Hillcrest Preparatory School

Since 2022, Surbhi Vashist. Promoted from deputy head role, and before that a class teacher in Nairobi International School and Rainbow International School, Kampala. Educated in India, including bachelor's degrees in science and education and a

Non-selective entry with an informal assessment required. Generally, 14-16 children enter in year 2, many from Hillcrest early years, and tend to stay through the school, the same number leaving in year 8. Depending on how many children at the time

Most pupils go to Hillcrest Secondary or other nearby schools. However, pupils going to schools overseas have as high, if not higher, standards of UK Sats results, the school assured us (no corroboration from parents, however, on how well students

Common Entrance (CE) results in 2018: average grade per subject was B and average grade per student was B; 41 per cent of students received three or more A/A* with 14 per cent getting six or more A/A* including one with all A/A*; 83 per cent of

No extra languages apart from the usual French (years 4-8) and Kiswahili (years reception - 5). Design and technology (years 2-8) also on offer - not found that often in Kenyan schools. Themed topic teaching in the lower school with cross-curricular

The school says it caters well for children with special needs (always a good sign that they're willing to take SEN children, rather than the usual more cautious or pessimistic response). Observation for three weeks is followed by assessment in the

Whether English is a second language or non-existent, help and support are offered in learning support and by classroom assistants and a specialist ESL teacher from the secondary school.

Expect the usual annual expedition up Mount Kenya for year 8 students, and all year groups have at least one residential trip a year, which the school explains is geared toward independence, leadership, team building and outdoor activities. It all

Sport is compulsory with a rotating main sport each term: rounders, hockey and netball for girls and cricket, hockey and rugby for boys. They also keep fit with athletics, swimming, gym and cross country. All pupils get the chance to be in a team and

If parents leave and wish to keep their children at Hillcrest, they are able to board at the neighbouring secondary accommodation, but this is usually an exception and not the rule and only for year 7 and above.

Pastoral care in a small school is always less of an issue. 'Incidents of bullying are exceedingly rare,' the school told us, 'but if there are any, they are met head on.' Students are referred to the school counsellor when it’s deemed helpful for

Kenyans are in the vast majority but there is a large British contingent and over 20 other nationalities. Children come from all over town and there is a good bus service. The graduated fees in the lower school mean Hillcrest is popular with the less

No endowment. School depends on fees (no fundraising expectations for parents). Bursaries are awarded, depending on specific circumstances of parents and child, although no further information was available on this. Like all schools, parents leaving

Hillcrest is a small but apparently happy day prep school. Even past problems of ownership and heads coming and going has not discouraged those parents who firmly defend the school and feel that its non-competitive, all-round approach is exactly