Kenton College Preparatory School is one of the oldest British curriculum schools in Nairobi, founded in 1924 and settled on a large 35 acre site in Kileleshwa since the 1930s. It is a preparatory school, taking children up to age 13 before they move on to a senior school, which shapes how the curriculum and admissions work. For relocating parents the practical questions are how a prep school fits an English style education, where the fees land and what happens after Year 8, and that is what this profile covers.
Kenton College Preparatory School at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | English National Curriculum to age 13, preparing pupils for entry to senior schools in Kenya and abroad |
| Stages | Early years to Year 8, ages 3 to 13. Kenton is a preparatory school and does not run a senior school on site |
| Founded | Founded in 1924; moved to its present Kileleshwa site in 1935 |
| Accreditation | A long established British curriculum prep school inspected against British Schools Overseas standards. Confirm current inspection arrangements directly with the school |
| Fee band | Mid to upper band for prep schooling in Nairobi; a day only school |
| Campus area | Kileleshwa, on a 35 acre campus close to central Nairobi |
Curriculum and academics
Kenton follows the English National Curriculum, teaching a broad primary and lower secondary programme with specialist teachers in subjects such as music, science and languages, and French from the lower years. As a preparatory school its purpose is to prepare children thoroughly for the move to a senior school at 13, whether that is a Kenyan senior school, a British boarding school or a senior school elsewhere, so the upper years focus on the skills and confidence that transfer well.
For relocating families the prep model has clear strengths. Class sizes and specialist teaching allow close attention through the primary years, the campus is unusually large for the city, and the school has a long track record of moving pupils on to competitive senior schools. The trade off is that Kenton is not an all through school, so you will need a plan for the years after age 13 and should factor that transition into your decision from the start.
The honest way to judge fit is to weigh the quality of the prep years against the need to change schools at 13. If you want a strong, traditional English preparatory education and are comfortable planning a senior school move, Kenton fits well. If you would prefer one school from the early years to 18, an all through British or IB school may suit your family better. Ask the school where recent leavers have gone on to study.
Not sure which Nairobi school fits?
Answer a few questions and the School Finder will shortlist Nairobi schools that match your family.
Kenton College Preparatory School fees
Kenton sits in the mid to upper band for prep schooling in the city, reflecting its long history, its specialist teaching and the scale of its 35 acre campus. Our Nairobi international school fees guide explains how the local market is tiered and where the established prep schools tend to fall within it. Day fees rise by year group, so the total depends on the stage, and the school's published schedule is the only reliable figure to plan against.
Alongside tuition, budget for a one off registration or entrance fee, a deposit and optional costs such as lunches, transport, uniform, clubs and trips. Fees tend to rise year on year, so plan for increases across your time at the school rather than a flat rate, and ask whether sibling arrangements apply.
To see where that leaves you against the rest of the city, our fees guide groups Nairobi schools into broad tiers so you can weigh Kenton against the other names in our best international schools in Nairobi guide and across the wider fees section. Ask the school directly about the current term by term schedule.
Admissions
Entry runs from the early years up to the middle of the school on the British academic year, with an assessment suited to the year group a child is joining and a review of recent school reports. The most common entry points are the early years and Year 3, though places can open higher up the school as families move on.
Because Kenton is a well regarded prep school, popular year groups can fill early, so confirm your family's eligibility and register interest as soon as your relocation is confirmed. Gather recent school reports and any assessment results, which help the school place a child correctly and plan support if English is an additional language.
Ask about assessment dates and start dates for the coming intake, and about the school's guidance on senior school entry at 13, since Kenton has long experience of preparing pupils for that step. If you are moving mid year, ask whether places are available in your child's year group.
Location and who goes there
Kenton College sits in Kileleshwa, one of the green established suburbs a short distance from central Nairobi, on a 35 acre campus that is unusually large for a city school. That location suits families living in Kileleshwa, Lavington, Westlands and the surrounding area, with a manageable commute from much of the western and central city and a longer run from the northern diplomatic quarter around Gigiri and Runda.
The intake mixes internationally mobile families with settled Nairobi households who want a traditional British preparatory education close to home. Relocating families considering Kenton should think about where they intend to live and about their plan for senior school, since both shape how well the school fits over time.
To see how Kenton College compares with the other schools across the city and where comparable families tend to settle, start from the Nairobi city hub and work outward by curriculum, stage and budget.
Kenton College Preparatory School reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Kenton College Preparatory School. GlobalSchoolGuide is an independent guide and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we have collected enough verified first hand accounts to be fair to both the school and to families reading them. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your family has attended Kenton College Preparatory School we would value your account of the curriculum, pastoral care and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and we will add verified contributions to this page.
Frequently asked questions
What curriculum does Kenton College follow?
Kenton College Preparatory School follows the English National Curriculum to age 13, preparing children for entry to senior schools in Kenya and abroad. It is a British preparatory school rather than an IB or American one. Confirm the current subject options directly with the school.
How much are Kenton College fees?
Kenton sits in the mid to upper band for prep schooling in Nairobi, with day fees rising by year group. Budget for annual tuition plus an entrance fee, a deposit and optional costs such as lunches, transport and uniform, and confirm the current schedule with the school.
Where is Kenton College?
The school is in Kileleshwa on a 35 acre campus close to central Nairobi, which suits families living in Kileleshwa, Lavington, Westlands and the surrounding area.
Is Kenton College an all through school?
No. Kenton is a preparatory school for ages 3 to 13, so families plan a move to a senior school at 13. The school has long experience of preparing pupils for senior school entry in Kenya and abroad. Confirm the current arrangements directly with the school.
When do Kenton College applications open?
Entry runs from the early years up the school on the British academic year, with an assessment suited to the year group a child is joining. Apply ahead of your intended entry year and confirm the current admissions criteria directly with the school.
