Acorns International School Bunga vs Kings International School
Acorns International School Bunga and Kings International School are both in Kampala, about 7 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge (Primary) and Cambridge (Secondary) programmes. Acorns International School Bunga also offers Cambridge IGCSE, and Kings International School also offers EYFS. Published annual fees are UGX 1,410 - 6,130 at Acorns International School Bunga and UGX 2,025 - 4,800 at Kings International School, which puts Acorns International School Bunga roughly 10% higher. Acorns International School Bunga takes pupils from 1 to 16, and Kings International School from 1 to 14.
EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary)
Pupils
Pupils
150
Pupils
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Typical class size
Typical class size
15
Typical class size
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Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2015
Opened
2007
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Plot 4769 Hamis Kiggundu Rd, Kampala, Uganda. The Acorns International School | Bunga campus is part of a network with other campuses in Kisaasi (Uganda), Lubowa (Uganda) and Kigali (Rwanda).
Location
Plot 6162, Off Tank Hill Road, Muyenga, Kampala, Uganda.
Stages
Stages
Early Years (from 18 months) through Primary education.
Stages
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Cambridge-curriculum primary (KS1–KS2; Years 1–6).
School type
School type
International school offering the Cambridge Curriculum; Cambridge International Exam Center for Checkpoint exams.
School type
Cambridge-curriculum primary school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Uganda
Country affiliation
Uganda
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
—
Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
The school day runs from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm on school days.
School day structure
Hours are Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm; weekends closed.
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application & Registration Fees
- Registration (non-refundable) at point of admission: USD 300. USD 200 for the second child; no registration fee for subsequent children.
Tuition fees by year group (per term and annual amounts)
- Crèche: Term I USD 495, Term II USD 495, Term III USD 495; Annual USD 1,410. - EC1: Term I USD 550, Term II USD 550, Term III USD 550; Annual USD 1,570. - Reception (08:45–14:40): Term I USD 725, Term II USD 725, Term III USD 725; Annual USD 2,065. - Year 1 & 2 (08:00–15:15): Term I USD 810, Term II USD 810, Term III USD 810; Annual USD 2,310. - Year 3 & 4 (08:00–15:15): Term I USD 960, Term II USD 960, Term III USD 960; Annual USD 2,735. - Year 5: Term I USD 1,095, Term II USD 1,095, Term III USD 1,095; Annual USD 3,120. - Year 6: Term I USD 1,645, Term II USD 1,645, Term III (not listed); Annual USD 3,120. - Year 7 & 8 (08:00–15:30): Term I USD 1,150, Term II USD 1,150, Term III USD 1,150; Annual USD 3,280. - Year 9 & 10: Term I USD 1,340, Term II USD 1,340, Term III USD 1,340; Annual USD 3,820. - Year 11: Term I USD 2,265, Term II USD 2,265, Term III (not listed); Annual USD 4,305. - Year 12: Term I USD 2,000, Term II USD 2,000, Term III USD 2,000; Annual USD 5,700. - Year 13: Term I USD 3,000, Term II USD 3,000, Term III (not listed); Annual USD 5,700.
- Tuition fee is inclusive of educational materials and diaries (exclusions stated for candidate-level exam fees, field trips and trekking trips).
Textbook charges (payable with tuition at enrolment or start of academic year)
- Reception: USD 125. - Year 1 & 2: USD 125. - Year 3 & 4: USD 110. - Year 5: USD 115. - Year 6: USD 115. - Year 7 & 8: USD 175. - Year 9 & 10: USD 350. - Year 11 to 13: USD 430.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Each term's fees are due by the end of Week 1 of the school term. Late payments are subject to a surcharge of 5%. Students with fees unpaid after 30 days of the due date will be excluded unless otherwise agreed in writing by Management. - Early payment discount: 5% discount on tuition fee if the annual fee is paid before the start of the academic year. - Sibling discount: USD 200 registration fee for the second child; no registration fee for subsequent children, plus a 5% discount on tuition for subsequent children. - Refer-a-friend: 15% reduction on one term's tuition fees following the introduction and admission of a new student.
Boarding fees
- No boarding fees are listed; boarding is not provided.
Other costs and regular extras
- School uniforms (prices): Secondary tie USD 8; Primary trousers/skirts/polo T-shirts USD 12; Secondary shirts & trousers USD 15; Sweaters USD 20; PE kit USD 20; A-level blazer USD 45. PE uniforms are compulsory for all students; school uniforms are compulsory from EC2 onwards. - Lunch plans: Early Childhood USD 175; Primary USD 225; Secondary USD 250; Casual lunch USD 7. Students may bring lunch but cannot leave campus or receive food deliveries during the day. - School clubs / after-school activities: Primary clubs (03:30–04:15) USD 200. Students wishing to participate in a specific activity will be charged USD 100 per club. - Bus service (zone-based rates): Two-way: Zone 1 USD 250, Zone 2 USD 300, Zone 3 USD 350, Zone 4 USD 500. One-way: Zone 1 USD 175, Zone 2 USD 200, Zone 3 USD 275, Zone 4 USD 300.
Refund information
- Fees once paid are not refundable. Registration fee is non-refundable.
Fee payment options and currency
- All fees are stated in USD. Payment in UGX is acceptable at the rate indicated by the school office. Specific accepted payment channels (bank transfer, card, cheque, etc.) are handled by the school office; confirm with the accounts office for available methods and any applicable bank charges.
Fee details
Registration / Application fees
- Registration: USD 200 (one-time payment). An alternative entry amount is shown as USD 300 where a part-payment option is listed.
Tuition fees by year group (per term and annual totals)
- Early Years – Nursery: USD 600 per term; USD 1,800 per year. - Early Years – Reception: USD 700 per term; USD 2,100 per year. - Key Stage 1 (Year 1 & Year 2): USD 900 per term; USD 2,700 per year. - Key Stage 2 (Years 3, 4 & 5): USD 1,000 per term; USD 3,000 per year. - Key Stage 2 (Year 6): USD 1,100 per term; USD 3,300 per year. - Key Stage 3 (Year 7): USD 1,500 per term; USD 4,500 per year.
Alternative per-term figures (summary page)
- A summary page lists a one-off payment of USD 200 per child and gives alternative per-term figures: Early Years USD 650 per term; Key Stage One USD 950 per term; Key Stage Two USD 1,050 per term; Key Stage Three USD 1,550 per term. Use the detailed class breakdown above for class-specific term/year totals.
Food (meals)
- Snack & lunch (Early Years/Primary combined listing): USD 75 per term; USD 225 per year. A separate listing shows Lunch for Early Years & Primary USD 75 per (term) and Lunch Secondary USD 100.
- Football: USD 21 per term. - Netball: USD 21 per term. - Swimming: USD 41 per term.
Boarding fees
- No boarding fees or boarding options are listed in the school fee pages; boarding is not presented as part of the published fee structure.
Other costs and typical additional items
- One-off enrolment/administration payment is shown as USD 200 per child (see Registration). - Meal charges and shuttle services are billed separately as listed above. - Uniform costs are not published in the fees pages; a uniform policy exists on the site but specific uniform prices are not listed. Charges for trips, specialist resources, examinations or additional school‑supplied materials are not detailed on the published fee pages.
Refunds and withdrawal
- No explicit refund policy, withdrawal penalties or detailed refund terms are published on the school's fee pages. The published materials do not set out conditions or percentages for refunds in the event of withdrawal.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is published with per‑term amounts and annual totals, indicating termly billing is used (per‑term fees are the primary published billing unit). No specific invoice due dates, payment deadlines, late‑payment charges or formal payment schedule details are shown on the fee pages.
Fee payment options
- The published fee pages do not list accepted payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, mobile money or other platforms). No bank account details, online‑payment gateway or card payment instructions are published on the fee pages.
Summary of missing / not‑published fee details
- The published fee pages include registration, per‑term and per‑year tuition, meal, transport and some activity charges, but they do not publish: a formal refund/withdrawal policy, exact billing dates or invoice deadlines, the school's accepted payment methods and procedures, uniform price lists, charges for examinations or specialty resources, or any boarding fees. For any items not listed here, no explicit amounts or terms are available on the school's publicly published fee pages.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
School uniforms are compulsory from EC2 class onwards; PE uniforms are compulsory for all students. The uniform list includes items such as secondary tie, primary trousers/skirts/polo T‑shirts, secondary shirts/trousers, sweaters and PE kit, with published prices for each item.
Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
Lunches are provided on site. Early Childhood lunch is from 12:00 to 01:30 pm; Primary lunch is priced at $225 and Secondary lunch at $250. Students may bring lunch from home but cannot leave campus or have food deliveries during the day.
Food options
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House system
House system
House Points are used to recognise student behaviour in school life.
House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
Ameena Lalani is the CEO and Head of School, supported by the Senior Leadership Team; the school is part of the Acorns International School network, with other campuses in Kisaasi, Lubowa and Kigali listed as connections to the group.
Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
The school teaches the Cambridge Curriculum, emphasizes holistic development (swimming, art and craft, dance, music and drama), and is accredited as a Cambridge International Exam Center for Checkpoint exams.
Curriculum details
We provide an excellent wholistic curriculum, developing each individual's intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual and cultural development. Every child receives a broad balanced curriculum including numeracy, literacy, science, history, Religious Education, geography, art and design, music, physical education, swimming, French and information and communication technology. Teaching in music, art, PE and ICT follows King's own curriculum to enable the continuous building of skills and knowledge. King's International School caters for Early Years, Primary and Secondary. Accredited with Cambridge International Examinations.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
The school has an excellent student-teacher ratio.
Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
Counselling is provided by qualified school counsellors to monitor welfare and guide emotional development, promoting personal and social growth. Learner Support Services create plans and provide counselling to students and families to support wellbeing and development.
Social & emotional learning
The school emphasises values-based social and emotional learning centered on Character, Growth, Community, Resilience and Thrive. Character focuses on respect, empathy and integrity and on developing essential life skills. Growth covers critical thinking, creativity and emotional intelligence, with personalised learning and holistic development. Community promotes belonging, safety, open discussion, empathy and collaboration with parents and the wider community. Resilience builds courage, flexibility and perseverance to endure challenges. Thrive describes an inclusive environment that supports every student's lifelong love of learning.
Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
Learner Support Service creates plans and supports students with Special Needs.
Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
Language Support Classes are provided for students performing low in the English Language.
English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
Student Counselling supports welfare and emotional development through a comprehensive school counselling program addressing academic and personal/social development.
Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
Child Protection and Safeguarding states that all members of the Acorns community have a responsibility to keep students safe. A Designated Safeguarding Officer is available to receive reports of concerns, and a full Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy exists.
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
Acorns International School | Bunga is accredited as a Cambridge International Exam Center for Checkpoint exams. The Cambridge Curriculum is highly recognised. Holistic development includes swimming, Art & Craft, Dance, and Music & Drama. Admissions are open from Early Childhood (18 months) to Primary. The campus is Plot 4769 Hamis Kiggundu Rd, Kampala, with additional campuses in Kisaasi, Kigali, and Lubowa.
Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
Swimming is included as part of Holistic Development. Holistic Development also includes Art & Craft, Dance, and Music & Drama. The Cambridge Curriculum underpins the school's approach to learning. Admissions are open from Early Childhood (18 months) to Primary.
Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
The Cambridge Curriculum is highly recognised. Acorns International School | Bunga is accredited as a Cambridge International Exam Center for Checkpoint exams. Curricular offerings include Early Years and Primary years. The Cambridge program provides internationally recognized assessment opportunities.
Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
Holistic Development includes swimming, Art & Craft, Dance, and Music & Drama. These activities are part of the school's curricular and extracurricular offerings. Admissions are open from Early Childhood (18 months) to Primary. There are multiple Acorns campuses offering these programs, including Bunga, Kisaasi, Kigali, and Lubowa.
Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
Acorns International School | Bunga opened in August 2015 and is located on Plot 4769 Hamis Kiggundu Road, Kampala. The campus provides Early Years, Primary and Secondary sections. It is accredited as a Cambridge International Exam Center for Checkpoint exams and follows the Cambridge Curriculum. Languages from early years include French and Swahili, with ICT offered as part of the program. The Acorns network includes other campuses in Kisaasi, Kigali, and Lubowa.
History
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Community
Community
Parent Teacher Organisation (PTO) is a volunteer organisation established to support the Acorns community – students, families and staff. PTO welcomes all families, helps everyone stay connected to one another and to the school, represents the voice of the community, and supports students through involvement and creativity. The school is described as an IB Continuum and celebrates language, culture and tradition, reflecting a multicultural and multifaceted community. Teachers receive regular internal and external professional development and training. Other campuses include Kisaasi, Kigali, and Lubowa.
Community
Community is central at King's International School Uganda. The school celebrates a rich place of diversity, embracing every individual to be accepted and secure. It cares for the whole child, nurturing mind, body, heart and spirit—intellectual, physical, emotional and moral development. The values of COMMUNITY, RESILIENCE and THRIVING guide daily life and sustain an inclusive, supportive environment where students can grow and succeed.
Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
Parent Teacher Organisation (PTO) is a volunteer organisation established to support the Acorns community – students, families and staff. PTO welcomes all families, helps everyone stay connected to one another and to the school, creates a space for school staff and parents to represent the voice of the community, and supports students through involvement and creativity.
Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
Cambridge International Exam Center for Checkpoint exams. Cambridge Curriculum is used across Early Years and Primary, including a Cambridge Primary pathway and the IGCSE. The Curricula cover Early Years, Primary Years, Lower Secondary and IGCSE.
Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
Art & Craft, Dance, and Music & Drama are part of holistic development. In Primary Years, Music & Performing Arts and Art are offered.
Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
French and Kiswahili are offered alongside English.
Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
We organize one field trip a year at the end of term one break in October. The field trip helps students improve social etiquette, build confidence and gain team-building and cooperation skills. The cost of the trip covers meals and transportation, and a consent form is sent to parents to sign. Students may bring pocket money to buy snacks or souvenirs.
Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Swimming is part of the curriculum. The school has a swimming pool.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
PE coaches and professional sport trainers are selectively chosen to train our pupils. We offer physical education-related activities as class sessions or after-school programs. In August and September 2019, indoor after-school activities included table tennis and taekwondo. Sports activities can be indoor or outdoor, but during the rainy season we offer indoor activities only.
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
French and Swahili are offered as modern foreign language (MFL) programmes from early years.
Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
null
Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
null
Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Begin the admissions process by visiting the campus or contacting the admissions team. Prospective parents and students can visit the campus on weekdays between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm for orientation. To start admissions, pay the non-refundable admission fee and fill out the admissions forms. Interviews are conducted to determine the appropriate class for the student.
2. Assessment. The assessment can occur during a routine school visit or at a later date. The student takes tests in English, Maths and Science to determine placement in a suitable class. The results guide placement to the appropriate class.
3. Acceptance. After the assessments, reserve a place by paying the non-refundable admission fee and completing the admission forms. The placement aims to ensure the student is enrolled in the correct year level.
4. Documents. Along with the admission forms, provide: 1 coloured passport photo of the child; 1 passport photo for the person responsible for picking up the child; medical information including immunization, allergies and any other health concerns.
