Strathmore School is one of the best known private schools serving Nairobi, a boys' day school in Lavington that has run since 1961 and built a strong academic reputation through the Kenyan national examinations. It is important to be clear that this is a local curriculum school rather than an international one, which makes it a different proposition from the British, American and IB schools elsewhere in the city. For relocating families the questions are what the Kenyan pathway involves, where the fees land and how admissions work, and that is what this profile addresses.
Strathmore School at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | Kenyan national curriculum: the Competency Based Curriculum in the primary section and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in the secondary section. Not an international programme |
| Stages | Primary and secondary, as a boys' day school. Confirm the current grade structure with the school |
| Founded | 1961, as Kenya's first multiracial school |
| Accreditation | Registered Kenyan school under the national examinations system. Pastoral formation entrusted to Opus Dei. Confirm current status with the school |
| Fee band | Below the international schools, among the more affordable established options in the city, with a registration fee on enrolment |
| Campus area | Lavington, west of the Nairobi city centre |
Curriculum and academics
Strathmore follows the Kenyan national curriculum, with the Competency Based Curriculum in its primary section and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in its secondary section. This is the route taken by most Kenyan children rather than an international programme, and it is the reason the school sits apart from the city's international options. For families staying in Kenya for the long term, or for those who want a child rooted in the national system, that is the point of the school rather than a drawback.
Academically the school has a long record of strong results in the national secondary examinations and a reputation for discipline and order, which is much of its appeal to local families. The pastoral and religious formation is entrusted to Opus Dei, a prelature of the Catholic Church, so the Catholic ethos shapes the wider school day and is worth understanding before applying.
For an internationally mobile family the trade off is portability. A child following the Kenyan curriculum will not carry an IGCSE, an Advanced Placement transcript or an International Baccalaureate diploma, which are the qualifications that move most easily between countries, so Strathmore makes most sense for families settled in Kenya or comfortable with the national pathway. If your next move is uncertain, weigh that carefully against an international curriculum school.
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Strathmore School fees
As a Kenyan national curriculum day school, Strathmore sits well below the international schools on cost and is among the more affordable established options in the city. Our Nairobi international school fees guide explains how the wider local market is tiered, and it is useful context even though Strathmore is priced as a local rather than an international school. Full schedules are not always published online, so the school's own current rates are the only reliable figure to plan against.
Alongside tuition, budget for the registration fee charged on enrolment and optional costs such as meals, transport and activities. Fees rise over time, so plan for increases across a multi year stay rather than a flat rate, and ask about any arrangements for siblings.
Because it is priced as a local school, Strathmore features among the names in our cheapest international schools in Nairobi guide for families looking at value, though it is worth remembering it follows the national curriculum rather than an international one. Confirm the current section fees with the school before you set a budget.
Admissions
The school year follows the Kenyan calendar, and entry to the secondary section is competitive given the school's academic record and reputation. The primary section takes younger boys, and the assessment is shaped to the stage a child is joining rather than to a single examination.
Places are sought after, so confirm your family's eligibility, the entry points and the current requirements directly and early. A registration fee applies on enrolment, and families should understand the Catholic ethos and the Opus Dei pastoral arrangement, which are part of the admissions conversation.
It is worth gathering recent school reports and any national assessment results, and asking the school how it handles a boy joining from a different system, since a child arriving from an international curriculum will be moving into the national pathway. Register your interest as soon as your plans are confirmed and ask about assessment dates for the coming intake.
Location and who goes there
Strathmore School is in Lavington, an established leafy residential suburb west of the Nairobi city centre. The location is well placed for families living across the western districts and is more central than the schools out in Karen and Lang'ata, which is a practical advantage for families based near the city.
The intake is predominantly Kenyan, reflecting the school's place in the national system, with families drawn by its academic record, its discipline and its Catholic formation rather than by an international curriculum. Relocating families should weigh that local character against the international schools elsewhere in the city, and be clear about which curriculum suits their plans before they apply.
To see how Strathmore School compares with the international schools across the city and where comparable families tend to live, start from the Nairobi city hub and work outward by curriculum, stage and budget.
Strathmore School reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Strathmore 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 Strathmore we would value your account of the academic standard, the discipline, the Catholic ethos 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 Strathmore School follow?
Strathmore follows the Kenyan national curriculum, with the Competency Based Curriculum in its primary section and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in its secondary section, rather than an international programme. Confirm the current stage structure with the school.
How much are Strathmore School fees?
As a Kenyan national curriculum day school, Strathmore sits well below the international schools in cost and features among the more affordable established options in the city. Fees vary by section, and a registration fee applies on enrolment. Confirm the current schedule with the school.
Is Strathmore School a boys' school?
Yes. Strathmore is a boys' day school. It was founded in 1961 as Kenya's first multiracial school and its pastoral formation is entrusted to Opus Dei, a prelature of the Catholic Church.
When do Strathmore School applications open?
The school year follows the Kenyan calendar, and entry to the secondary section is competitive given the school's academic record. Confirm the current admissions steps, entry points and assessment dates directly with the school.
Where is Strathmore School?
Strathmore School is in Lavington, an established residential suburb west of the Nairobi city centre that is well placed for families living across the western districts.
