Boston International School vs Rainbow International School Uganda

	B Boston International School Kampala, Uganda	R Rainbow International School Uganda Kampala, Uganda
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year UGX 5 - 10,000,000	Fees / year UGX 2,750 - 17,195
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type —	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, IPC (International Primary Curriculum), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, BTEC Qualification
Pupils	Pupils 170	Pupils 800
Typical class size	Typical class size 15	Typical class size 12
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location —	Location Kintu Road, Tyaba Zone, Kampala, Uganda. Mon - Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm; Saturday 9:00am - 12:00 Noon. Phone: +256-393-266-696; +256-758-032-501.
Stages	Stages —	Stages Early Years, Primary and Secondary.
School type	School type —	School type Co-educational day and boarding international school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support Learning Support is provided in Primary and Early Years with in-class and small-group interventions; in-house occupational therapy and speech and language sessions; Secondary offers in-class and small-group support, with differentiation and life-skills activities; a dedicated School House for interventions.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation Uganda
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure Weekdays 8:00am–5:00pm; Saturday 9:00am–12:00 Noon.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - No separate application or one‑time admission fee is published in the available public fee schedules for Boston International School; public fee listings present tuition amounts but do not list a non‑refundable application or admission charge. Tuition fees by year group (annual amounts) - Kindergarten (Kindg. 1 to Kindg. 3) and Years 1–8: UGX 5,000,000 per year. - Years 9–12: UGX 10,000,000 per year. - Note: the figures above are published as annual tuition totals; a per‑term breakdown is not provided in the publicly available fee materials. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are quoted as annual tuition amounts. No publicly available fee schedule specifies exact billing dates, the number of instalments accepted, instalment deadlines, or published late‑payment penalties. Boarding fees (if applicable) - Public fee listings show day‑student tuition amounts and do not publish boarding fees. For families seeking boarding, no boarding fee schedule is publicly listed in the available materials. Other costs and fees - No explicit, published line items for school uniform costs, transport, canteen/lunch, exam charges, activity or club fees, deposits (e.g., caution/capital deposit), or refundable bonds appear in the available public fee summaries. Additional ancillary costs are not itemised in the public fee summaries accessed. Refund information - No published refund policy or details on refunds for tuition, deposits, or fees were included in the public fee summaries reviewed. Fee payment options - Accepted payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, mobile payment, cheques, etc.) are not specified in the public fee materials that list the tuition amounts. Summary of findings and gaps - Published public fee listings consistently report annual tuition amounts of UGX 5,000,000 for Kindergarten–Year 8 and UGX 10,000,000 for Years 9–12. These listings do not include per‑term figures, application/admission charges, boarding fees, payment schedules, payment methods, uniform costs, or refund policy details in the publicly available fee summaries reviewed; therefore those items cannot be presented as specific numeric values from the available materials.	Fee details Application and Admissions Fees - Admission testing fee: USD 50 (one‑off payment, payable before the test). - Admission fee: USD 700 (one‑off payment). - Registration fee (Early Years): USD 200 (one‑off). Tuition fees — Early Years (Nursery & Kindergarten) - Nursery — Full day: Annual USD 3,500; Term fee USD 1,167; Monthly USD 350. Day hours 08:00–16:00; includes morning snack, lunch and evening snack. - Nursery — Half day: Annual USD 2,750; Term fee USD 916.70; Monthly USD 275. Day options 08:00–13:00 or 12:00–16:00; includes morning snack and lunch. - Kindergarten (KG) — Full day: Annual USD 4,500; Term fee USD 1,500; Monthly USD 450. Day hours 08:00–16:00; includes morning snack, lunch and evening snack. - Kindergarten (KG) — Half day: Annual USD 3,750; Term fee USD 1,250; Monthly USD 375. Day options 08:00–13:00 or 12:00–16:00; includes morning snack and lunch. - Early Years health package: USD 40 annually. Tuition fees — Reception to Year 13 (per year group and term amounts) - Reception: Annual USD 5,945; Term 1 USD 2,378; Term 2 USD 1,784; Term 3 USD 1,784. - Year 1 & Year 2: Annual USD 7,555; Term 1 USD 3,022; Term 2 USD 2,267; Term 3 USD 2,267. - Years 3–6: Annual USD 10,295; Term 1 USD 4,118; Term 2 USD 3,089; Term 3 USD 3,089. - Years 7–9: Annual USD 12,380; Term 1 USD 4,952; Term 2 USD 3,714; Term 3 USD 3,714. - Year 10: Annual USD 14,465; Term 1 USD 5,786; Term 2 USD 4,340; Term 3 USD 4,340. - Year 11: Annual USD 14,465; Term amounts listed as USD 7,233 and USD 7,233 (as shown in the fee schedule). - Years 12–13: Annual USD 17,195; Term amounts listed as USD 8,598 and USD 8,598 (as shown in the fee schedule). Boarding and boarding‑related fees - Boarding fee (optional): USD 3,500 per term. - Boarding health package: USD 200 (separate from the annual health package). Other compulsory and optional charges - Capital levy: USD 500 (one‑off payment). - Caution deposit: USD 500 (refundable). - Annual health package (general school): USD 40. - School lunch (annual): Primary (Year 1–6) USD 700; Secondary (Year 7–13) USD 800. - School bus (termly): Both‑ways USD 655 (termly) and One‑way USD 655 (termly) as listed in the fee schedule. - BTEC registration/administration fee: GBP 1,000 (one‑off payment). - Cambridge assessment / exam charges: Exam fees are charged per subject when the student is registered for the exam. Additional activities (field trips, extra curricular providers such as Lamda or special events) may attract extra charges. - Uniform: An onsite uniform shop is available; uniform is purchased separately through the school's uniform shop. Billing schedule and payment terms - Standard billing is termly using the term amounts shown above for each year group. - Admissions/one‑off charges (admission fee, capital levy, caution deposit, BTEC fee, admission test fee, etc.) are payable as specified at admission. - Pro‑rata / mid‑entry charging rules: When a student joins after Term 1, 70% of the annual tuition fee is charged for Nursery–Year 10; Term 2 and Term 3 are shown as 35% and 35% of annual fees respectively. For Year 11–13 joining after Term 1, 70% of the annual tuition fee is charged at admission. Refunds and refundable charges - The caution deposit (USD 500) is explicitly stated as refundable. Other fees are charged as specified; refundable items beyond the caution deposit are not listed in the fee schedules provided. Accepted payment methods and practical payment notes - Cash: Cash is accepted in United States Dollars or the equivalent in Uganda Shillings; the school's accounts office applies the exchange rate on the date of payment. - Cheque / bank draft: Cheques or drafts must be payable to “Rainbow International School 2003 Limited” and should be delivered to the school accounts office; parents are asked to write the name(s) of their child(ren) on the back of the cheque. - Electronic transfer (EFT/RTG/telegraphic transfer): Electronic transfers are accepted; parents should obtain bank/transfer details from the school accounts office when arranging a transfer. Cash deposits to the school's bank accounts are also used for payments. Practical notes on optional/additional costs - Field trips, specialist activities (for example extra external exam or vocational programme charges, sporting or external providers), extra‑curricular provider fees, and special events may incur additional charges that are billed separately. Exam entry fees for Cambridge and similar awarding bodies are charged per subject.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements Boarding House is on the school premises in a modern, quiet and safe environment. There are separate Boys and Girls houses, but meals and prep times are mixed co-educationally. Bedrooms have en-suite facilities; younger pupils share up to four per room and older pupils typically share two; examination candidates may reside on their own to focus on studies.
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement RISU uniform policy (effective August 2024) requires all students to wear official RISU uniforms. Primary pupils wear tie-dye shirts with dark blue bottoms, with girls able to wear tie-dye dresses; Years 3–6 wear tie-dye shirts with dark blue bottoms. Secondary students wear a light-blue shirt with blue trousers or skirts (Year 7–11) and yellow shirts with black trousers or skirts (Year 12–13); all students wear the official RISU uniform, with plain black shoes and no logos, and hair and makeup rules apply.
Food options	Food options —	Food options The school has a cafeteria with a Lunch Menu. The Lunch Menu can be viewed and downloaded.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership Rainbow International School Uganda is governed by a Board of Governors. The Board includes Mrs. Darshna Kotecha (Director), Mr Bhasker Kotecha, Mr Anand Kapoor, Mr Amit Sagar and Mr Akash Kumar.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details —	Curriculum details Rainbow International School Uganda follows the English National Curriculum at all stages. The Rainbow curriculum is broad-based and creative, with emphasis on core subjects such as mathematics, science, English and ICT, and also includes humanities, arts and physical education. Investigation, reasoning, problem solving and independent learning are central to the curriculum. The IPC is used in Primary, embedding its units and the eight Personal Learning Goals to develop international mindedness and learner dispositions. In Secondary, the English National Curriculum leads to Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels, with Post-16 options including BTEC qualifications. RISU is a COBIS member and is registered with the UK Department for Education, reflecting international accreditation and standards.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Primary class sizes are capped at 24 with a 1:12 teacher–student ratio; Early Years has an adult–child ratio of 1:6. Secondary class sizes are smaller in many IGCSE and A Level classes.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results The Prospectus notes a proven track record of excellent examination results.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression Rainbow students are prepared for entry into top universities globally. The school provides a dedicated careers advisor and sixth form with weekly careers lessons, work experience opportunities and university visits, with graduates progressing to universities such as the University of British Columbia, University of Bristol, University of Manchester, University of Sheffield, University of Birmingham, University of Edinburgh, York University, McMaster University, Michigan State University, Penn State and Nottingham Trent University.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning Rainbow International School Uganda places the welfare of every child at the heart of its approach. There is a school counselor who supports students' emotional health and wellbeing together with staff. The school emphasises a values-driven, inclusive environment with small class sizes that help ensure each child's happiness and security. It fosters respectful relationships and personal development across peers, teachers and families. Specialist English as a Second Language (ESL) and learning support contribute to social and emotional development by ensuring students feel understood and supported. The overall focus is a holistic education that develops the whole child.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) Rainbow has a Learning Support department serving primary and secondary students. In primary, over fifty students receive learning support interventions in in-class and small-group sessions focusing on literacy, numeracy, memory and processing, fine motor skills, life skills and literacy & numeracy support. The department provides in-house occupational therapy and speech and language sessions delivered by internationally qualified clinicians. In secondary, over forty students receive support at various levels, primarily in class with a member of the learning support team; there is differentiation of lessons and small-group lessons including life skills training such as gardening, cooking and self-care. Parents are engaged in progress discussions; assessments are used to tailor support and monitor progress.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language Rainbow provides English as a Second Language (ESL) support delivered by specialists. The school notes ESL as part of its support alongside learning support to help learners with language needs. An inclusive approach ensures learners with language differences receive targeted assistance to access the curriculum. The ESL and learning support teams work together to support language development across year groups.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing Rainbow has a school counselor who supports students' emotional health and wellbeing. The Core Statement notes that the children's welfare is at the heart of Rainbow. The school aims to develop well-being through a holistic, values-driven approach. Small class sizes and caring staff contribute to a secure, supportive environment. Rainbow emphasises relationships among students, staff and families to support mental wellbeing.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding Rainbow has a safeguarding and child protection policy. The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in school is the Secondary Head Teacher, with Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSL) including the Primary Deputy Head Teacher and other named staff. All staff and volunteers must report safeguarding concerns to the DSL and follow the procedures for referrals to relevant agencies. The policy covers training, record-keeping, confidentiality and compliance with national safeguarding guidance, and is reviewed every three years. Curriculum areas such as SMSC and PSHE address personal safety and safeguarding discussions.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview The school operates on a 9-acre site with purpose-built classrooms. The school has 6 science laboratories, 3 computer rooms with a 24/7 internet connection, 2 music rooms, a drama room, and 2 art rooms. There is a hall in both Primary and Secondary, and facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, 2 football pitches, a basketball court, and a volleyball court. The campus expanded to offer A Level in 2000 and there are close to 800 pupils on roll ranging from 2 1/2 years old up to university entrance level.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities The school has two football pitches, a basketball court, and a volleyball court. The school has a 25-metre swimming pool for instruction and recreation. These facilities support the physical education program and team sports. Outdoor spaces complement indoor facilities for a broad PE offering.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities The school has 6 science laboratories, 3 computer rooms with 24/7 internet connection, a drama room, 2 art rooms, and 2 music rooms. There is a hall for both Primary and Secondary to support assemblies and presentations. The school follows the National Curriculum for England. The teaching programme leads to International General Certificate in Secondary Education (IGCSE) and Advanced (A) Level qualifications.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities Pupils choose from clubs offered twice a week where they can enjoy sports, learn new skills, develop personal qualities, and improve their study skills or just have some fun. There are separate Primary and Secondary clubs. Session details and signup forms are provided for enrollment.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History Rainbow International School Uganda (RISU) began in September 1991 as a primary school with 29 children. In September 1995 the school moved to a 9-acre site with purpose-built classrooms, and an administration block was added. The school expanded into A Level in 2000 and today has close to 800 pupils ranging from 2.5 years old to university entrance level. RISU follows the National Curriculum for England with a broad, holistic programme that emphasizes mathematics, science, English and ICT, while also teaching humanities, arts and physical education. The facilities include six science laboratories, three computer rooms with 24/7 internet, music rooms, drama, art spaces, sports facilities and a 25-metre swimming pool.
Community	Community —	Community RISU is an internationally minded school that brings together students from many nationalities and celebrates culture and unity, as reflected in activities such as Jerusalema dance. The school fosters individuality and a partnership with families through a 'Parents as Partners' approach to ensure children feel understood, valued and secure. The curriculum emphasizes core subjects and holistic development, with a strong emphasis on a collaborative relationship between school and families to keep parents informed about progress and curriculum content.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual The school offers clubs twice weekly across Primary and Secondary, helping pupils develop study skills, learn new skills, and build personal qualities while enjoying sports and other activities. The Library provides a vast collection of books to foster reading and critical literacy, with digital books accessible on Samsung tablets.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative The school offers a host of arts clubs: Music Club, Dance Club, Art Club, Cookery Club and Poetry Club, with specialist trainers and frequent performing arts workshops. International Awareness presentations and cultural events support artistic exploration and cross-cultural learning.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language The school promotes international mindedness and cross-cultural learning, including International Awareness Presentations.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies Pupils join Enrichment clubs twice a week, including sports and other activities that develop personal qualities and provide enjoyment.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service The CSR program conducts community service projects across Uganda during the annual outdoor week, with partners such as Habitat for Humanity, Rotary Interact, USPCA, Children Reachout, Bless A Child Foundation and Animal Hope.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional INGOMA is a student-led publication providing leadership opportunities in school journalism. Rainbow students also participate in international events and competitions through ISSAK and COBIS.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing Rainbow offers extensive sports, including Swimming, Rounders, Badminton, Basketball, Athletics, Football, Tennis, Table Tennis, Cricket and Volleyball. Facilities include a full-sized football field, basketball and tennis courts, indoor volleyball courts and a swimming pool, with coaching and opportunities to compete in ISSAK and COBIS events.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards null
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations null
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions —	Admissions The school has an Enquiry Form for Admission to begin the application process. The form asks for the student's date of birth and how the family heard about RISU (options include Rainbow Website, Facebook, Twitter). After submission, the admissions officer will get back to you as soon as possible.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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