doris
Find Schools Events My shortlist My account Ask doris
Parent Guide Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
P

Pembroke House School

Kenya, Gilgil

Shortlist
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · Co-founder & CEO

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees KES 319,800 - 3,422,810
Ages 0 - 13 years
Pupil numbers 244
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 1927
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Taught languages English, French, Swahili, Latin
Typical class size 6
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Outdoor Education
Clubs Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Community and Service
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Primary School, Middle School
Introduction

Pembroke House School is a co‑educational British‑curriculum prep school in Kenya offering day and boarding for pupils from six months to 13 years. It follows the British National Curriculum in Pre‑Prep, Junior and Middle School, adapting content to reflect East African heritage and setting; core subjects include English, Kiswahili, French and Kenyan History, with Adventure Learning, STEAM and Design Technology. In Years 7 and 8, many subjects follow the British Common Entrance framework to prepare for exams in Year 8. The 140‑acre Rift Valley campus supports outdoor learning and practical exploration across sporting, creative and academic disciplines. Founded in 1927, the school became co‑educational in 1988 and Pre‑Prep was introduced in 2008. The Pembroke House Foundation funds major facilities, including a music school, theatre and café, as well as two full‑size tennis courts. A dedicated Science Laboratory and a STEAM Centre opened in 2021 complement a broad arts and performance programme, with a Martlet emblem and Fortuna Favet Fortibus motto reflecting a knowledge‑driven culture. Boarding provides a home away from home.

pembrokehouse.sc.ke

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

Pembroke House School has 244 pupils, typical class sizes of 6, instruction in English.

Location
Pembroke House is located just outside Gilgil, on Nyahururu Road, Gilgil, Kenya. It sits on a 140-acre countryside campus in the Great Rift Valley, about two and a half hours' drive north of Nairobi. The climate is cooler, at around 1,900 metres above sea level.

Stages
Nursery - Reception (Pre-Prep) and Prep; ages 6 months to 13 years.

Type
The school is a co-educational British-curriculum prep school with boarding and day pupils.

Country affiliation
Kenya
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees

Annual tuition at Pembroke House School ranges from KES 319,800 to KES 3,422,810 for 2026/27.

Application & registration fees

- Registration fee: Ksh. 45,000 (non‑binding; secures priority but does not commit to join).
- Joining fee (one‑off): Ksh. 300,000. If the place is not taken up the joining fee is forfeited. For children who attend for the whole school, Ksh. 225,000 of the joining fee is refunded after the pupil's final term provided all obligations are met. For children who attend Pembroke for less than one year the joining fee is Ksh. 100,000, which is allocated to the Pembroke Foundation/Capital Development.

Tuition fees (per term) — 2025/26 fee schedule (Ksh.) and annual equivalents

Note: amounts shown are published as per‑term figures; three terms are run in an academic year. Annual totals below are per‑term × 3.

- Mini Martlets (age under 2 years): Ksh. 106,600 per term — Annual total Ksh. 319,800.
- Pre‑Nursery (age 2–3 years): Ksh. 133,250 per term — Annual total Ksh. 399,750.
- Nursery (age 3–4 years): Ksh. 138,900 per term — Annual total Ksh. 416,700.
- Reception (age 4–5 years): Ksh. 259,300 per term — Annual total Ksh. 777,900.
- Year 1 (age ~5 years): Ksh. 684,600 per term — Annual total Ksh. 2,053,800.
- Year 2 (age ~6 years): Ksh. 1,026,900 per term — Annual total Ksh. 3,080,700.
- Years 3–8 (age 7+ years): Ksh. 1,140,940 per term — Annual total Ksh. 3,422,820.

Sibling discounts: a 5% reduction applies to the younger sibling for the first sibling; a 10% reduction applies to the second and further siblings (calculated on current pupils only).

Billing schedule & payment terms

- Standard billing: fees are due three times per year, before the start of each term (beginning of September, beginning of January and end of April) for Years 1–7.
- Year 8 billing: fees are invoiced twice per year (at the start of the 1st and 2nd terms).
- Early payment discount: 5% discount available when all three terms are paid at the start of September.
- Monthly standing order option: available with a one‑off surcharge of 2.5% on total fees.
- Late payment charges: a surcharge of 2.5% is applied to any balance 14 days after the first day of term, plus interest of 1.5% per month on overdue balances.
- Incidental extras (postage, matron's bills, trips, etc.) are billed after they are incurred and appear on the next term's invoice.

Boarding, day provision and boarding fees

- Boarding is provided as a full, flexible boarding programme (Scholes House for girls; Mackie House for boys); pupils may board full, flexi or occasionally.
- No separate, explicit “boarding supplement” figure is published in the 2025–26 per‑term fee schedule; the published per‑term fees above are the school's published termly fees. A day‑rate option exists but a specific day‑rate amount is not published in the 2025–26 schedule and is available on request.

Extras and other fees (examples and typical charges)

- Approximate extras budget: allow approximately Ksh. 50,000 per child per term for extracurricular and incidental costs.
- Common activity charges (termly / per session as published):
- Riding (termly): Ksh. 35,260.
- Music (termly): Ksh. 25,320.
- LAMDA (termly): Ksh. 13,310.
- Per session activities (Dance, Football, Golf, Squash, Swimming, Tae Kwon Do, Tennis, Woodwork): Ksh. 1,170 per session.
- Transport: Pembroke–Naivasha bus per return trip Ksh. 2,890; Pembroke–Nairobi bus per return trip Ksh. 7,150.
- Learning Support: first 10 lessons per term are included in standard fees; additional lessons charged at Ksh. 2,890 per lesson.
- Extras such as riding are billed at the start of the term in which they are taken; other extras may be billed directly to coaches/teachers or appear on term invoices.

Uniform & on‑campus supplies

- An on‑site uniform supplier (The Clothing Company East Africa) operates from the school's Head's Hub and supplies Pembroke‑branded uniform and related items. Specific uniform prices are not published in the 2025–26 fee listing.

Refunds and cancellations

- Joining fee refund: Ksh. 225,000 of the Ksh. 300,000 joining fee is refundable after the pupil's final term provided all contractual obligations are met.
- Non‑attendance: if a joining fee is paid but the place is not taken up, the joining fee is forfeited.
- Short‑term attendance: for children attending less than a year the joining fee is Ksh. 100,000 and is retained for the Foundation/Capital Development.
- Incidental extras already incurred remain payable and will be billed in accordance with the school's invoicing procedures; late payment penalties apply as noted above.

Payment methods & practical notes

- Available payment mechanisms explicitly published include a monthly standing order option (with the 2.5% one‑off surcharge) and the published early‑payment discount for full‑year payment at the start of September. Specific modern payment channels (credit card, direct bank transfer, online portal) are not itemised in the 2025–26 fee summary; invoices and the school's finance office provide the practical payment instruction and terms used by the school.

Summary

- The school's published 2025–26 termly fees (above) are the working fee schedule for the stated academic year and include the financial rules on joining fee refunds, billing timing, discounts, surcharges and common extras.
Academics

Pembroke House School teaches British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage) for students aged 0 to 13.

Curriculum
Pembroke House follows the British National Curriculum in Pre-Prep, Junior and Middle Schools, adapting it to reflect East African heritage and setting. English, Kiswahili, French and Kenyan History are included in the core curriculum, alongside Adventure Learning, STEAM and Design Technology. In Years 7 and 8, most subjects transition to the British Common Entrance curriculum to prepare for the Common Entrance exams in June of Year 8. The school benefits from 140 acres of Rift Valley surroundings used to reinforce learning. The core curriculum is delivered to all pupils at no extra cost beyond the standard fees.

Student Teacher Ratio
6:1

Exam Results
139 A or A grades were awarded at Common Entrance in 2024, and there is a 100% pass rate for music and LAMDA exams.
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
The school has not added this information
Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has not added this information
Languages
The school has not added this information
Reputation
The school has not added this information
Admissions

Admissions
1. Enquiry: Get in touch by telephone or email to discuss your child's needs and have questions answered. The process is designed to be straightforward and to guide families through the steps. The academic year starts in September and most children join then, though entry is possible at any point during the year. Pembroke House provides for babies from 6 months through to Year 8 (age 13).

2. Visit & taster: Families visit with their child to experience a school day. They can attend lessons, games and activities, wear the uniform, and even spend a night boarding. Tours are conducted by pupils and include meetings with the Head and relevant staff. The visit helps families assess fit and feel for Pembroke.

3. Register: Registration does not commit to a place and there is no registration fee. Register your child online and send two most recent school reports. Indicate in the registration form whether you intend to apply for a scholarship or bursary; there is a separate form for bursary applications.

4. Joining fee and securing a place: To secure a place, a joining fee of 300,000 Ksh is payable; 225,000 of which is refunded after the pupil's final term, provided obligations are met. The joining fee is not refunded if the place is not taken up. The joining fee secures the pupil's place for the year of entry.

5. Additional admissions details: The school is non-selective and does not require entry exams. Two recent school reports are required, and the Head may contact the previous school; safeguarding information may be sought. Siblings of current Pembroke pupils receive priority when places are restricted. Pembroke House can provide support for pupils with special educational needs if the Learning Support Department can accommodate them.

Scholarships
Scholarships are available at entry for those demonstrating exceptional talent in any field. A scholarship reduces the amount of fees payable. Potential scholars indicate their intention to apply in the registration form. They are assessed by relevant staff during their visit to the school.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in Kenya View all schools in Gilgil View all schools in Kenya British curriculum schools in Kenya Open days & tours in Gilgil What is the British curriculum? View all schools Search all schools
doris
linked-in-logo facebook-logo instagram-logo
About
Parent Guide
Transparency Charter
Privacy Notice Terms of Use Cookies Notice Cookie Preferences
© 2026 doris Worldwide Ltd. All rights reserved.