Rainbow College is a secondary school that runs a combined British and Nigerian programme across a day and boarding model. Its roots reach back to the late 1990s, when a boys college and, shortly after, a girls college were founded; the two later merged into the coeducational school families know today. It is a familiar name among the Lagos international schools, drawing pupils who want both a Cambridge route and the Nigerian examinations under one roof.
This profile sets out the curriculum, the fee band, the admissions route and the community around the school. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so this is an editorial reference rather than a prospectus. For the wider shortlist of secondary options in the city, see our guide to the best international schools in Lagos.
Rainbow College at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | British and Nigerian curriculum with Cambridge IGCSE and the WAEC |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Secondary, day and boarding |
| Founded | Origins in the late 1990s; merged into a coeducational college |
| Accreditation | Cambridge International examination centre and WAEC centre; confirm wider accreditation with the school |
| Fee band | Mid to upper Lagos tier, boarding charged on top (see Lagos fees guide) |
| Campus area | Day campuses in Lagos; boarding campus at Maba, Ogun State |
Curriculum and academics
Rainbow College teaches a dual pathway that combines the British curriculum with the Nigerian national syllabus. In the senior years pupils prepare for two external examinations, the Cambridge IGCSE and the West African Examinations Council certificate, which gives leavers both an internationally recognised qualification and the Nigerian credential that local universities expect. The twin route is the school design principle rather than an add on.
The college pairs its academic timetable with sport, clubs and a house system, and the boarding campus supports a full residential programme for pupils who board. Families weighing a British sixth form route against the International Baccalaureate can compare the city Diploma providers through our Lagos IB schools hub.
Budgeting for day or boarding at Rainbow College?
Use our fee calculator to estimate the total cost of a Lagos place, including boarding, transport and examination extras, free and independent.
Rainbow College fees
Rainbow College sits in the mid to upper part of the Lagos market. Day fees fall within the range mapped in our Lagos school fees guide, and boarding pupils pay an accommodation charge on top of tuition. Fees are set in naira and reviewed each academic year, so we do not republish a precise figure here. Confirm the current termly schedule 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 transport fee for day pupils who use the school buses, and examination entry fees in the IGCSE and WAEC years. These extras add a meaningful amount to the total cost of attendance.
Admissions and intake
Rainbow College admits into its junior secondary years and, subject to availability, into later year groups, with the main intake aligned to the September academic year. Entry is by assessment alongside previous school reports, and demand is strongest at the main junior intake and for boarding places.
Applicants typically supply recent school reports, birth or passport documentation and references, and sit an entrance assessment. Families seeking boarding places are encouraged to apply early because residential capacity is limited. Confirm the current application window, assessment format and deadlines directly with the school.
Location and who goes there
Rainbow College operates a day and boarding split across sites, with day campuses in Lagos and its boarding campus at Maba in neighbouring Ogun State. The out of city boarding campus gives residential pupils a calmer setting away from the traffic of central Lagos, while the day campuses keep the school within reach of families living in the mainland districts.
The parent body is largely Nigerian, with families choosing the college for its combined Cambridge and WAEC route and its boarding option. 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.
Rainbow College reviews
No verified parent reviews of Rainbow College 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 Rainbow College, please consider sharing your experience through our school reviews page to help other relocating families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Rainbow College fees?
Rainbow College sits in the mid to upper Lagos band, with boarding charged on top of tuition for residential pupils. Fees are set in naira and reviewed each year, so confirm the current termly schedule with the school and budget separately for registration, a deposit, boarding, transport and examination entry.
Is Rainbow College a good school?
Rainbow College is an established coeducational secondary school offering a combined British and Nigerian pathway through Cambridge IGCSE and the WAEC, with day and boarding places. Whether it suits your family depends on your preference for the twin examination route and boarding. Confirm current results and accreditation with the school.
What curriculum does Rainbow College follow?
Rainbow College teaches a dual British and Nigerian curriculum, preparing pupils in the senior years for both the Cambridge IGCSE and the West African Examinations Council certificate rather than the International Baccalaureate.
When do Rainbow College applications open?
The main intake is aligned to the September academic year, with entry into the junior secondary years and, subject to availability, later years. Apply early for boarding places, and confirm the current window and assessment dates with the school.
Where is Rainbow College located?
Rainbow College runs day campuses in Lagos and a boarding campus at Maba in neighbouring Ogun State, which keeps day pupils close to the mainland districts while giving boarders a quieter out of city setting.
