Potterhouse School vs Riara International School

	P Potterhouse School Nairobi, Kenya	R Riara International School Nairobi, Kenya
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KES 15,000	Fees / year KES 2,100 - 869,800
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 4 - 16 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type —
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, BTEC Qualification	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary)
Pupils	Pupils 500	Pupils 300
Typical class size	Typical class size 14	Typical class size 19
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2002	Opened 2015
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Runda, Nairobi, Kenya.	Location Riara International School is located along Riara Road in the Riara Gardens area of Nairobi, Kenya. The school operates a transport service with routes centered on Riara Road and surrounding neighbourhoods. Transport routes are organized into a Special Zone and Zones 1 through 7, covering areas such as Riara Road, Riara Heights Flats, Junction, Impala Courts, Apple Walk, and Riara Woods Apartments, among others. These routes reflect the Riara Road corridor in Nairobi.
Stages	Stages Kindergarten, Primary and High School.	Stages Preparatory School includes EYFS 1 to Year 6, with EYFS 2 (Reception) as part of early years, followed by Year 1 to Year 6. High School covers Year 7 to Year 11.
School type	School type —	School type The school is part of the Riara Group of Schools.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Kenya.	Country affiliation Kenya
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Christian.	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Mon-Fri 7:30am–4:00pm.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details Transport service with zone-based rates (Zones 1–8); One-way and Two-way options per term.	Bus service details Transport services are available with multiple routes (Special Zone and Zones 1–7). To subscribe, complete the Transport Request Form available from the school office. Transport routes and per‑term fees are published for each zone, and payments can be made via MPesa Pay Bill 805700 or to the Riara Group of Schools Limited bank accounts.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Academic year Academic Year 2025/2026 (September–August). Application and registration fees - Registration fee (one‑off, non‑refundable): KES 15,000. Caution / security deposit (paid once) - Crèche: KES 10,500. - Peach (KG): KES 10,500. - Pear (KG): KES 11,500. - Melon (KG): KES 12,500. - Year 1: KES 20,500. - Year 2: KES 21,500. - Year 3: KES 22,000. - Year 4: KES 22,000. - Year 5: KES 23,500. - Year 6: KES 23,500. - Year 7: KES 29,000. - Year 8: KES 29,000. - Year 9: KES 31,500. - Year 10: KES 31,500. - Years 11–13: KES 49,000. Tuition fees (per term) by year group - KG — Crèche: KES 70,000 per term. - KG — Peach: KES 103,060 per term. - KG — Pear: KES 113,235 per term. - KG — Melon: KES 122,130 per term. - Key Stage 1 — Year 1: KES 186,730 per term. - Key Stage 1 — Year 2: KES 195,190 per term. - Key Stage 2 — Year 3: KES 202,320 per term. - Key Stage 2 — Year 4: KES 202,320 per term. - Key Stage 2 — Year 5: KES 216,220 per term. - Key Stage 2 — Year 6: KES 216,220 per term. - Key Stage 3 — Year 7: KES 262,580 per term. - Key Stage 3 — Year 8: KES 262,580 per term. - Key Stage 4 — Year 9: KES 285,770 per term. - Key Stage 4 — Year 10: KES 285,770 per term. - Year 11: KES 438,600 (listed as “Two Billings”). - Key Stage 5 — Year 12: KES 438,600 (listed as “Two Billings”). - Key Stage 5 — Year 13: KES 438,600 (listed as “Two Billings”). Note: the amounts above are the figures shown as the tuition value in the fee structure (per term for most year groups; Years 11–13 are shown with the annotation “Two Billings”). Optional lunch (per term) and daily lunch rates - Lunch per term (optional): - Crèche: KES 18,325 per term. - Peach–Year 2: KES 23,825 per term. - Years 3–6: KES 26,500 per term. - Years 7–8: KES 27,950 per term. - Years 9–13: KES 29,420 per term. - Daily lunch rates: Crèche KES 400 per day; other years KES 600 per day. Other recurring and one‑off charges - Medical emergency fee (per year): KES 4,500. - Activity fee: KES 2,250 per term. - Clubs: KES 12,500 per term. - Individual music lessons: KES 15,000 (per term or per block as listed). - Optional sports / activities examples: Horse riding KES 3,000; Dolphin sessions — Full KES 21,000, Half KES 14,000, Monthly KES 7,500, Daily KES 1,500. - Elite Soccer Development (termly examples): Fridays & Saturdays KES 12,000; Fridays only KES 6,000; Saturdays only KES 8,500; daily rate KES 1,500. Uniform and school kit (one‑off / typical charge by section) - Crèche uniform: KES 2,500. - Peach: KES 3,200. - Pear: KES 3,500. - Melon: KES 4,000. - Primary & High School uniform: KES 6,500. Transport (termly and daily rates by zone) - Transport is charged by zone. Example termly one‑way rates: Zone 1 — KES 18,145; Zone 2 — KES 31,755; Zone 3 — KES 42,015; Zone 4 — KES 53,460; Zone 5 — KES 64,910; Zone 6 — KES 76,360; Zone 7 — KES 87,805; Zone 8 — KES 99,255. - Example termly two‑way rates: Zone 1 — KES 26,140; Zone 2 — KES 43,095; Zone 3 — KES 48,820; Zone 4 — KES 58,860; Zone 5 — KES 70,310; Zone 6 — KES 81,860; Zone 7 — KES 93,205; Zone 8 — KES 104,655. - Intercampus transport: KES 13,000 per term; daily intercampus KES 300. Billing schedule and payment terms - Academic year shown as September–August. - Standard expectation: all fees should be paid by the first week of the term. - Early payment discount: 3% discount on tuition fees only when fees are paid in full before the term begins. - Year 11–13 entries are shown with the annotation “Two Billings” in the fee schedule. - Bounced cheques incur an additional charge of KES 3,500 plus the outstanding amount. - The caution (security) fee is refundable provided one term's written notice is given. All other fees, once paid, are not refundable. Boarding - The published fee structure for Academic Year 2025/2026 does not list boarding charges or a boarding category; no boarding fees are included in the fee schedule. Refunds and cancellation - The caution fee is refundable if one term's written notice is given. - General rule: fees once paid are not refundable. Fee payment methods and account details - Bank transfer (Co‑operative Bank of Kenya): Account name: Potterhouse School Ltd; Account number: 01129150950900; Branch: Gigiri Mall; SWIFT: KCOOKENA. - M‑Pesa Paybill: 842028 — use the student's name as the account number on the payment. - The school does not accept cash payments. - Deposit slips should be presented to the school accountant; receipts are issued via email. Key notes on discounts and sibling reductions - Sibling discounts on tuition and transport (applied as shown): - 2nd child: 5% off tuition; 15% off transport. - 3rd child: 7.5% off tuition; 15% off transport. - 4th child: 10% off tuition; 15% off transport. - 5th child: 12.5% off tuition; 15% off transport. Important administrative notes - Receipts are sent by email and should be saved as the family's record. - School fees are reviewed annually; changes may be made with prior notice.	Fee details Application and Entry Charges - Application fee (one-off): KES 2,100. - Registration fee (one-off): KES 5,000. - Reservation fee (payable on confirmation of admission; non-refundable but credited toward school fees): KES 30,000 per student. - Caution deposit (one-off, refundable subject to school conditions): KES 15,000. Refundable on completion of final year or on withdrawal after full settlement and one-term written notice; insufficient notice can lead to forfeiture. Term tuition fees by year group (per term and annual total) - Preparatory school - EYFS 1: KES 110,000 per term — Annual total KES 330,000. - EYFS 2 (Reception): KES 115,500 per term — Annual total KES 346,500. - Year 1: KES 173,300 per term — Annual total KES 519,900. - Year 2 – Year 3: KES 199,500 per term — Annual total KES 598,500. - Year 4 – Year 5: KES 219,500 per term — Annual total KES 658,500. - Year 6: KES 239,400 per term — Annual total KES 718,200. - High school - Year 7: KES 263,600 per term — Annual total KES 790,800. - Year 8 – Year 9: KES 274,100 per term — Annual total KES 822,300. - Year 10: KES 285,600 per term — Annual total KES 856,800. - Year 11: KES 428,400 per term; Year 11 fees are payable in two instalments (1st instalment at the start of Term 1 and 2nd instalment at the start of Term 2) — Annual total shown as KES 856,800. - What term tuition covers: tuition, lunch and exercise books. External examination fees and optional activities are excluded. Other recurring and one-off school charges - Student accident insurance (annual): KES 2,000. - Sports T-shirt, round-neck T-shirt, polo shirt and tracksuit (uniform sports set): KES 9,000. - ‘Out of the Blocks' (Prep School program): KES 2,000. - Workbooks (one-off, by year grouping): Year 1 & 2 KES 9,300; Year 3 & 4 KES 11,500; Year 5 & 6 KES 10,300; Years 7–9 KES 5,000. - Examination fees: External examination fees apply for Years 6, 9 and 11; these are payable at the beginning of Term 2. Transport (school bus) charges (per term by zone) - Transport is charged per term and routes are zoned. Examples of per-term two-way charges by zone: Special Zone KES 14,900; Zone 1 KES 31,700; Zone 2 KES 36,600; Zone 3 KES 39,900; Zone 4 KES 41,400; Zone 5 KES 48,300; Zone 6 KES 50,700; Zone 7 KES 56,400. One-way and specific-route amounts vary by zone. To subscribe to transport, a Transport Request Form must be completed. Billing schedule and payment terms - Billing cadence: Fees are termly. Term fees should be paid in full on or before the first day of each term. Year 11 has a two-instalment arrangement as noted above. - Late payment penalty: An interest charge of 3% per month applies to amounts unpaid 30 days after the start of term. - Cashless policy: Cash payments are not accepted at the school office; payments must be made via approved banking channels or the school's mobile-pay option. Payment confirmation requires submission of the bank pay-in slip and a receipt will be emailed on confirmation. Refunds and related conditions - Caution deposit refund: The caution deposit is refundable on completion of the final year or on withdrawal subject to full settlement of outstanding fees and recovery of any lost/damaged school property, and provided one term's written notice of withdrawal is submitted. Insufficient notice may lead to forfeiture of the caution deposit. - General refund policy: Fees once paid are stated as non-refundable; exceptions are limited to the refundable caution deposit as described and any explicitly stated refundable items. Accepted payment channels and banking details (summary of options) - Bank transfer to the Riara Group of Schools' accounts with major Kenyan banks (examples include Kenya Commercial Bank, ABSA Bank Kenya, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya, NCBA Bank Kenya). Specific account numbers are available from the school's finance office. - Mobile payment: MPESA Paybill — Paybill No. 805700; use the student's admission number as the account number when paying. - Payment confirmation: Submit the bank pay-in slip via the school's designated email for fees to receive an emailed receipt. Optional and miscellaneous costs - Optional activities (charged separately): instrument lessons, sports and activity clubs, horse riding, go-karting, skating and similar extracurriculars incur additional fees when selected. Termly educational trips within Nairobi County may be charged separately.
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 Potterhouse School offers the British National Curriculum (BNC) from Kindergarten to High School and is a Christian values-based school. The high school runs Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11). Core subjects include English, Mathematics, the Sciences, Global Citizenship, History, Geography, Art, Music, French and Swahili. Year 9 takes Achievement Tests administered by Edexcel; Year 11 sits IGCSE examinations; Year 10 begins IGCSE preparation with a minimum of five subjects including Mathematics, English, and at least one Science; Literature is also required. For progression, students can move to A-Levels (Year 12–13), or pursue B-tech and IB options, with progression guidance provided by the Mentoring, Guidance and Counselling (MGC) Department.	Curriculum details British National Curriculum (BNC) is the framework used by Riara International School's international programme; the curriculum emphasises the development of knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes necessary for self-fulfilment and development as active, responsible citizens.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Year 9 is the foundation for the IGCSE course; Year 9 exit assessments are administered by Edexcel in Mathematics, English, Science and ICT. In Year 10 students begin preparing for the IGCSE with focus on selected subjects, with a minimum of five subjects including Mathematics and English and at least one Science; Literature is required. To progress to the next level, students must pass at least five O-Level examinations, enabling progression to A-Levels (Year 12 and 13) before tertiary study. Students may also pursue B-tech or IB options, with progression guidance provided by the MGC department.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
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 Potterhouse School is a private school and admission is entirely a matter of the school management's decision based on professional criteria and advice from the appropriate Potterhouse School staff. Assessment for admission is normally either by informal interview for Kindergarten or an entrance test for primary and secondary. Children may visit the School and spend all or part of the day in the appropriate age group. The school uses the British National Curriculum (BNC).	Admissions 1. Submit an application and pay a one-off application fee of 2,100 KSH. Payments may be made via MPESA Pay Bill 805700 using the student's admission number as the account reference, or by bank transfer to the accounts listed in the fee structure. 2. Upon admission confirmation, pay a reservation fee of 30,000 KSH per student, credited toward school fees. A 5,000 KSH registration and a 15,000 KSH caution are also due. The caution is refundable on completion; withdrawal requires a one-term written notice and refunds may be adjusted for lost property or outstanding fees. 3. Term fees are due on or before the first day of the term. The term fee covers tuition, lunch, and exercise books and excludes external examination fees and trips. External examination fees for Years 6, 9, and 11 are payable at the start of Term 2; Year 11 fees are payable in two installments at the starts of Terms 1 and 2. Workbooks costs vary by year and are payable via Riara Group of Schools Limited. 4. Payments should be via approved banking channels or MPESA; cash is not accepted. A late payment penalty of 3% per month applies to amounts unpaid 30 days after the start of the term; fees paid are non-refundable. Transport is available; a Transport Request Form is required, and rates are zone-based with different One-Way and Two-Way charges. Riara reserves the right to review and adjust fees as necessary.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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