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Cavina School

Kenya, Nairobi

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees KES 355,500 - 1,145,400
Ages 2 - 13 years
Pupil numbers 117
Type Co-educational
Opened 1950
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum
Taught languages French, Latin, Swahili
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School
Introduction

Cavina School is a British-curriculum preparatory school for children aged two to 13, on a leafy Kilimani campus in Nairobi. Founded in 1950, it sits on spacious grounds with natural ecosystems and a well-equipped science laboratory. The school is divided into Pre-prep and Prep and follows the British framework, culminating in the Common Entrance exam in the final year with eight core subjects: Mathematics, English, French, Science, British History, Geography, Scripture, and Latin. English is central, with language and literature taught to all pupils. By age 13, pupils study three languages and undertake independent projects and broader learning experiences. Facilities include a modern music school with dedicated rooms and ensembles, and extensive sports facilities, including a 25-metre pool and cricket facilities. The Cavina mission is rooted in a God-honouring Christian philosophy, and the program emphasizes outdoor expeditions and a wide range of clubs and service opportunities.

The Essentials

Cavina School has 117 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
Located in Kilimani, Nairobi, Kenya. The campus sits on a leafy site in the heart of Kilimani. It is accessible by local roads with nearby amenities and transport links.

Stages
Pre-Prep Unit (ages 2–5) and Prep School (ages 6–13).

Type
British-curriculum preparatory school with a Christian foundation.

Additional learning support
Cavina provides in-class support for pupils with special educational needs. Pupils identified as needing additional provision receive small group or one-to-one interventions, and, where necessary, specialists and therapists are brought in to support the child.

Country affiliation
Kenya.

Religious affiliation
Christian.

School day structure
Each school day begins with a Christian act of worship. Fridays feature morning devotions arranged by house captains and House Assemblies use the Book of Common Prayer. The daily life integrates spiritual life with academic learning.

Bus service
The school offers a bus service with defined routes and transport arrangements.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms are compulsory. The list covers boys and girls from PP1 to Upper VI, including shirts, trousers/skirts, ties, caps, blazers, fleece jackets, stockings, and sportswear; all items must be the correct colour and pattern and clearly marked with the pupil's name. Uniforms are available from Animet Ltd.

Food Options
Lunches are provided; per-term charges are: Playgroup 19,000; Pre-Prep Unit (PP1–PP3) 21,000; Preparatory School (FI–UVI) 25,000. An ambulance service (AAR) fee is 1,000 per term.

House System
The school operates a house system; house captains arrange Friday morning devotions and review progress by each house. House Assemblies use the Book of Common Prayer with set Scripture readings.

Governance and Ownership
The school was founded in 1950 by Hugh Massie-Blomfield. It remained in the Massie-Blomfield family for decades, with Jean and then Anthony Massie-Blomfield; it is now steered by a board of directors.
Fees

Annual tuition at Cavina School ranges from KES 355,500 to KES 1,145,400 for 2026/27.

Application and registration fees
- Registration (application) fee: KES 7,500 (non‑refundable).
- Admission deposit: A full term's tuition fee is payable to secure a offered place; this deposit is non‑refundable if the place is not taken up.

Tuition fees (per term) and annual equivalents by year group
- Playgroup (age 2–3): KES 118,500 per term — annual equivalent KES 355,500.
- PP I (age 3–4): KES 159,000 per term — annual equivalent KES 477,000.
- PP II (age 4–5): KES 220,200 per term — annual equivalent KES 660,600.
- PP III / Year 1 (age 5–6): KES 263,500 per term — annual equivalent KES 790,500.
- Form I / Year 2 (age 6–7): KES 323,100 per term — annual equivalent KES 969,300.
- Form II / Year 3 (age 7–8): KES 323,100 per term — annual equivalent KES 969,300.
- Form III / Year 4 (age 8–9): KES 342,300 per term — annual equivalent KES 1,026,900.
- Form IV / Year 5 (age 9–10): KES 381,800 per term — annual equivalent KES 1,145,400.
- Form V / Year 6 (age 10–11): KES 381,800 per term — annual equivalent KES 1,145,400.
- Lower VI / Year 7 (age 11–12): KES 381,800 per term — annual equivalent KES 1,145,400.
- Upper VI / Year 8 (age 12–13): KES 381,800 per term — annual equivalent KES 1,145,400.

Discounts
- Sibling discount on tuition (tuition only): 5% for the second child, 10% for the third child, and 15% for the fourth child (applies from PP1).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is charged per term (fees shown above are per term per child). Parents are required to pay the deposit (a full term's fees) to secure a place after admission acceptance.
- Withdrawal policy: One full term's written notice is required when removing a child from the school, or one full term's tuition fee in lieu of notice. The notice must be acknowledged by the headmaster.

Boarding fees
- Cavina operates as a day preparatory school; there are no boarding fees because boarding is not offered.

Other costs and recurring charges (per term)
- School lunches (per term): Playgroup KES 19,000; Pre‑Prep unit KES 21,000; Preparatory school KES 25,000.
- AAR ambulance service fee: KES 1,000 per term.
- Uniforms and compulsory clothing: Wearing the school uniform is compulsory. Uniform items are available from the school's official supplier (Animet Ltd — contact details provided by the school). Prices for uniform items are set by the supplier.
- Optional activity or external provider fees (e.g., extracurricular providers) may be charged separately as applicable; specific activity charges are invoiced when applicable.

Refund information
- The registration/application fee (KES 7,500) is non‑refundable.
- The admission deposit (one term's fee) is non‑refundable if the offered place is not taken up.
- Other refund situations are governed by the school's notice and withdrawal policy (one term's notice or one term's fee in lieu). Specific refunds beyond these stated items are not published.

Fee payment options and contact for payment queries
- No specific public listing of accepted payment methods (bank transfer, card, cheque, online portal) is published in the school's public fee documents. For confirmation of accepted payment methods and to obtain payment instructions, contact the Admissions or Finance office directly by phone or email: Admissions +254 708 387 746; Main line +254 706 232 334; email admissions@cavina.ac.ke or admin@cavina.ac.ke.

Important practical notes
- All tuition amounts above are quoted per term; multiply by three to obtain an approximate annual tuition figure based on the school's three‑term year.
- For matters not stated explicitly in the fee documents (for example, detailed payment procedures, exact uniform prices, or exceptional refund cases), contact the Admissions or Finance office using the phone numbers or email addresses above.
Academics

Cavina School teaches British Curriculum for students aged 2 to 13.

Curriculum
The Cavina curriculum is British-curriculum preparatory for children aged two to 13. The school is divided into Pre-prep and Prep School. The Common Entrance examination, taken in the final year, includes eight major subjects: Mathematics, English, French, Science, British History, Geography, Scripture, and Latin. English is central, with English language and literature taught to all pupils. The curriculum also includes Computer Studies, Art, Music, Physical Education, and the Performing Arts; by age 13 pupils are introduced to three languages and undertake independent projects and broader learning experiences.

Exam Results
Past and current Cavina pupils have won academic, sports and music scholarships to top senior schools such as Peponi Secondary, St Andrew's Turi, Brookhouse and Hillcrest. The Beacon Scholarship provides two-thirds of the costs for secondary and UK university education.

Higher Education Progression
Many Cavina pupils win scholarships to senior schools in Kenya and abroad, and some go on to study at world-class universities. The Beacon Scholarship provides two-thirds of the costs for secondary and UK university education.

Gifted and Talented
Scholarships are available for high achievers, including the Kenneth Mason Scholarship (for Year 7) and the Founder's Scholarship (for Years 5–6), with a maximum of two scholarships awarded per year. The Kenneth Mason and Founder's Scholarships recognize outstanding ability in sports, music, acting or art and require academic excellence and leadership potential. The Beacon Scholarship is a leadership bursary that provides up to two-thirds of costs for secondary and UK university education.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Cavina's small, family atmosphere supports pupil welfare and social development. The senior leadership team and form teachers monitor each pupil's academic and personal progress, and Year 8 pupils (and others needing extra support) have access to a dedicated teacher mentor. Professional counsellors and a nurse are available to support pupils' emotional wellbeing.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Cavina takes special educational needs seriously. Pupils with SEN receive in-classroom support from all teachers, and those identified as requiring additional provision benefit from small-group or one-to-one interventions. If necessary, additional specialists and therapists are brought in following consultations with parents.

Mental Wellbeing
A fulltime paediatric nurse monitors the physical and emotional wellbeing of pupils and offers fitness and nutrition advice.

Safeguarding
Pastoral care and medical services support safeguarding and pupil welfare. The senior leadership team monitors pupils' progress, with professional counsellors and a nurse available to assist pupils as needed.
Parent Experience

History
Cavina School was founded in 1950 by Hugh Massie-Blomfield, a retired colonial official. It is the second oldest British-curriculum school in Nairobi and the sixth-oldest international school in Kenya. Massie-Blomfield named the school after the ship Cavina, on which he first met his wife, Jean. The early years were modest: in 1954 the East African Standard described Cavina as Nairobi's smallest school with one classroom, 18 pupils and two teachers, and Cavina was known as a crammer that prepared pupils for examinations. By the end of the 1950s Cavina became a fully-fledged prep school, and the school became single-sex with girls excluded for about 25 years. After Massie-Blomfield's death in October 1968, the leadership stayed with the Massie-Blomfield family, Jean until 1974 and then his son Anthony who led the school for more than four decades until his retirement in 2021. The school expanded geographically with two additional properties on Elgeyo Marakwet Road to complement the original site, and the pupil body grew to about 155 pupils in the prep school (with girls returning in 1981) and 100 more in the pre-prep unit founded in 1996. The Cavina mission remains rooted in a God-honouring Christian philosophy and its traditions.” ,

Community
Giving back is an important part of Cavina's philosophy. Through charity drives, many organized by the pupils themselves, students learn to understand their good fortune and the responsibility to help make the world better. Charity events occur every term, with each academic house taking charge of one charity day per term; pupils identify and select charities and plan how to raise funds, with activities such as readathons, village fairs, raffles and treasure hunts, and the whole school participates, often in costumes. Additional activities include the annual bucket appeal at Christmas and the poppy appeal for Kenyan servicemen who fought in the Second World War. The principal charity is the East Africa Character Development Trust, which works with more than 4,000 children in Nairobi's informal settlements, supporting them through feeding, training and sporting programmes to give hope to underprivileged youngsters and to identify future leaders and athletes.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Cavina is a British-curriculum preparatory school for children aged two to 13, located on a leafy site in Kilimani, Nairobi. The campus has large grounds with a variety of natural ecosystems. There is a well-equipped science laboratory for science instruction. There is a modern, purpose-built music school with teaching rooms and practice rooms.

Sports Facilities
Cricket is the main sport during the Michaelmas term for both boys and girls. We have access to the Nairobi Club cricket grounds and host fixtures there against other schools. Timetabled sessions twice a week involve nets or field practice, with regular after-school team training. We have an experienced cricket coaching team, including ex-Kenya players. Swimming takes place year-round in Cavina's own 25-metre pool, with an after-school programme and early-morning advanced squad training; Cavina hosts a house swimming gala each March.

Academic Facilities
The curriculum is English-centered. The school is divided into Pre-prep and Prep sections. Cavina provides instruction in Computer Studies, Art, Music, Physical Education, and the Performing Arts. Cavina has a well-equipped science laboratory for science instruction. The eight major subjects for Common Entrance include Mathematics, English, French, Science, British History, Geography, Scripture, and Latin. The school has large grounds with a variety of natural ecosystems in addition to laboratory facilities for science instruction.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Adventure fires the spirit, and Cavina embraces the pursuit of challenging expeditions that teach resilience and resourcefulness. From an early age, pupils are introduced to a world that may include camping out in the wild, camel trekking, or Mount Kenya ascents. The learning continues at school through extracurricular clubs, with children exposed to a wide range of disciplines, such as chess, coding or karate. Many of our clubs are teacher-led, allowing the teacher to introduce children to their passions. As pupils progress up the school, trips become longer and more challenging, and they are challenged intellectually through regular debates or sixth-form talks.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Cavina runs regular debates and hosts general knowledge competitions that challenge pupils beyond the classroom. Visiting speakers from a wide range of occupations contribute to the learning experience, and sixth-form talks provide opportunities to engage with complex ideas. The learning continues through extracurricular clubs and intellectually stimulating activities that broaden academic horizons.

Arts & Creative
There is a modern music school with dedicated teaching rooms and practice spaces. Private lessons are available on orchestral instruments, guitar, piano, voice, or even bagpipes. The extracurricular program includes a large orchestra and ensembles such as a pipe band, string orchestra, jazz band, ceilidh band, and two choirs.

Cultural & Language
English is the language of instruction. French and Latin are offered as major subjects. Environmental club and Scottish reeling are part of Cavina's cultural activities.

Social & Hobbies
Cavina offers a broad range of extracurricular clubs and activities, including chess, coding, karate, ballet, gymnastics, pottery, origami, and more. Many clubs are teacher-led and optional, reflecting students' interests. Outdoor adventures and expeditions foster social interaction and teamwork.

Community & Service
Charitable events and community service initiatives are integral to Cavina's extracurricular fabric. Spiritual life and service are emphasized as part of the Cavina education. Visiting speakers and school projects encourage pupils to contribute to their communities.

Leadership & Professional
House captains organize morning devotions on Fridays and review weekly progress. Regular sixth-form talks provide leadership exposure and career-related insights. Students take on leadership roles within teacher-led clubs and activities.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Adventure and outdoor expeditions, such as camping, camel trekking, and Mount Kenya ascents, are central to Cavina's approach. Sports and physical education are part of the program, contributing to pupils' fitness and well-being. Outdoor learning and physical activity support resilience and overall well-being.
Languages

Language Provision
English, French, and Kiswahili are taught. English language and literature is studied by all students. French is introduced early with an emphasis on oral work; grammar is introduced in Form IV and preparation for the final Common Entrance exam includes past papers and exam-style questions. Kiswahili lessons are stimulating, engaging and a highlight of the week.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Enquiry: Prospective families submit an enquiry online using the enquiry tab or email the admissions registrar, Ms. This begins the Cavina admissions process. The school provides information about age groups, class availability, and the admissions timeline after the enquiry. An enquiry does not commit a family to a place.

2. Tours and registration: Cavina conducts regular school tours throughout the year, and Ms. Minayo will place you on a tour following your enquiry. After the tour, you may register your child if you wish to proceed. A non-refundable registration fee of 7,500 Kenyan Shillings is payable at this stage to cover the administrative costs of maintaining the waiting list. Payment of the registration fee does not guarantee a place.

3. Waiting list and intake: The waiting list for some classes is long, so early applications are encouraged. The main intake is in Playgroup, with a maximum of 25 places per year. Priority is given to siblings, then generally by date of application, while other factors such as balancing the numbers of boys and girls may influence offers. In some years, places are only available when vacancies arise due to a pupil leaving; Cavina aims to reduce class sizes toward the top of the school and may not replace pupils who leave after Form IV.

4. Registration timing and exceptions: Registration is accepted after you have toured the school, with exceptions for families living outside Kenya at the time of application. The process is designed to be straightforward and supportive for families navigating international admissions.

Scholarships
Scholarships: Cavina offers a maximum of two scholarships per year. The Kenneth Mason Scholarship is awarded to a pupil joining in Lower VI (Year 7) who is outstanding in sport, music, acting, or art, and who demonstrates academic excellence and leadership potential. This scholarship provides a 30 percent reduction in school fees, with an additional bursary of up to 30 percent if required. The Founder's Scholarship is awarded to a pupil joining in Form IV or Form V (Years 5 or 6) who is outstanding in sport, music, acting, or art and demonstrates academic excellence and good character. This scholarship provides a 20 percent reduction on school fees, with up to 30 percent bursary available. Bursaries are means-tested and offered only to Kenneth Mason or Founder's Scholars, requiring full disclosure of finances to Cavina's accounts department. The maximum bursary is 30 percent but may be lower depending on means testing. The Beacon Scholarship is a leadership bursary that provides two-thirds of costs for the child's secondary education and UK university education; past Cavina pupils have been awarded scholarships to top senior schools including Peponi, St Andrew's Turi, Brookhouse and Hillcrest.

Waitlist
There is a waiting list for some Cavina classes. A non-refundable registration fee of 7,500 Kenyan Shillings is payable at registration to cover waiting list administrative costs. Payment of the registration fee does not guarantee a place. The waiting list length varies by class, and early applications are encouraged.
School Events
The school has not added events
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