Nairobi Senior School’s Complete Details

1. History & Background

Nairobi School is one of Kenya’s oldest and most prestigious national secondary schools. It traces its roots back to 1902 when a school was established for the children of British settlers following the construction of the Uganda Railway.

In 1925–1931, the institution evolved into a boys’ secondary school initially called Prince of Wales School — the name and identity reflecting Kenya’s colonial era.

In 1965, following Kenya’s independence, the school was renamed Nairobi School, shedding its colonial title and becoming closely identified with the city.

It was originally situated on a large campus (~242 ha / 600+ acres) at Kabete along today’s Waiyaki Way, about 11 km from Nairobi city centre.

Over decades it grew into one of the country’s leading centres of secondary education, drawing students from all counties and playing a prominent role in Kenyan academic, professional and leadership spheres.

Motto: “To The Uttermost” — reflecting the school’s commitment to excellence in academics and character.

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2. Profile & Location

Full Name: Nairobi School

Type: Public National Secondary School (Boys) — Category 1 (C1) under Kenya’s education system.

Official Location:

Kitisuru Ward, Westlands Sub-County, Nairobi City County, Kenya.

The campus is approximately 10–11 km northwest of Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) along Waiyaki Way/Kabete area.

The school occupies a large campus (about 80 ha or 200 acres) with extensive academic, boarding and activity facilities.

It is often affectionately referred to by alumni and students as “Patch”.

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3. Academic Performance / Success (2025 & Previous Years)

KCSE 2025 (Latest National Exams)

In the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results:

Nairobi School improved its performance compared to 2024, attaining a mean grade around 9.537 (B+).

Of the candidates presented:

~42 scored A plain

~139 achieved A-

~163 achieved B+

~117 scored B

Over ~578 students qualified for direct university entry (≈ 96 %).

According to provisional nationwide rankings, Nairobi School scored a mean of about 9.50 among the top 30 schools nationally.

This strong showing continued a tradition of high academic standards and readiness for tertiary studies among its graduates.

Previous Years (2024 & Earlier)

In KCSE 2024, the school posted a mean score of ≈ 9.228, with most candidates qualifying for university under government sponsorship.

The 2024 results were an improvement on previous years, continuing a long run of high performance in national exams.

Overall, Nairobi School is consistently ranked among the higher-performing national schools in Kenya in KCSE outcomes year after year.

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4. National Status & CBC (CBE) Pathways

National School Classification

Nairobi School is a public national secondary school — one of Kenya’s 112 national schools.

Under the Ministry of Education’s Cluster system, it is placed in Cluster III, reflecting its resources, facilities and performance profile.

CBC / Competency-Based Education Pathways

With Kenya’s shift towards the Competency-Based Education (CBE) for senior school (Grades 10–12), Nairobi School is preparing to offer organised learning pathways including:

1. STEM Pathway

Pure Sciences

Applied Sciences

Technical Studies

2. Social Sciences Pathway

Languages & Literature

Humanities & Business Studies

3. Arts & Sports Science Pathway

Arts Track

Sports Track

These pathways are designed to help students pursue areas aligned with their strengths and career interests while building practical competencies for modern opportunities.

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5. Leadership / Staff – Principal & Achievements

Chief Principal

The current Chief Principal of Nairobi School is Mr. Caspar (Caspal) Momanyi Maina.

Achievements & Leadership Highlights:

Under his leadership, the school has improved academic results, including stronger KCSE performance.

He has maintained high standards of discipline, teacher engagement, student welfare and infrastructure development.

Principal Maina has overseen key institutional projects such as new dormitories, expansion of facilities, and preparation for the CBC transition while strengthening digital learning and partnerships.

His leadership approach emphasises holistic education, mentorship, and student character formation.

Teaching & Support Staff

The school is staffed by qualified educators employed through the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and supported by the Board of Management (BoM).

Staff deliver the curriculum, supervise student welfare, and support academic and activity programmes.

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6. Facilities in the School

Nairobi School’s campus has extensive facilities that support teaching, boarding, and student life:

Academic & Learning Infrastructure

Spacious classrooms and lecture spaces.

Libraries for research and reading.

Science laboratories — Biology, Chemistry, Physics.

ICT and computer labs supporting digital literacy.

Boarding & Welfare

Dormitories/houses for students.

Dining hall and student support services.

Guidance and counselling support.

Sports & Recreation

Playing fields for athletics and football.

Courts for games such as basketball, volleyball.

Development Projects

Ongoing infrastructural improvements, including new dorms and science complex additions.

These facilities contribute to an environment that supports academic, physical and social growth.

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7. Co-Curricular Performance & Activities

Nairobi School strongly emphasises co-curricular engagement as part of holistic student development:

Clubs & Societies

The school supports a wide range of clubs and societies such as:

Aviation Club

Drama Club

Debate Club

Environmental Club

Junior Achievement / Entrepreneurship

Law Club

…and more.

These clubs nurture creativity, critical thinking, communication and leadership.

Performing Arts

Strong programmes in drama, music and other performance arts — often participating in schools’ festivals and competitions.

Sports

Nairobi School fields teams in athletics, football and other games, competing at regional and national levels as part of student growth beyond academics.

Student Leadership

The school promotes student leadership via prefect systems, club leadership roles and structured community service.

Overall, co-curricular activities at Nairobi School contribute significantly to student character, teamwork, discipline and talent development.