Peponi School

Rural campus just outside Nairobi, East Africa.

Shell (Year 9) to Upper Sixth (Year 13). The year groups are organised as Shell (Year 9); Lower and Upper Fifth Form (Year 10–11); and Lower and Upper Sixth Form (Year 12–13).

Independent coeducational school for both boarding and day pupils.

Learning Support provides greater support for Special Education Needs and opportunities to stretch the gifted and talented.

Multi-faith.

Boarding, weekly boarding and day pupil options. Games afternoon sessions are timetabled twice a week. A transport service includes a daily bus for day pupils (arrives 7:30am, departs 4:15pm) and a late bus at 5:30pm; a bespoke Weekly Boarding bus serves Nairobi and environs; airport transfers are provided for term starts/ends.

A bespoke Weekly Boarding bus is provided, servicing Nairobi and its environs. There is a comprehensive transport service for day pupils with daily pick-up/drop-off to locations within Nairobi; the daily bus arrives at 7:30am and departs at 4:15pm, with a late bus at 5:30pm.

The curriculum aims to realise each pupil's potential across academics, athletics, pastoral care and social development. It offers a range of academic options with small class sizes to provide individualised attention and differentiated learning. The year groups span from Shell (Year 9) to Upper Sixth (Year 13), with Mathematics, all three Sciences, English Language and English Literature as compulsory subjects, and pupils are prepared for IGCSE examinations by a dedicated staff.

Small class sizes enable individualized attention.

The school has received Pearson Learner Awards for top performers, including a pupil achieving the highest mark in Kenya in Chemistry for Pearson IGCSE.

The Careers Department runs a structured programme for Years 9 to A Level, providing careers guidance and information to enable tailored career choices; by the time pupils reach A Level, progress is evident. Former pupils have progressed to universities worldwide, including the University of Toronto (Aerospace Engineering), the University of Glasgow (Biochemistry) and CEU Cardinal Herrera (Medicine).

The learning support department provides greater support for special educational needs and explores opportunities to stretch the gifted and talented.

The school places pupils' wellbeing as its number one priority. The Pastoral structure centers on House and Tutorial systems that create a harmonious, family-style community where students can thrive in work, rest and play. Each pupil has a Personal Tutor who supports social and emotional development alongside academic progress. PSHE lessons are delivered across year groups and followed up in assemblies and Tutor time. The Honour Code fosters respect, trust and community throughout the school. Boarding and day pupils benefit from a nurturing environment that promotes resilience, leadership and strong communication.

Learning Support provides inclusive education for pupils with additional needs. The SENCo leads the Learning Support Department, supported by Learning Support Teachers and Assistants. Identification of needs occurs through assessments, with the cycle of support: Assess, Plan, and Do. Interventions include in-class support, withdrawal support, transition support, and exam access arrangements (extra time, reader, scribe, modified papers). A team of professionals including a School Counsellor, School Nurse, Speech and Language Therapist and Education Psychologist collaborates to ensure appropriate support. Pupils with SEND make progress through targeted intervention and a differentiated curriculum.

English is taught as an additional language (EAL) for pupils who join the school and are not fluent in English. The policy recognises multilingualism as an asset and sets high expectations with appropriate support. EAL provision takes an integrated approach to language and content, with holistic assessment and emphasis on social inclusion. Provision includes curriculum modification within lessons, targeted reading, writing, speaking and listening targets, and language-focused teaching strategies. Visual supports, additional verbal support, and opportunities for speaking and listening are provided, with attention to the language features of each subject. Home language use is encouraged where appropriate, and pupils may be grouped with peers at similar language development.

The school prioritises mental wellbeing through its pastoral system. The House and Tutorial structure create a supportive, family-style community where pupils can thrive in work, rest and play. Each pupil has a Personal Tutor who is a key link between pupil, staff and parent, guiding wellbeing and progress. PSHE lessons provide regular coverage of personal, social and health education, reinforcing wellbeing across the year groups. The school provides access to counsellors and a medical team to support emotional health, and the overall environment fosters resilience, confidence and compassionate leadership.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child. The pastoral structure supports safeguarding through the House and Tutorial system, coordinating with parents, staff and the medical team to ensure safety and welfare. The Honour Code promotes respect, trust and community, contributing to a safe and secure school culture. The safeguarding framework underpins all aspects of student life, including housing, activities and academics. The school maintains policies and procedures to address safeguarding concerns and promote safe behaviours across the school community.

1. Enquiry. After reading the prospectus, looking at the website or visiting the School, begin the admissions process by filling the Enquiry Form on the site or by contacting the School's Registrar. The Enquiry Form is available online in the admissions section.
2. Registration. At entry, parents complete a registration form and pay a non-refundable registration fee. Registration does not guarantee a place and places the pupil's name within the application process. Each pupil is registered using their full name as per passport or birth certificate.
3. Assessment. For Years 3–13, all applicants complete an entry assessment to ensure the School can meet the child's needs and attend the assessment; the child's most recent report from their current school plus any other professional reports related to learning (e.g., Educational Psychologist) are requested. For children outside the Nairobi area, the current school may be sent an assessment under the same conditions, and a reference from the current school/learning environment is needed. For Kindergarten and Years 1–2, assessment may be informal during play for entry into Kindergarten; Year 1–2 entrants are invited to attend an assessment conducted by the Head of Pre Prep and Pre Prep teachers, including a phonics check, reading, assessments of language understanding and basic number recognition, lasting about one hour on a chosen date.
4. Scholarships. Peponi School welcomes applications for scholarships and exhibitions at 13+ entry and 16+ entry; there are a number of awards available in a wide range of pupil activity. The aim is to reward and encourage pupils to excel and to strive for the very best in their endeavours. More information on scholarships can be found on the Scholarships page of the site.
5. Offer of a Place. Following the completion of all aspects of the Entry Procedure, the Head will decide whether to offer a place for a child and the year group. Admission will be subject to the availability of a place and a child satisfying any admission requirements at the time. The School will offer a place to a child by way of a letter to the parents; parents will also be sent an acceptance form and a copy of the School enrolment contract. To accept, all those with parental responsibility must complete, sign and return the acceptance form together with a payment of the caution deposit and copies of the child's passport and birth certificate. Parents have three weeks to accept or the place may be forfeited.
6. Waiting List. The School will not hold open places for children if the deposit is not paid and their names will be added to the waiting list. When oversubscribed, a waiting list is operated; provided the registration form has been filled, the registration fee paid and assessment taken, a child can join the waiting list. Places that become available will be allocated according to the admissions policy criteria and not necessarily on the length of time on the waiting list. The waiting list is reviewed whenever a child is added to or removed from the waiting list and at the end of each school year; a child's name may remain on the waiting list for the following school year at the parents' request, and if a child remains on the waiting list, they may be required to take another assessment.

Scholarships and Exhibitions are available for 13+ entry and 16+ entry; awards cover a wide range of pupil activity and aim to reward academic or extracurricular excellence. The 16+ entry process for Lower VI/Year 12 involves an academic assessment with three parts: Part I – compulsory papers in Mathematics, English and General Paper; Part II – a choice of two option papers; Part III – an extended writing piece of 800–1000 words. Applications for 2026 entry are open for 16+; 13+ scholarships offer Academic, Specialist (music, art, drama, or sport), and All-Rounder awards. Applications for September 2027 entry open in September 2026. For more details, see the 16+ Scholarship Handbook and the 13+ Scholarship Handbook on the Scholarships page.

Oversubscription leads to a waiting list. The School operates a waiting list once all places are allocated; joining requires a completed registration form, paid registration fee and an assessment. Places are allocated according to admissions policy criteria and not simply by time on the waiting list; the waiting list is reviewed on additions/removals and at the end of each school year; a child on the waiting list may remain on the list for the next year upon parental request and may be required to take another assessment.