Children's International School is a private British curriculum school within easy reach of Lekki, Ikoyi and Victoria Island, founded in 2003 and one of the better established all through schools among the Lagos international schools. It runs a junior school, a senior school and a sixth form on a single secure campus, with day and boarding places, which lets a family keep a child in one school from nursery through to university entry. That continuity is part of its appeal.
This profile sets out the curriculum, the fee position, the admissions route and the community around the school. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so what follows is an editorial reference rather than a prospectus. For the wider shortlist of strong secondary options in the city, see our guide to the best IB schools in Lagos, which sets the British route in context against the IB.
Children's International School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | British curriculum plus, with Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Nursery to sixth form (ages 2 to 18), day and boarding |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Accreditation | Accredited as a British School Overseas; Cambridge International examination centre; confirm current status with the school |
| Fee band | Upper tier, boarding charged on top (see Lagos fees guide) |
| Campus area | Within reach of Lekki, Ikoyi and Victoria Island |
Curriculum and academics
Children's International School follows a British curriculum plus model, delivering the content and skills of the English National Curriculum and adapting it to the Nigerian context. The junior school takes children from nursery to Year 6, the senior school runs to Cambridge IGCSE in Year 11, and the sixth form offers A Levels before university. That makes it a full British curriculum route from the early years to school leaving, taught in English. Families weighing the British examination pathway against the IB can compare the city's Diploma providers in our Lagos IB schools hub, though CIS itself follows the Cambridge IGCSE and A Level route.
The school has been recognised as a British School Overseas, an accreditation awarded against the standards inspected for British schools abroad, and reports holding a quality mark for international schools. Confirm the current accreditation status and any recent inspection findings directly with the school, as these are renewed periodically.
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Children's International School fees
Children's International School sits in the upper part of the Lagos market. Our Lagos school fees guide maps how an established British school with day and boarding places compares across the city, with fees usually quoted in US dollars and rising through the year groups towards A Level. Boarding pupils pay an accommodation charge on top of tuition. We do not republish a precise figure here because schedules change each year, so confirm the current rate with the school before you budget.
Plan for the costs that sit above headline tuition. Expect a registration or application charge, a deposit on acceptance, boarding fees for residential pupils, a school bus fee for day pupils outside walking distance, and examination entry fees in the IGCSE and A Level years. These extras add a meaningful amount to the total cost of attendance.
Admissions and intake
Children's International School admits across year groups subject to availability, with the main intake aligned to the September academic year. The natural entry points are the start of nursery, the move into Year 7 and entry to the sixth form, where demand is strongest. As an all through school it also takes pupils mid phase where places exist.
Admission draws on prior school reports and an age appropriate assessment, with documentation such as birth or passport records and references. Boarding capacity is limited, so families seeking residential places are encouraged to apply early. Confirm the current application window, assessment format and registration deadlines directly with the school.
Location and who goes there
The school sits on a secure campus within easy reach of Lekki, Ikoyi and Victoria Island, the cluster of island and Lekki corridor districts where much of the city's professional and expatriate population lives. Day families are drawn from across these neighbourhoods, while the boarding houses extend the catchment to families elsewhere in Nigeria and abroad. The parent body mixes Nigerian and international households drawn by the British curriculum and the all through structure.
For the wider picture of how the British, American, IB and French schools sit across the city, including fee tiers and neighbourhoods, see the Lagos schools hub.
Children's International School reviews
No verified parent reviews of Children's International School have been submitted to GlobalSchoolGuide yet. We hold back from publishing a star rating until we have enough verified first hand accounts to represent the school fairly, and we never fabricate ratings. If your family attends or has attended CIS, please consider sharing your experience through our school reviews page to help other relocating families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Children's International School fees?
CIS sits in the upper part of the Lagos market, with boarding charged on top of tuition for residential pupils. Fees are usually quoted in US dollars and rise through the year groups towards A Level. Schedules change annually, so confirm the current rate with the school and budget separately for registration, a deposit, boarding, bus and examination entry.
Is Children's International School a good school?
CIS is an established British curriculum school founded in 2003 that has been accredited as a British School Overseas. Suitability depends on whether an all through British route near Lekki and the option of boarding fit your family. Confirm current accreditation and examination results with the school.
What curriculum does Children's International School follow?
CIS follows a British curriculum plus model based on the English National Curriculum, running from nursery through Cambridge IGCSE in Year 11 and A Levels in the sixth form, taught in English.
When do Children's International School applications open?
CIS admits across year groups subject to availability, with the main intake aligned to the September academic year. Apply early for the most in demand stages and confirm the current window and assessment with the school.
Where is Children's International School located?
CIS occupies a campus within easy reach of Lekki, Ikoyi and Victoria Island, which suits families based across the Lagos island districts and the Lekki corridor.
