lagos neighbourhoods.
Admissions calendar
The Lagos school year runs September to July, matching the British academic calendar. Applications for the September 2026 academic year opened at most British curriculum schools between October and December 2025. British International School Lagos and The Grange typically close their main intake for Year 7 by late February, with assessment days through March and offers in April. Sixth form applications run on a separate calendar, with deadlines typically falling between November and February of the Year 11 academic year.
Year 12 transfers after October are difficult across Lagos because A Level subject combinations are already set. Year 10 and Year 11 transfers during the IGCSE phase are possible at schools willing to match subject lists. For families relocating mid-year, applying 6 to 9 months ahead and confirming a place for the start of the following academic year is the lower-risk strategy. Day Waterman runs boarding intake offers in March for September entry, with limited capacity and a long waiting list.
Frequently asked questions
How many British curriculum schools are there in Lagos?
Lagos has around 18 schools delivering the British curriculum through to IGCSE in Year 11. Of those, about 12 also offer A Level or Cambridge International AS and A Level at sixth form. The British International School Lagos and The Grange School are the longest-established providers.
How much do British schools in Lagos cost?
British curriculum tuition in Lagos ranges from about $4,000 a year at Nigerian-owned IGCSE providers, to $22,000 at British International School Lagos. A Level fees typically carry a 10 to 15 percent uplift over IGCSE. Most international-tier schools quote fees in US dollars because of naira volatility.
Which exam boards do Lagos British schools use?
Cambridge International (CAIE) dominates at IGCSE and A Level in Lagos. A small number of schools, notably Greensprings, also enter students for Edexcel International IGCSE in selected subjects. Cambridge timetables align with the May and November examination series, with most Lagos schools using both windows.
Do British schools in Lagos prepare students for UK universities?
Yes. UCAS applications are run formally at British International School Lagos, The Grange and Day Waterman College, with experienced sixth form heads coordinating personal statements and predicted grades. Lagos A Level cohorts typically place 60 to 75 percent of students at UK universities, with the rest splitting between the US, Canada and Nigerian universities.
Is boarding available at British schools in Lagos?
Day Waterman College in Ogun State, about 90 minutes from central Lagos, is the main full-boarding British curriculum option. Several Lagos day schools offer weekly boarding for sixth formers. Lagos itself has limited boarding capacity, so families wanting full boarding usually choose between Day Waterman and schools outside the city.
