St Andrew’s School, Turi is one of the leading independent international schools in East Africa. The School was founded by the Levites and taken on by Peter and Jean Lavers in 1931. The School initially had 15 children and by the end of the second term, there were already 22 pupils.
Since then, it has grown to be a large and successful boarding school, providing a first-class education to children from East Africa and beyond. Starting as a Preparatory School for pupils aged 5 to 13 years, St Andrew’s added the Senior School in 1988 and the College in 2010 and now caters for nearly 600 students between the ages of 5 and 18.
St. Andrew’s School, Turi History – A school with a deep Scottish connection
The Third Baron Delamere settled in Kenya in 1901. After two failed attempts to secure land from the government, he was eventually granted 100,000 acres of land in 1904 in an area between Nakuru and Njoro, which he aptly named Equator Ranch.
The government later proceeded to set aside land for European settlement in the larger Nakuru area, Njoro, Molo, Kericho, Eldoret and Kitale, which came to be known as the “White Highlands”.
Delamere played a large part in encouraging white settlement in these areas and his friend Lord Egerton joined him in Njoro soon after World War 1. It was for these white farmers’ children that St. Andrew’s School, Turi was established in 1931. St. Andrew is the patron saint of the Scottish people and the feast of St. Andrew is commemorated on November 30 every year in Scotland.
The school was founded by the Levet family and taken over by Peter and Jean Lavers, popularly known as Ma and Pa. Situated near Molo town at over 8,000 feet above sea level, the school sits on a generous 300 acres of prime land, which easily replicates the climate in the Scottish Highlands. The first enrolment comprised 15 pupils drawn from the white farming community at Molo and its environs.
In 1944, the school was burnt to the ground following a fire in the kitchen. The British colonial government gave permission for Italian prisoners of war, who were in plentiful supply at the time, to help in rebuilding the school as the estimated cost of replacement was very high. This time the school was built using stone instead of timber. The school crest features a phoenix rising from the ashes, and an annual bonfire commemorates this episode in the school’s history.
The first African pupils were admitted in the 1970s. In 1988, a secondary school based on the IGCSE system was opened for children between the ages of 13 and 18. Today St. Andrew’s, Turi is a large and successful boarding school providing a first-class education to children from East Africa and beyond. A college to prepare students for the university was added in 2010. The school caters for about 600 students between the ages of five and 18.
Recently, the Kenya media was abuzz about an allegedly “leaked” menu from St. Andrews, which revealed that the students eat an array of expensive meals such as waffles, chipolatas and grilled tomatoes for breakfast and lasagna, meatballs, chicken drumsticks and turkey tagine with pitta bread for other meals.
To be honest, in a school where the fees range from Sh304,000 to over Sh800,000 per term one can only expect the very best facilities all round and the exceptional quality of meals comes as no surprise.
St. Andrew’s is regarded as one of the top international schools in East Africa. It is fully co-educational, and the majority of pupils are boarders. The school has an overtly Christian foundation and encourages pupils to “live and lead with integrity”.
It is one of nine schools in Kenya who are members of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS), the body representing the top prep schools in Britain. The Kenyan schools form the largest IAPS group outside of Britain and, with rising numbers, are an unusual phenomenon, proving highly popular with African families as well as expatriates.
As Michael Joseph famously said, “Kenyans have peculiar habits”. Kenya is the only former British colony to have kept such a concentration of prep schools. Could these extremely “English” schools be seen as a relic of empire? Unfortunately, the Kenyan education system is based very much on passing exams whereas the system in prep schools is more holistic.
The expanding number of prep schools in Kenya reflects the faith in the caliber of British education as well as in the principles that the prep schools instill. It has been argued in some quarters that the environment in these high-cost schools tends to shield pupils from the harsh conditions of the real world particularly for African children who lose touch with their culture.
Parents, in this case, have a huge task of filling the gap where they want their children to learn the African culture as well. Small class sizes of not more than 26 pupils, higher teacher-student ratios, a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities and more personalized and specialized teaching are the secret to success at such schools. The holistic nature of learning helps to bring out the best in each student and not necessarily in the academic realm.
For those fortunate enough to afford the cost, there is real value for money at St. Andrew’s, Turi.
Mission
To develop self-discipline, confident and compassionate individuals who live and lead with integrity’.
Vision
Seeking the Highest for every Individual
St. Andrews School Turi Contacts
School Name: St. Andrews School Turi
Physical Location: Molo
Address: P.O. Box Private Bag 20106, Molo, Kenya
City/Town: Nakuru
County: Nakuru County
School Category: International School
School Code :
Phone Number: +254 (0)722 209750 or +254 (0)20 2025709,+254 (0)735 337736 or +254 (0)20 2025708
Email: officeprep@turimail.co.ke, prepadmissions@turimail.co.ke, officesenior@turimail.co.ke, senioradmissions@turimail.co.ke
Website: www.registrar@pembrokehouse.sc.ke
St. Andrews School Turi News
Here’s How St Andrews Turi fee structure looks like.
- Years Fees (per term, including tuition)
- Reception (Day only) Day – KSh 249,000
- Years 1 to 4 Day – KSh 249,000 Boarding – KSh 498,000
- Years 5 and 6 Day – KSh 267,000 Boarding – KSh 534,000
- Years 7 and 8 Day – KSh 288,000 Boarding – KSh 576,000
St. Andrews School Senior School
- Years Fees (per term, including tuition)
- Year 9 Day – KSh 306,000 Boarding – KSh 612,000
- Years 10 and 11 Day – KSh 331,500 Boarding – KSh 663,000
St. Andrews School College
- Years Fees (per term, including tuition)
- Years 12 and 13 Day – KSh 359,000 Boarding – KSh 718,000
St. Andrew’s School, Turi school menu
For the majority of Kenyans, our school life was largely mundane and we made through life with the most basic of commodities.
Take food, for instance, Githeri was the staple food and when the school decided to “treat” the students, they would just make some rice that resembled ugali and then throw in a piece of meat for effect.
So you can understand the shock and awe that hit Kenyans when a menu said to be of the super high-end school St. Andrew’s, Turi, which is situated in Molo, Nakuru County, started doing rounds on social media. Mind you, this is The Christmas Term 2016 week 1 Menu for Prep school meaning it was reviewed for 2017 to something much better and more expensive.
No, your parents do not hate you, they just could not afford it and even now, only 1% of the 1% can afford to take their scions to this five-star hotel that masquerades as a school. School fees range from Ksh.304,000 to Ksh.730,000 “only”.
There are things in that menu that most of the middle-class Kenyans have never heard of nor tasted. But if they have, then you know they Instagram the hell out of it whenever it is put in front of them. Keep your Google tab open because you will use it a lot as you go through the St. Andrew’s, Turi menu.
The children never have the same meal more than once a week. Every day they have something different and very expensive. I suspect while the rest of us had cooked in school, these privileged children have chefs.
I doubt your cook would know what Beef bourguignon is. Wait, you also don’t know. While you have a burger as a treat, a child is probably sick and tired of it because of eating it every Sunday.
Monday: For breakfast, they wake up to Fried eggs, grilled tomato, cereals, fresh juice, baked beans, and toast. Let’s be honest, most of us pretty much have this but this is when you have been working a few years. Lunch brings with it the joy of Roast chicken with lemon n’ ginger maxim potato, veggie moussaka and chocolate mousse, I know, Mondays are oh so boring. For dinner, Beef lasagna n’ gingerbread, matoke, grilled veggie and of course fruits.
Tuesday: Waffles n’ syrup, Cereals, Baked beans, Berry yogurt, Fresh Fruits and Toast. Lunch is Fish and chips, paneer kebabs, pineapple crumble with vanilla custard sauce. For supper, the kids have Chinese style Pork fillet served with pasta, Leek n’ potato pie, and Fruit salad.
Wednesday: Bacon, Grilled tomato, Cereals, Fresh fruits, Baked beans, and Toast. For lunch; Braised beef served with rice Eggplant n’ cheese frittata and Fruit kebabs. Supper is Turkey tagine served with pita bread, Black bean casserole and fruits.
Thursday: Chipolatas, Grilled tomato, Cereals, Fresh fruits, Baked beans, and Toast. Lunch; Chicken drumsticks served with
Lyonnaise potato, Creamy spinach bake, and Ice cream. Supper: Beef bourguignon served with chapatti, Mushroom stroganoff, and Fruits.
Friday: Pancakes n’ syrup, Cereals, Fresh fruits, Baked beans, and Toast. Lunch: Jacket potatoes with various fillings Pavlova. Supper: Grilled chicken with fried rice, Root vegetable, casserole, and Fruits.
Saturday: French toast, Cereals, Baked beans, Fresh juice, and Toast. Lunch: Meatballs n’ spaghetti with cheese, Bean ragout, and Jelly. Dinner: Baked fish with turmeric, fried rice, Dhal masala, and fruits.
Sunday: Cereals, Fresh juice, Toast, Baked beans, and Tea /coffee. Brunch/Brunch. Supper: Burgers n’ chips, Veggie pizza with coleslaw salad and fruits.
There you have it, now go to a corner and weep and if you have children, do not show them this menu or your stress levels will go through the roof.
St. Andrew’s School School Highlights
Music: available
Drama Club: available
Debate Club: available
Sports Team: available
Girls and Boys Scouts:
Students Association: available
St. Andrew’s School Facilities
School Library: available
Swimming Pool: available
Sports Field: available
Computer Lab: available
Science Laboratory: available