Durham International School Kenya vs International School of Kenya

	D Durham International School Kenya Nairobi, Kenya	I International School of Kenya Nairobi, Kenya
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KES 350 - 19,950	Fees / year KES 19,870 - 43,350
Age range	Age range 1 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP), Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum IB (DP), American Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 490	Pupils 1,000
Typical class size	Typical class size 5	Typical class size 20
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2021	Opened 1976
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Thigiri Campus is located in a leafy, green corner of Thigiri, on the edge of Karura Forest. It sits between Westlands and Gigiri, a short drive from the United Nations Headquarters, embassies, and Nairobi landmarks such as Village Market, Sarit Centre, and Westgate Shopping Mall. The Rosslyn Campus is situated near the Thigiri campus, on a site surrounded by green spaces and tree-lined roads, with access to the Waiyaki Way–Red Hill Link Road for seamless connectivity to the wider city.	Location ISK sits on a 40-acre campus on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. The campus is located in Nairobi and the postal address is PO Box 14103 - 00800, Nairobi, Kenya.
Stages	Stages Early Years spans ages 1-6. Prep School covers ages 6-11, and Senior School covers ages 11-18. The school operates across two campuses, Thigiri and Rosslyn, to serve these levels.	Stages Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12; Elementary School, Middle School, and High School divisions.
School type	School type The school is an international branch of Durham UK. It operates two Nairobi campuses, Thigiri and Rosslyn. It follows the British education system through Durham UK.	School type Private, non-profit international school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix Students come from diverse language and cultural backgrounds. The membership looks like the United Nations. This international character reflects the Nairobi setting of the school.	Pupil nationality mix ISK has over 1,000 students representing more than 65 nationalities.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support Provides support for mild to moderate learning needs through Student Support Services.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Affiliated with Durham UK.	Country affiliation Created in 1976 through a joint partnership between the governments of the United States and Canada.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure School hours are 8:20 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 8:20 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details Yes, an optional Bus Service to locations in Nairobi and its surroundings.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details School fees — Academic year 2026/27 Termly tuition (per year group) — amounts are USD per term - Little Durham (age 1–2): Term 1 USD 2,370 · Term 2 USD 2,370 · Term 3 USD 2,370 · Annual (3 terms) USD 7,110. - Playgroup — Morning (age 2–3): Term 1 USD 2,370 · Term 2 USD 2,370 · Term 3 USD 2,370 · Annual USD 7,110. - Playgroup — Extended Morning (age 2–3): Term 1 USD 2,740 · Term 2 USD 2,740 · Term 3 USD 2,740 · Annual USD 8,220. - Playgroup — Full Day (age 2–3): Term 1 USD 3,050 · Term 2 USD 3,050 · Term 3 USD 3,050 · Annual USD 9,150. - Foundation Stage 1 (FS1) — standard day (age 3–4): Term 1 USD 2,740 · Term 2 USD 2,740 · Term 3 USD 2,740 · Annual USD 8,220. - Foundation Stage 1 (FS1) — Full Day (age 3–4): Term 1 USD 3,050 · Term 2 USD 3,050 · Term 3 USD 3,050 · Annual USD 9,150. - Foundation Stage 2 (FS2) (age 4–5): Term 1 USD 3,420 · Term 2 USD 3,420 · Term 3 USD 3,420 · Annual USD 10,260. - Year 1 (age 5–6): Term 1 USD 3,730 · Term 2 USD 3,730 · Term 3 USD 3,730 · Annual USD 11,190. - Year 2 (age 6–7): Term 1 USD 4,570 · Term 2 USD 4,570 · Term 3 USD 4,570 · Annual USD 13,710. - Year 3 (age 7–8): Term 1 USD 5,250 · Term 2 USD 5,250 · Term 3 USD 5,250 · Annual USD 15,750. - Year 4 (age 8–9): Term 1 USD 5,250 · Term 2 USD 5,250 · Term 3 USD 5,250 · Annual USD 15,750. - Year 5 (age 9–10): Term 1 USD 5,780 · Term 2 USD 5,780 · Term 3 USD 5,780 · Annual USD 17,340. - Year 6 (age 10–11): Term 1 USD 5,780 · Term 2 USD 5,780 · Term 3 USD 5,780 · Annual USD 17,340. - Year 7 (age 11–12): Term 1 USD 6,050 · Term 2 USD 6,050 · Term 3 USD 6,050 · Annual USD 18,150. - Year 8 (age 12–13): Term 1 USD 6,050 · Term 2 USD 6,050 · Term 3 USD 6,050 · Annual USD 18,150. - Year 9 (age 13–14): Term 1 USD 6,250 · Term 2 USD 6,250 · Term 3 USD 6,250 · Annual USD 18,750. - Year 10 (age 14–15): Term 1 USD 6,650 · Term 2 USD 6,650 · Term 3 USD 6,650 · Annual USD 19,950. (Fees are denominated in USD; term amounts above are the published 2026/27 term figures.) One-time and admission-related charges - Assessment fee (new applicants): non-refundable USD 50 (payable at the assessment stage). - Acceptance fee (to confirm a place on acceptance of the Letter of Offer): non-refundable USD 350. - Security deposit: refundable and equivalent to one term's fees, payable at the same time as the Acceptance Fee; maximum refundable security deposit capped at USD 4,500. The security deposit will be refunded when a student leaves the school, subject to the required notice being given. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are billed termly: school fees are divided into termly instalments, payable in advance and due by the first day of each term. - Fees include tuition, lunch and snacks, school co-curricular activities, most excursions, and ambulance services for 2026/27. Fees are quoted in USD. Discounts and reductions - Sibling discount: 5% reduction on the term's fee for the 1st sibling; 7.5% reduction on the 2nd sibling and every subsequent child enrolled (applies to the siblings in the lower year groups; children must be enrolled full time). - Early payment discount: 5% discount when the full annual fees are paid on or before the first day of the academic year. Families may choose either the Early Payment Discount or the Sibling Discount; only one discount may be applied per family. Meals, transport and other routine costs - Meals: for 2026/27, termly fees for all year groups include lunch and snacks; both campuses are nut-free zones. Lunch service schedules vary by year group. - Transport: bus services are available to and from multiple neighbourhoods across Nairobi (examples given include Karen, Lavington/Kileleshwa, Rosslyn/Runda). Specific routes and transport fees are not published on the fees schedule. - Uniforms, personal stationery, special external exam fees (where applicable), optional external trips or camps, and certain specialist services may incur additional costs not covered by the standard term fees; the published term fees explicitly cover most excursions and co-curricular activities but do not itemise every optional charge. Boarding - Boarding is not listed in the 2026/27 published fees; Durham International School Kenya is operating as a day school (boarding facilities are not included in the published fee schedule). Plans to develop boarding have been indicated for future phases, but no boarding fees are published for 2026/27. Refunds and notice of withdrawal - Assessment fee and Acceptance fee are non-refundable. - Security deposit is refundable subject to the required notice being given when a student leaves. - A full term's notice is required when a student leaves the school or when an accepted place is cancelled. If full term's notice is not given, a full term's fee is payable in lieu of notice; this amount may be offset against the security deposit where applicable. Fee payment options (published information) - The school's published fees page and associated fee schedule do not list specific payment methods (for example, bank transfer account details, card payment processors, or online payment portals are not published on the 2026/27 fees page). The school's public contact details include an email address (info@durhamkenya.com) and a phone number listed on the contact page. Important operational notes and reserve rights - School timings, specific service schedules, and the right to alter fees and terms and conditions are subject to change; the school states it reserves the right to alter fees and terms with reasonable notice. Parents should note that certain specifics (for example, transport route fees, uniform charges, or optional trip fees) are not itemised in the published term figures.	Fee details Applicable academic year The following fee figures are the published International School of Kenya fee schedule for the 2025–2026 academic year and are shown in US Dollars. One‑time / Entry fees - Application Fee: USD 400. Applies only to new applicants; non‑refundable and payable in full on submission of the completed application. - One‑time Capital Levy (new entrants K–12): USD 11,000 payable at enrolment; non‑refundable. A reduction of USD 500 is applied for each additional sibling from the same family. The Capital Levy is postponed for Pre‑K entrants until they join Kindergarten. No early‑payment discount on the Capital Levy. - Life‑Centered Education (LCE) Program Fee (where applicable): USD 20,000, payable in addition to the grade‑level tuition for students enrolled in the LCE program (Kindergarten–Grade 12). Tuition fees by year group (annual and per‑semester amounts) ISK bills tuition on a per‑year basis and publishes that tuition is payable by semester (two equal payments). The annual and per‑semester amounts are shown below (per‑semester = annual ÷ 2): - Pre‑Kindergarten: USD 18,870 per year (USD 9,435 per semester). - Kindergarten: USD 30,800 per year (USD 15,400 per semester). - Grades 1–5: USD 32,540 per year (USD 16,270 per semester). - Grades 6–8: USD 33,965 per year (USD 16,982.50 per semester). - Grades 9–10: USD 35,900 per year (USD 17,950 per semester). - Grades 11–12: USD 37,330 per year (USD 18,665 per semester). Annual continuing‑student levy and transport / food - Annual Capital Levy (continuing students): USD 1,550 per year. - Bus (school transport) fee: USD 2,200 per year. Reduction of USD 200 for each additional sibling; from the fourth sibling onward the bus fee is USD 1,600. (Per‑semester equivalent where required: USD 1,100 per semester for a single child using bus service.) - Lunch service: Operates on a prepaid basis; sign‑up available for semester or year. (Cost varies by plan and is prepaid.) Special / additional costs - International Baccalaureate examination and exam‑related fees: Individual student costs range approximately from USD 300 (single IB exam) up to about USD 908 for a full IB Diploma candidate in the senior year. IB fees, DHL costs and Kenya National Examination Council fees are charged to families; parents are billed in October with payment due in November. Additional charges apply for late registration or changes after deadlines. - Supplementary language classes: Core language instruction is included in tuition; occasional additional native‑language lessons offered via national community groups are charged to parents if arranged. - Selected intercultural trips: Costs for inter‑cultural trips that require flights (within Kenya or international) are charged to parents; flight costs are the family's responsibility. - Student materials / books / replacement items: Replacement costs for lost or damaged books are charged at actual replacement cost. (Textbook/book replacement policy is applied where relevant.) - Uniforms and other optional charges: Uniforms or uniform‑shop charges are not listed as an itemised tuition line in the published fee schedule; families should budget separately for uniform purchase and replacement. Boarding - Boarding is not offered; the International School of Kenya operates as a day school. No boarding fees apply. Billing schedule and payment terms - Billing cadence: Tuition is published as an annual fee and is payable by semester (two equal instalments). Pre‑payments for a full year may attract a 1% discount where published conditions apply (example on the 2025–2026 schedule). - Payment plans: The Business Manager may negotiate payment plans in US Dollars with a surcharge of 0.5% per month, or in Kenya Shillings with a surcharge of 1% per month. A nominal fee is applicable to authorized payment plans. - Penalties and default: A penalty of 2% per month is applied to outstanding balances that are not paid at the beginning of the semester or that miss payment‑plan deadlines; failure to make payment within 30 days of a deadline may result in student withdrawal. Refund rules - Tuition and deposits are non‑refundable after payment except in the single circumstance where a family has paid for a full year and withdraws prior to the commencement of the semester; attendance for any portion of a semester precludes a refund of tuition for that semester. Application fees and Capital Levies are non‑refundable. Payment currency and how to pay - Accepted currency: Payments are published in US Dollars. Kenyan citizens may pay in Kenya Shillings (evidence of citizenship required). - Payment method summary: The school publishes that families should contact the Business Office for bank details and payment instructions; payments are processed through the Business Office. Payment plans, bank transfer instructions and other arrangements (including applicable surcharges) are managed by the Business Office. Contact: finance@isk.ac.ke or +254 20 209 1308/9. Other financial assistance and notes on discounts - Sibling and family concessions: The Capital Levy reduction noted above applies per additional sibling (USD 500 reduction per additional student for the one‑time Capital Levy). Bus fee sibling reductions are also published. - Financial assistance: ISK offers limited tuition assistance bursaries (ranging from USD 500 up to 20% of a family's total tuition costs) for existing families, and may offer Capital Levy payment plans or partial Capital Levy waivers for new families in need; applications for assistance are handled through the Business Manager. Key points for budgeting - Expect initial one‑time charges for new students: Application Fee (USD 400) plus the One‑time Capital Levy (USD 11,000) for K–12 entrants, in addition to the annual tuition for the relevant grade. - Ongoing annual costs include tuition (grade dependent), the annual Capital Levy for returning students (USD 1,550), optional transport (USD 2,200 before sibling reduction), prepaid lunch service, and IB exam or trip‑related charges where applicable.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Durham Kenya blends academics, co-curricular activities and pastoral care to prepare students for future education and life. The Early Years follows the UK's EYFS framework with four year groups and seven Areas of Learning and Development. Key Stage One and Key Stage Two build reading, writing and mathematics foundations and introduce science, history and geography, with increasing depth. Key Stage Three and beyond develop problem-solving, analytical thinking and communication skills, and KS3 informs Year 9 IGCSE option choices. Assessment is continuous from the Early Years, with an online journal for parent updates and ongoing progress tracking from Year 1. Grow with Durham links KS3 to Key Stage Four and Sixth Form; the Sixth Form will commence in September 2028 with IB or A Level offerings and dedicated university and careers guidance.	Curriculum details ISK provides education across Elementary, Middle, and High School within a framework centered on the International Baccalaureate. In High School, Grades 9–12 students work toward the ISK High School Diploma, with many pursuing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Grades 11–12. Grade 9 follows a common course of study in English and Science, with Mathematics and World Languages (French, Spanish, Kiswahili), and wellness and creativity through health, art, drama, and music. Grade 10 continues core study with electives and a strong emphasis on experiential learning and IB preparation. The IB Diploma Programme is offered in Grades 11–12, with six externally assessed IB courses, the Extended Essay, and Theory of Knowledge, alongside ISK's four-year High School Diploma. Graduation requires 24–28 credits across English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, World Languages, Physical Education, Health, Creative Arts, and Electives.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio The student-to-teacher ratio is 10:1.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results The IB exams pass rate is 98.5%.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression A university and careers guidance program will help each student plan the next stage of their education, including personal statement writing, interview preparation and course selection.	Higher education progression ISK provides college counseling to support university selection and applications. The Class of 2025 received university acceptances across the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Europe, and rest of the world. Examples include University College London, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of York, New York University, Princeton University, University of Michigan, McGill University, and University of Toronto.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented ISK has a Gifted and Talented policy and Highly Capable Learner (HCL) program; it is at the refining stage and not fully implemented, but structures exist and HCL models appear in some unit plans. Highly capable learners may skip grades or enroll in more advanced classes, and teachers have participated in related professional development.
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Enquiry: Prospective families email the school using the enquiry form on the website. The school responds to the enquiry by email and invites you to arrange a visit at a mutually convenient time. You will also be invited to complete a registration form to formalise your interest in applying to Durham International School. This begins the admissions process. 2. Registration of Interest: Durham confirms interest by email and invites a visit and completion of a registration form to formalise the application. 3. Assessment Invitation: Following registration, prospective students sit an age-appropriate assessment to evaluate academic and personal aptitudes. This may be completed during the visit with your child, depending on age. The assessment carries a non-refundable fee of USD 50. Students already at Durham International School have automatic entry into the next Year Group. 4. Offer of Admission: Successful candidates receive an official offer of a place at Durham International School. The offer letter confirms the start date and Year Group and includes information on accepting the place and joining details. 5. Acceptance of Offer: Families who wish to accept the offer must complete the Acceptance of a Place form and pay an Acceptance Fee of USD 350, along with a Security Deposit (refundable at the end of your child's time at the school, subject to required notice). These payments secure the student's enrolment. Source: turn1view0	Admissions Step 1 - Create an Account. Begin by creating an account in the ISK application system, then return to the ISK Application Dashboard and select the appropriate year of entry. Step 1 also guides you to prepare for the online application submission. Step 2 - Submit an Online Application. Return to the dashboard to submit the online application for your child and ensure the year of entry is correct. Upload the requested documents: school reports from the previous three years translated into English, the Confidential School Report (sent directly to ISK via the dashboard), a Health Form, most recent MAP scores for Grades 3 and above, a current passport photo, and a copy of the student's passport bio data page. Include proof of payment of the US$400 non-refundable application fee and upload the Commitment to our Educational Philosophy form. Step 3 - Application Review and Next Steps. After submission, you will receive an email confirmation that the admissions team has received the application, and the status can be checked on the dashboard. The principal for each division makes all admission and grade placement decisions, with grade placement generally based on the student's age on September 15 and prior grade equivalence. Next steps include Entrance Assessments and Admissions Decisions, which determine whether ISK can provide the appropriate program for the student. The school also conducts orientation for new families at the start of each school year and for new admissions after mid-year.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships ISK Scholarships invest in Kenyan youth who would otherwise be unable to afford tuition. The ISK Scholarship targets low to middle income Kenyan students and covers 100% of high school costs, including the IB Diploma program, school fees, admission fees, and bus fees, provided recipients maintain good academic performance and behavior. Applications are screened by a scholarship committee and awarded by April of each year, with financial need assessed via a Finance Disclosure form and supporting documentation. High School Scholarships for Kenyan citizens are based on merit and proven financial need and require Kenyan citizenship, English fluency, strong English-language academic achievement, leadership and service, being at least 14 years old by July, and completion of Grade 8 or Year 9 with eligibility to enter Grade 9 at ISK. The Beacon Scholarship is a separate Changemaker program with its own eligibility and funding structure. For scholarship inquiries, scholarships@isk.ac.ke. Scholarship Applications for the 2026-27 school year are closed.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Applicants who cannot be enrolled due to lack of space will be placed on a waiting list until space becomes available. Waiting lists may be formed as early as March for the forthcoming school year, and applicants are removed from the waiting list when space becomes available. If communicated that a child is on the waiting list, an email should be sent to confirm the wish to remain on the waiting list.
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