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Children's International School

Nigeria, Lagos

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 768
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 2005
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Taught languages French, Spanish
Typical class size 20
Strengths Sport, STEM, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Leadership and Professional
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Children's International School is a private day and boarding school in Lagos, Nigeria, serving learners aged 2 years 6 months to 18. It follows the British National Curriculum for England, with Foundation Stage through Key Stage 3 and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE at Key Stage 4, plus a Sixth Form offering A-levels and university application guidance. Foundation Stage covers 2.5–5, and KS1–KS2 study English, Mathematics, Science, PSHEE and Topic (History, Geography and Religious Education), with specialist teaching in Music, Art, Computing, French, Physical Education and Swimming, and African Studies as part of local heritage. KS3 comprises 11 departments and 15 subjects; KS4 offers 28 IGCSE subjects across eight areas. The Sixth Form provides pathways to universities worldwide and tailored admissions support. The Lekki Phase 1 campus includes a boarding house with grounds and on-site sports facilities. Extra-curriculars feature Film School, Coding, Duke of Edinburgh and a broad sports program for students.

The Essentials

Children's International School has 768 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English.

Location
Plot 8 Amore Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Nigeria. The school sits in Lekki Phase 1 and is within easy reach of Lekki, Ikoyi and Victoria Island. It serves day and boarding students from 2 years 6 months to 18 years old.

Stages
Junior School (Nursery to Year 6); Senior School (Year 7 to Year 11 with IGCSE); Sixth Form College (Year 12–13, A Level).

Type
Private day and boarding school.

Additional learning support
SEND/ALES policy in place; additional learning needs and support are provided to enable access to the curriculum, with provisions for individual learning needs as required.

Country affiliation
Nigeria
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
The boarding house is on the CIS campus, providing a comfortable, secure environment to study and build lifelong friendships. Boarding is available for children from Year 6 to Year 13 (A Level). Students may board full-time or weekly (Sunday evening to Friday afternoon), with flexibility to suit busy families. The boarding house has its own grounds, sports facilities and dining hall, and boarders can access the wider school facilities. The Head of Boarding is supported by house parents, resident medical staff and academic tutors to ensure academic and pastoral support.

Food Options
The boarding house includes an on-site dining hall for meals.

House System
CIS uses a house system with four houses: Willow, Sycamore, Jacaranda and Acacia, with house points tracked.

Governance and Ownership
The school is overseen by an advisory board, working with the proprietor who has overall ownership of the school.
Fees
Application fees

- No current, publicly-published application or acceptance fee schedule for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 academic years was found. Historical reporting from 2016 identified an acceptance fee and registration fee (reported then as a non‑refundable acceptance fee of ₦2,000,000 and a registration fee of ₦40,000), but those figures are historic and not presented by the school as current rates.

Tuition fees by year group (term / annual)

- No current detailed termly or annual tuition schedule for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 academic years was publicly available. The only verifiable published fee figure located is from an earlier inspection report (2015) which recorded an annual day‑pupil fee of USD 10,440; that figure is historic and should not be treated as the current year fee.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- No current published billing schedule or formal payment‑terms document for 2026/27 or 2025/26 (term dates aside) was located. Older public reports of CIS fee notices referenced termly invoicing and late‑payment penalties (an item from 2016 noted a late‑payment interest practice described in that notice), but up‑to‑date billing schedules and exact penalty rates were not published online.

Boarding fees (where applicable)

- Boarding is offered for students from Year 6 through Year 13. No current boarding fee amounts for 2026/27 or 2025/26 were publicly published.

Other costs and incidental fees (uniform, exams, PTA, transport, extras)

- Uniform, PTA contributions, examination entries and other typical school extras are included among additional costs charged to families at many schools; specific current amounts for uniform, exam fees, transport, or optional co‑curricular charges for 2026/27 or 2025/26 were not publicly available for CIS. Historical media reporting (2016) flags uniform, PTA and other ancillary charges in addition to acceptance/registration fees, but specific up‑to‑date amounts were not published.

Refund information

- No current published refund policy for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 academic years was found. Historical reporting from 2016 described the acceptance fee as non‑refundable at that time; no current published terms for refunds (term withdrawal, mid‑term departure, or exceptional refunds) were located.

Fee payment options

- No publicly-published, up‑to‑date list of accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, local credit/debit card, international card) for 2026/27 or 2025/26 was found. The school's publicly-listed contact addresses and admissions contacts are available for finance enquiries.


Brief note on results and limitations

- The school does not publish a current, detailed fee schedule for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 academic years in a publicly-accessible format on its site or in other authoritative online documents that are available to the public. The only direct number located in a verifiable published document is an historical annual day fee (USD 10,440) from a 2015 inspection report; media and social posts from 2016 report acceptance and per‑year amounts in Naira but those reports are historic and were not confirmed as current school policy. Because a current fee schedule was not publicly posted, up‑to‑date termly and year‑group fee figures, current boarding charges, formal payment methods, and the present refund policy could not be reliably determined from available public sources.
Academics

Children's International School teaches British Curriculum, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
The school delivers the National Curriculum for England, with a broad and balanced learning experience contextualized for its Nigerian setting. The curriculum is organized into Foundation Stage (ages 2.5 to 5), Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2), Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6), and progression into Key Stage 3 in CIS Secondary School. In Key Stages 1 and 2, students study English, Mathematics, Science, PSHEE, and Topic (History, Geography and Religious Education), with specialist teachers delivering Music, Art, Computing, French, Physical Education and Swimming weekly; African Studies is included to reflect local heritage. In Senior School, the curriculum follows the National Curriculum for England; KS3 has 11 departments with 15 subjects and three extended subjects, and exams are written in Term 1 and Term 3 in fourteen subjects. KS4 (Years 10–11) follows the IGCSE (Pearson Edexcel) with 28 subjects across eight areas; from Year 10 there are 26 subjects available, 24 of which are exam subjects. The Sixth Form College provides a pathway to top universities worldwide and offers a wide range of A-level subjects with tailored university applications and career guidance.

Student Teacher Ratio
Small-size classes are provided, as noted for the Sixth Form College.

Exam Results
IGCSE students attain well beyond their predicted potential. Examinations are written in Term 1 and Term 3 in fourteen subjects.

Higher Education Progression
Chadsworth Sixth Form College delivers the National Curriculum for England and provides the best pathway to top universities in the UK, USA, Canada, Europe and other parts of the world, with a wide choice of A-level subjects and tailored career guidance and university applications.

Gifted and Talented
The extracurricular programme includes academic extension, indicating opportunities for advanced learners within CIS's activities.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school places pastoral care at the core of its approach. The Pastoral Support Team includes the Head of Junior School, the Designated Safeguarding Leads (Assistant Head Teachers), the School Counsellor and the Key Stage Coordinators. The environment is designed to be safe, happy, confident and fulfilled, with a culture of kindness that helps students to thrive. The school works with parents, support staff and outreach agencies to support the progress of individual pupils, recognizing that pastoral care and academic success are interwoven. Each child has a dedicated class teacher and teaching assistant who provide daily support and guidance.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is a focus of the school's welfare approach. Staff are well-trained to identify welfare and safeguarding needs and to support students' emotional health. The School Counsellor provides confidential support and guidance to pupils. The daily supportive environment fosters resilience, self-esteem and positive relationships. The school partners with families to support wellbeing through strong home–school collaboration.

Safeguarding
The school has a safeguarding policy with a dedicated safeguarding team. The Pastoral Care Team includes the Designated Safeguarding Leads and other senior staff. Safeguarding training occurs for all staff, with safeguarding briefings at the start of the year and for any staff involved in extracurricular activities. The policy uses a 16‑point checklist and requires staff to read Keeping Children Safe in Education Part 1 and sign to confirm completion. Safeguarding follows Lagos state child protection regulations, and there are established channels to report concerns via the school's safeguarding contacts.
Parent Experience

Community
Three schools operate on a single secure campus: the Junior School (Nursery to Year 6), the Senior School (Year 7 to IGCSE Year 11) and the Sixth Form College. They follow a British curriculum, delivering the English National Curriculum content and skills and adding local context. A vibrant extracurricular program runs after school, with teacher-led clubs and externally led clubs, including activities such as writing, swimming, football, French, coding, creative dance and craft, as well as Ballet, Fencing, Gymnastics and Taekwondo. Pastoral care is a priority, with a dedicated Pastoral Care Team and safeguarding, and strong homedschool partnerships.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school offers day and boarding education for children aged 2 years & 6 months - 18 years. Plot 8 Amore Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. The boarding house sits within the school campus and has its own grounds, sports facilities, and dining hall, with boarders able to use the wider school facilities. The school delivers the National Curriculum for England with Foundation Stage to Key Stage 3, and specialist teaching in Music, Art, Computing, French, Physical Education and Swimming, plus African Studies. The Extra-Curricular program includes both Teacher-Led and Externally Led Clubs, with activities such as Swimming, Football, French, Coding, Ballet, Fencing, Gymnastics and Taekwondo.

Sports Facilities
The boarding house has on-site grounds and sports facilities on campus.

Academic Facilities
The school delivers the National Curriculum for England. Foundation Stage covers children aged two and a half to 5 years, followed by Key Stages 1 and 2, with students moving into CIS Secondary School for Key Stage 3. All Year Groups in Key Stages 1 and 2 have lessons in English, Mathematics, Science, PSHEE, and Topic (History, Geography and Religious Education). Specialist teachers deliver Music, Art, Computing, French, Physical Education and Swimming each week, and African Studies is incorporated.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The Extra-Curricular program includes Teacher-Led Clubs and Externally Led Clubs. Teacher-led clubs include Writing Skills, Swimming, Football, French, Coding, Creative Dance, Craft and more. Externally led clubs are run by specialist coaches and include Ballet, Fencing, Gymnastics and Taekwondo.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The Duke of Edinburgh International Award is offered for ages 14 to 24. Lunchtime Activities include Chess Club, Book Club and Creative Writing, and Green Team. After School Activities include Art, Debate and Press, ICT (coding, robotics and animation), Film School (filmmaking, drama, media and photography), and the Business and Enterprise (Forbes) Club. Volt Club is a student-led volunteering initiative that enables students to give back to the community.

Arts & Creative
Film School includes filmmaking, drama, media and photography, with opportunities to participate in film awards and festivals. Art is offered as an after-school activity, and Book Club and Creative Writing develop creative expression and writing skills. Design and Technology includes cookery, woodwork and dressmaking.

Cultural & Language
French is offered as a teacher-led language club.

Social & Hobbies
Chess Club enables competition at local and international levels. Book Club and Creative Writing develop reading and writing skills and provide opportunities to compete. Externally led clubs include Ballet, Fencing, Gymnastics and Taekwondo. Debate and Press and Volt Club offer additional social and extracurricular engagement.

Community & Service
Volt Club is a student-led club that aims to make a difference in the lives of the less privileged members of our immediate community and host country.

Leadership & Professional
The Duke of Edinburgh International Award develops leadership and life skills for students aged 14 to 24. The Business and Enterprise (Forbes) Club introduces entrepreneurship and includes talks with successful business leaders.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sports include football, basketball, swimming, volleyball, lawn and table tennis. Green Team focuses on environmental friendliness as part of sustainable development goals.
Languages

Language Provision
French and Spanish are taught as part of the National Curriculum for England. French is taught in the Junior School with an on-going programme of study focusing on speaking and listening. In Senior School, Spanish is included in Key Stage 3 and in IGCSE options.
Admissions

Admissions
Applications for a place are accepted throughout the year. Each offer of a place is carefully considered and requires the submission of a formal application, a meeting with senior staff and, for all but our youngest children, an entrance examination. Examinations are scheduled as follows: Year 7 testing takes place in November and January prior to entry; Sixth Form scholarship papers are taken in March; assessments for all other year groups are scheduled throughout the year. CIS is academically selective and many year groups are oversubscribed. Early applications are strongly recommended. Plot 8 Amore Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. Phone: +234 9062977064 / +234 9062 684 338.
School Events
The school has not added events
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