Welcome to GoShule Education Blog

I almost didn’t go.

Not because I wasn't interested. In fact, I had done a bit of research on Pembroke House. The only challenge was that it is situated in Gilgil, and if you've driven there from Nairobi, you know that’s not exactly a quick detour. It's the kind of visit you have to plan for.

So, I went.

 And somewhere along that drive, as the city faded behind me and the scenery began to change, I started wondering what makes parents choose a school tucked away all the way out here. A few hours later, after walking through the campus and speaking to the staff, I had my answer.

Pembroke House School was founded in 1927, nearly a hundred years ago. It was formerly a boys-only school, but it became fully co-educational in 1988 and introduced its Pre-Prep section in 2008. Today, it sits on a 140-acre campus in the Rift Valley, on the Nyahururu Road in Gilgil, offering education from six months all the way through to age 13, following the British National Curriculum and the British ISEB Common Entrance framework, preparing children for entry into leading senior schools in Kenya, the UK, South Africa, and beyond.

Firstly, what I liked is that it’s not a huge school. Two hundred and twenty students. In today's world, where some schools can feel like small towns, that's refreshingly small. The result is an environment that feels intimate. People know each other. Teachers know their students. Students know each other across year groups.

Something else that is interesting is that Pembroke House has a no-device policy. In a world where screens compete constantly for children's attention, the school has deliberately created an environment where learners are encouraged to be fully present. No doomscrolling here! Pembroke pupils are known for getting muddy, going fishing, conquering hills, and building things.

A huge priority area for me was the boarding setup. There has been a lot of general talk on boarding schools in Kenya since the school fire at Utumishi High School, and many parents are interested in what different schools are doing to safeguard students’ lives and well-being. At Pembroke House, there are resident housemistresses and housemasters, nurses, and security personnel within the campus. The school also does regular fire drills and intruder drills to ensure both staff and students know how to respond appropriately in different situations.

Who is Pembroke House right for?

Based on what I saw, Pembroke House is a strong fit for families who want a home away from home for their child while in school. It is for the parent who has made the deliberate decision to place their child in boarding and wants the absolute confidence that the people on the other end of that decision are worthy of their trust. You are also busy! Boarding is not always the easy choice, but it is the honest one.

And beyond all of that, you want your child to be a child. A real one. The muddy-knees, fishing-on-a-Saturday, climbing-hills-for-no-reason kind of child that this generation is at serious risk of never getting to be. Pembroke House, sitting on its 140 acres in Gilgil with the Rift Valley as its backyard, was built precisely for that.

On fees, Pembroke charges between KES 106,000 and KES 1,140,940 per term, depending on the year group, with a one-time joining fee of KES 300,000 that is partially refundable at the end of the child's final term. The school is a charitable trust, meaning every shilling goes back into the school and its pupils, and bursaries and scholarships are available for families who need them.

Thinking About an International School in Kenya?

At GoShule, we visit schools, so you don’t have to navigate the search alone. Whether you are considering boarding or day schools, British, American, or blended curriculum options, we give you an honest, first-hand picture of what each school truly offers beyond the brochure.

If you are looking for the right international school for your child in Kenya, we would love to help.

Reach us at: info@goshule.com

DM us on Instagram: @goshuleofficial

WhatsApp us: 0115285345