Pembroke House School, Kenya

What Pembroke House School, Kenya does

Pembroke House School is a non-profit private British-curriculum prep school located on a 140-acre rural campus in Gilgil, in Kenya's Rift Valley. Founded nearly 100 years ago and now approaching its centenary in 2027, the school serves approximately 245 pupils split between a Pre-Prep cohort of 45 and a Prep cohort of 200, supported by 53 staff at a 6:1 teacher-pupil ratio. The student body draws from 29 nationalities, indicating an internationally oriented family base typical of premium Kenyan prep schools.

The school's core product is full boarding and day education aligned to the British independent-school model, with progression culminating in Common Entrance examinations. Reported 2024 academic outcomes include 139 A/A* grades at Common Entrance and a 42% scholarship rate to senior schools, positioning the school among the higher-achieving prep institutions in East Africa. Curriculum breadth spans traditional academics plus LAMDA-accredited performing arts (the school operates as a LAMDA examination centre), competitive sport, outdoor education leveraging the 140-acre estate, and a Digital Learning syllabus covering coding and digital citizenship. Membership in IAPS and inclusion in the Spears Schools Index and Good Schools Guide International signal external validation of academic quality.

Pembroke House is owned by Kenya Educational Trust Limited, with a parallel UK-registered charity arm, the Pembroke House Foundation, established to channel international donations. Revenue is generated through tiered tuition fees ranging from Ksh 111,950 to Ksh 1,198,000 per term across year groups, supplemented by boarding, transport, and ancillary fees. The school is currently running a Centenary Campaign with a Ksh 100,000,000 fundraising target for 2027 and has been awarded IE100 Traditional Co-Education School of the Year 2025.

Name

Pembroke House School, Kenya

Legal name

Kenya Educational Trust Limited

Website

https://pembrokehouse.sc.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Pembroke House School is a non-profit British-curriculum boarding prep school on a 140-acre Rift Valley campus in Gilgil, Kenya, educating approximately 245 pupils from 29 nationalities through Pre-Prep and Prep under a 6:1 teacher-pupil ratio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Preparatory School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJABAG

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Private & Independent K–12 Schools

Keywords

• British curriculum education
• Prep school services
• Boarding school programs
• Early childhood education
• Primary education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gilgil

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Core revenue from termly tuition fees charged across Pre-Prep and Prep divisions. Fees vary by year group from Ksh 111,950 (Mini Martlets) to Ksh 1,198,000 (Years 3-8). Three terms per academic year.
2. Extracurricular Activities: Charges for optional extras including horse riding (Ksh 37,050/term), music lessons (Ksh 31,500/term), LAMDA (Ksh 16,800/term), and various sports clubs (Ksh 1,575 per session).
3. Transport Services: Bus services to Nairobi, Naivasha, and Nanyuki charged per return trip (Nairobi Ksh 7,520, Naivasha Ksh 3,100).
4. Foundation Donations: UK registered charity (Pembroke House Foundation) raises funds for endowment, infrastructure (new Pre-Prep in Forestry, Junior School block replacement), and local community charity. Centenary goal of Ksh 100,000,000 by 2027.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pembroke House School is a co-educational British curriculum prep school in Kenya delivering education for boarding and day pupils aged 6 months to 13 years. The school operates two divisions: Pre-Prep (Mini-Martlets through Reception, following the British EYFS framework) and Prep (Years 1-8, following the British National Curriculum adapted for East Africa). Core services include academic instruction, flexible boarding in two houses (Mackie and Scholes), an extensive co-curricular and sports programme, Forest School, Adventure Learning expeditions, Learning Support, and preparation for Common Entrance exams leading to senior schools in Kenya, the UK, and South Africa.

Product overview

Pembroke House School is a co-educational British curriculum prep school in Kenya offering a comprehensive educational programme for boarding and day pupils aged 6 months to 13 years. The institution operates two main educational divisions: Pre-Prep (ages 6 months-5 years) following the British EYFS framework, and Prep School (Years 1-8) following the British National Curriculum adapted for East Africa. The school provides flexible boarding in two houses (Mackie for boys, Scholes for girls), an extensive extracurricular programme including sports, LAMDA, horse riding, and adventure activities, plus specialist support services for learning difficulties and EAL. Unique offerings include the Martlet Award for character development, Forest School for outdoor learning, and Adventure Learning expeditions. The school prepares pupils for Common Entrance exams leading to senior schools in the UK, Kenya, and South Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pre-Prep Programme Early years educational programme for children aged 6 months to 5 years, following the British EYFS framework, encompassing Mini-Martlets, Pre-Nursery, Nursery, and Reception classes.
• Prep School British curriculum prep school for Years 1-8 (ages 5-13), preparing pupils for Common Entrance exams and senior school entry in Kenya, the UK, South Africa, and beyond.
• Boarding Flexible boarding provision with two houses: Mackie House (boys) and Scholes House (girls), offering full, flexi, and occasional boarding options for pupils.
• Forest School Outdoor learning programme with twice-weekly forestry excursions where children engage in hands-on projects, fire lighting, bug house construction, and nature exploration.
• Sports Programme Comprehensive sports programme including cricket, hockey, netball, rugby, swimming, tennis, athletics, cross country, football, squash, and gymnastics.
• Extracurricular Activities Wide range of extracurricular activities including horse riding, golf, moto X, LAMDA, taekwondo, tennis, polo, woodwork, mountain biking, football, choir, and swimming squad.
• Learning Support Specialist Learning Support Department providing assistance for specific learning difficulties (dyslexia), English as Additional Language (EAL), and extra intervention sessions.
• Martlet Award Unique award programme that records and rewards children's contributions to school life, providing tangible goals for personal development beyond the classroom.
• Adventure Learning Outdoor experiential learning programme enabling children to apply theoretical skills and academic principles in real-world settings, including trips to Maasai Mara, camel safari, and Mt Kenya climb.

Quantifiable outcome

• 139 A or A* grades awarded at Common Entrance in 2024
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools)coreOthersPembroke House is a member of IAPS, a professional association of prep schools. Children represent the school in sport from a young age with matches between other IAPS schools common.
• LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAMDA offers a fun and engaging programme in acting, speech and communication skills at Pembroke. 100% pass rate for LAMDA exams. Pembroke is an authorised LAMDA examination centre.
• Spears Schools IndexminorOthersPembroke House listed in the Spears Schools Index of the Top 100 Schools in the World (2020 and 2024). Described as 'legendary for the characterful children they send on to top senior schools all over the world.'
• IE100 MagazineminorOthersPembroke House featured in IE100 Magazine as Traditional Co-Education School of the Year 2025. Listed in IE100 rankings.
• Gilgil Club Golf CourseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Gilgil Club golf course adjoins Pembroke's campus. The school uses the club's tennis courts and Manyatta Polo pitches for sports activities. The golf course is approaching its 100th birthday alongside the school.
• Manyatta Polo ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManyatta Polo Club adjacent to school grounds, used by Pembroke for polo activities and matches.
• Pembroke House Foundation (UK registered charity)coreOthersUK registered charity committed to ensuring Pembroke House School continues to thrive. Raising Ksh 100,000,000 by 2027 for endowment, infrastructure, and local charity. Has funded music school, Martlet Café, theatre, tennis courts, chapel organ, and pianos.
• AMREF (Flying Doctors)minorOthersAll children must hold an AMREF card to show membership of Flying Doctors service, providing emergency medical evacuation support for boarders.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Banda School: Premium British prep school in Nairobi with extensive grounds and adventure/outdoor programmes; competes head-to-head with Pembroke for Nairobi-based expatriate families preparing for top UK senior schools.
• Peponi School: Co-educational British curriculum prep school in Ruiru, Kenya, also IAPS-affiliated and competing for the same expatriate and Kenyan affluent families seeking senior school placement in the UK and South Africa.
• Hillcrest School: British curriculum school in Karen, Nairobi, drawing from a similar East African expatriate and diplomatic community and feeding top UK and South African senior schools.
• Brookhouse School: International British curriculum school in Nairobi with extensive co-curricular and boarding provision; competing for the same premium international family segment in Kenya.
• Kenton College: Long-established British curriculum school in Nairobi offering nursery through secondary; directly comparable in curriculum, target families and senior-school feeder model.
• Garden House School: British prep school in Karen, Nairobi, offering nursery through prep and the EYFS framework; directly comparable in curriculum and target demographic to Pembroke's Pre-Prep and lower school.
• St Mary's School, Nairobi: Long-running British curriculum school in Nairobi with prep and senior divisions; a historic alternative for families considering boarding-style British education in East Africa.
• Braeside School: British curriculum school in Nairobi with strong co-curricular and sport programme; competes for Kenyan and expatriate families seeking British-track education and senior school placement.
• Aiglon College: British-curriculum boarding prep and senior school in the Swiss Alps with a similar outdoor/adventure ethos and international family base; relevant peer for global affluent boarding families.

Broad incumbents

• Dulwich College International: Multi-campus international school group offering British curriculum education across multiple geographies; relevant as a broader incumbent competing for globally mobile expatriate families in East Africa.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pembroke-house-school-kenya

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pembroke House School, Kenya