Nairobi Academy is an all through school in Nairobi that offers both the British pathway and the IB Diploma, taking children from the early years to the sixth form with day and boarding places. That dual offer makes it worth a look for families who want a choice of routes to 18 in one school. For relocating parents the practical questions are how the two pathways sit together, where the fees land and whether boarding suits your plans, and that is what this profile covers.
Nairobi Academy at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | British curriculum with Cambridge IGCSE and A Level, alongside the IB Diploma Programme in the sixth form |
| Stages | Early years to sixth form, roughly ages 2 to 19, with day and boarding places. Confirm the current year group range with the school |
| Founded | A long established Nairobi school; confirm the founding year directly with the school |
| Accreditation | Works with Cambridge International and is authorised for the IB Diploma Programme. Confirm current authorisation and inspection arrangements directly with the school |
| Fee band | Mid band for the Nairobi market; boarding charged on top of day fees |
| Campus area | Nairobi, on the western side of the city. Confirm the campus address directly with the school |
Curriculum and academics
Nairobi Academy runs two recognised pathways side by side. In the middle years pupils follow the British curriculum to Cambridge IGCSE, and in the sixth form families can choose between A Level and the IB Diploma Programme, for which the school is authorised. That combination is unusual in the city and gives older students a genuine choice between the focused specialisation of A Level and the breadth of the IB Diploma.
For relocating families the appeal is flexibility. A child arriving from a British or Cambridge school slots into the IGCSE years with little disruption, while the option of the IB Diploma keeps a broader route open for the sixth form. Both routes are widely recognised by universities in Kenya, the United Kingdom and beyond. The trade off is that a two pathway school asks families to make an informed choice at 16, so it helps to understand your child's strengths and university leanings before that point.
The honest way to judge fit is to weigh that choice as a benefit rather than a complication. If you value having A Level and the IB Diploma available in one school, with day and boarding options, Nairobi Academy fits well. Ask about the subject lists on each pathway, the balance of students choosing A Level against the IB, and 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.
Nairobi Academy fees
Nairobi Academy sits in the mid band for the city, an all through school with day and boarding provision and a choice of sixth form pathways. Our Nairobi international school fees guide explains how the local market is tiered and where schools of this kind tend to fall. Fees rise by year group and boarding is charged on top of day tuition, so the total depends heavily on the stage and on whether your child boards.
Alongside tuition, budget for a one off registration fee, a deposit and optional costs such as boarding, meals, transport and trips. Fees tend to rise year on year, so plan for increases across a multi year stay rather than a flat rate, and ask whether sibling discounts 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 compare Nairobi Academy with 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 and how boarding is priced.
Admissions
Entry runs from the early years to the sixth form on the British academic year, with an assessment suited to the year group a child is joining and a review of recent school reports. Because Nairobi Academy is an all through school, there are several entry points, and the most common are the early years, the move into secondary and entry to the sixth form.
Places in popular year groups can be limited, so confirm your family's eligibility and the current requirements directly with the school early. If boarding is part of your plan, ask about availability and the boarding application process, which can run on its own timeline. For sixth form entry, be ready to discuss whether your child is leaning towards A Level or the IB Diploma.
Register your interest as soon as your relocation is confirmed and ask about assessment dates and start dates for the coming intake. If you are moving mid year, ask whether places are available in your child's year group, since intake can be tighter outside the main entry point.
Location and who goes there
Nairobi Academy sits on the western side of Nairobi, within reach of the residential suburbs where many internationally mobile and settled families live. As with any Nairobi school, the practical question is the daily commute, which is shorter for families in the west and centre of the city and longer for households based in the northern diplomatic quarter around Gigiri and Runda. Confirm the exact campus address and traffic at your intended times directly with the school.
The intake mixes internationally mobile families with Nairobi residents who want a choice of British and IB routes and the option of boarding. Boarding also widens the catchment, since it suits families who live outside the city or travel for work. Relocating families should think about where they intend to live and whether boarding is part of the plan.
To see how Nairobi Academy 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.
Nairobi Academy reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Nairobi Academy. 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 Nairobi Academy 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 Nairobi Academy follow?
Nairobi Academy teaches the British curriculum to Cambridge IGCSE and A Level, and is authorised for the IB Diploma Programme in the sixth form. Families can choose between A Level and the IB Diploma at 16. Confirm the current subject options directly with the school.
How much are Nairobi Academy fees?
Nairobi Academy sits in the mid band for Nairobi, with fees rising by year group and boarding charged on top of day tuition. Budget for annual tuition plus a registration fee and optional costs such as boarding, meals and transport, and confirm the current schedule with the school.
Does Nairobi Academy offer boarding?
Yes. Alongside day places the school offers boarding, which can suit families who live outside the city or travel for work. Confirm the current boarding year groups and arrangements directly with the school.
Does Nairobi Academy offer the IB Diploma?
Yes. Nairobi Academy is authorised for the IB Diploma Programme and offers it alongside A Level in the sixth form, so older students can choose between the two routes. Confirm the current pathway options directly with the school.
When do Nairobi Academy applications open?
Entry runs from the early years to the sixth form 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.
