St Andrew's School, Turi

History and Geography of the School

St Andrew’s School, Turi, is a Christian, independent boarding school for approximately 620 boys and girls aged between 5 and 18. The School is set in a beautiful 450 acre property, situated 200km north-west of Nairobi at an altitude of 2,500 metres above sea level, favoured with an excellent climate. The School has an enviable academic record and provides a wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities. In all, there are about 90 teaching staff and about 150 local support staff. All teaching staff are expected to contribute fully to the life of this busy boarding school.

St Andrew’s Preparatory School (250 pupils, 5 to 13 years) was founded in the highlands of Kenya in 1931 to educate the children of European settlers. Today the pupil body comprises children from all over Africa and Europe, whose parents wish for them to be taught the British National Curriculum. Further details may be found in the Independent Schools Yearbook in the IAPS Section.

In 1988 St Andrew’s Senior School was established on the same campus, for the 13 to 16 age group. Following expansion, the Senior School capacity is now 370 pupils. Students follow a core curriculum in Year 9 and commence their (I)GCSE studies in Year 10, with examinations taken at the end of Year 11.

The School opened a Sixth Form College in September 2010, studying a wide range of A level subjects. Year 12 students have been housed within purpose built extensions to the existing boarding houses and Year 13 students are accommodated in a new modern boarding facility.

The Schools are co-educational and open to children of all nationalities and cultures.

Organization and Management

Both the Senior and Preparatory Schools are governed by one Board of Governors who form a non-profit making Company, limited by Guarantee. They are served by the same Bursarial and Estate staff. Each part of the School is run by its own headmaster and they confer on matters involving communal facilities, whole school policy and the estate.

The current Head of the Preparatory School, Ian Wright, is a member of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS), providing valuable links with other Preparatory Schools.  The Head of the Senior School, Benedict Pennington, is a member of the Society of Heads. The Senior School is an Associate member of COBIS and is a member of the Round Square group of schools.

Both parts of the School provide education modelled on the British National Curriculum and standards for all pupils. The parents who choose St Andrew’s want their children to be taught an English syllabus by experienced and dedicated teachers. Pupils at the Prep School sit the ISEB Common Entrance and Scholarship exams at 13+ with most moving onto the senior part of the School. At the Senior School, pupils take IGCSE or GCSE exams in Year 11, AS examinations in Year 12 and A2 examinations in Year 13. Students leaving St Andrew’s move on to further study in the UK, USA, South Africa, Canada, East Africa and elsewhere.

All staff recruited from outside Kenya receive flights and a freight allowance for themselves and their family at the start and end of contracts. They receive housing throughout the year, school meals during term time (both benefits being subject to local tax) and private health insurance. Children of teaching staff are educated at the school, with the benefit being subject to Kenyan tax. Salaries are modest, but generous in local terms, and enable staff to support a comfortable lifestyle. However, they are not sufficient to cover major commitments in your home country. If you have a large mortgage, you will need to ensure that your rental income will cover the bulk of the repayments. Initial contracts are for two years, renewable annually thereafter.

Christian Ethos

The Christian faith is central to the School. Encouraging Christian faith and principles is fundamental to the School’s life and this is reflected in the recruitment of staff. Chapel services and regular assemblies are all occasions where the community can meet together. There is a School Chaplain, two Assistant Chaplains and many of the staff have a personal Christian faith. Many of the pupils, while being “normal” children with all the excitements and problems that these phases of life include, take the exploration of their own faith seriously. There cannot be many schools with more vibrant Chapel services, aided by the African sense of rhythm and love of music. The School has developed strong links with mission organizations over the years. However, a proportion of the pupils come from other faith backgrounds and they are fully integrated into the school.

Given the Christian ethos of the School, in order to apply for or be promoted to the following positions, you are expected to be a practicing Christian:

• Head
• Finance & Strategy Director
• Deputy Head, Assistant Headteacher, Head of Sixth Form
• Management Team members

School Structure and Pupil Mix

The majority of the pupils come from Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania, with a minority coming from countries elsewhere in Africa and a few from the UK. Africans make up the largest racial grouping, with sizeable numbers of Caucasians and Asians as well as mixed race pupils. At present, there are pupils from over 20 nationalities in the School. The pupils live and work together happily, with their lives enriched by the many backgrounds represented here.

The School is fee-paying and the fees are high by East African standards. Whilst the pupils come from relatively wealthy families, a number of partial scholarships and bursaries are available to help those who deserve them on merit. The School currently has pupils in the British National Curriculum Reception to Year 13, aged 5 – 18. The Prep School caters for classes from Reception to Year 8 and the Senior School from Years 9 to 13.

Academic Matters

The teaching staff are qualified professionals who make it their aim to get the very best levels of performance from each pupil. Pupils are taught to work hard and, as they grow up, to work with increasing independence. Each pupil has a Form Teacher or Tutor who helps to monitor effort, work habits and progress. Although the School is selective and admission is dependent on an entry assessment, learning support is provided where needed.

There is regular reporting to parents on academic progress. When parents and guardians visit the School (called VISO weekends) there is the opportunity for direct consultation between staff, parents and pupils.

The computer facilities include four computer suites with over 20 computers in each. Data projectors and interactive whiteboards are fixtures in some classrooms. The School has access to the internet via broadband and a fibre optic cable between the two sections of the School. Science laboratories are adequately equipped, as is the rest of the teaching environment.

Academic Matters – Preparatory School

Pupils are admitted throughout the age range of the Prep School. Pupils are class taught in Years Reception through to Year 6, although specialist teachers are introduced from Year 4.

For administrative, pastoral and academic purposes, the School is divided up into three sections:

• EYFS and Key Stage 1
• Key Stage 2
• Key Stage 3

Academic Matters – Senior School

St Andrew’s Senior School prepares its pupils for a wide variety of Edexcel and CIE IGCSE and GCSE examinations and over the years the School has developed a very high academic reputation: in the IGCSE examinations in June 2023, 53% of the candidates achieved 9-6 grades. At AS, 71% were A to C grades. At A level, 83% of all examination grades in 2023 were A* to C grades. These demanding courses give pupils a solid foundation for their further Secondary and Tertiary Education.

A varied curriculum is delivered in the first year (Year 9) so that informed choices for IGCSE subjects can be made for the following two years (Years 10 and 11). Subjects taught are:

English Literature, English Language, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, Swahili, Spanish, Geography, History, Religious Studies, ICT, Computer Science, Art, Design & Technology, Drama, Music, Physical Education (core) and PS(H)E. Business Studies, Economics, Psychology,  Academic Physical Education and Sociology are introduced in Year 10 as IGCSEs but are not taught in Year 9.

Most students study three subjects at AS level and at A2 level. Subjects on offer include:

English Literature, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, Geography, History, Religious Studies, IT, Computer Science, Art, Design Technology, Drama, Music, Academic Physical Education, Business Studies, Economics, Psychology and Sociology.

All A level students benefit from a Leadership Development Programme and participate regularly in Service opportunities.

Boarding Life

St Andrew’s is essentially a family boarding school. This is recognized in all aspects of school life.
Pupils in the Prep School live in one of four boarding houses (Junior Boys, Junior Girls, Senior Boys and Senior Girls) each being overseen by two resident Matrons and Houseparents. Pupils share rooms with between 4 and 10 children and all boarding houses have well equipped common rooms, where satellite TV can be watched or indoor games can be played.

In the Senior School, all pupils have well-furnished study bedrooms, shared with one other pupil, within one of the six boarding houses (Baringo, Samburu, Laikipia, Turkana, Tsavo East and Tsavo West). These residences are shared by Houseparents who, together with resident Assistant Houseparents, provide supervision and care. Each boarding house is equipped with a satellite linked TV with DVD/video, a small kitchen and other facilities. There is a single dining room for the Senior School, operated cafeteria style, where many staff and their families join the pupils for meals. Year 13 students are housed in linked cluster flats, consisting of single bedrooms, with shared bathrooms, lounges and kitchenettes (Tsavo East &  Tsavo West).

Generally pupils at Turi are happy, well-mannered and have respect for one another.

Extra-curricular Activity

The estate, which comprises 300 acres, provides an excellent environment for SPORT. All pupils are encouraged to participate in and to enjoy learning and playing a wide variety of games. A new, state-of-the-art Sports Centre has recently been opened providing unparalleled facilities, including a fitness suite and glass-backed squash courts.

The sports programme includes rugby, cricket and hockey for boys, and rounders, hockey and netball for girls. Other major sports include athletics, cross-country, swimming and football. In addition, pupils have the option of golf, tennis, basketball, volleyball, badminton, Tae Kwon Do, archery and horse riding. Fixtures are arranged with other schools on a regular basis and, in these, St Andrew’s has an excellent sporting record.

There are many opportunities for exploring the great outdoors in East Africa. The School ensures that pupils learn more about the world around them through geography field trips, class trips, camping expeditions and professionally organised outdoor activities, which include climbing, abseiling, white water rafting, kayaking and climbing Mount Kenya. The School also participates in the President’s Award Scheme - Kenya, which is a national and exciting self-development programme available to young people, equipping them with positive life skills. International school trips in the past few years have included ski trips to Europe, cultural trips to London, France and Spain and a drama trip to the UK.

MUSIC is a very important feature of Turi life, with large numbers of students/pupils involved. In addition to them being taught an extensive range of instruments – keyboard, strings, brass, woodwind and percussion – the training of choirs, instrumental ensembles and a jazz band is a high priority. Concerts are arranged each term at the School and the musicians also travel to perform in Nairobi (some three hours from Turi). The School’s quality of music is excellent, which reflects the great commitment and skill of staff and pupils.

Both schools have their own multi-purpose hall, with an additional drama studio at the Senior School and a Performing Arts Centre at the Prep School. These serve as venues for most big events. DRAMA is very strong at Turi and each year there are a number of productions in which the pupils have opportunities for developing their acting talent.

ART and DESIGN TECHNOLOGY is also a key element of the education offered at St. Andrew’s. Both sections of the school are equipped with art rooms and DT facilities. The Prep School also boasts of its own Food Technology room.

St Andrew’s School, Turi, is a friendly community with strong links through the worldwide ‘Old Turians Association’.

Further details of the school are available at www.standrewsturi.com