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Kennedy House International School

Tanzania, Arusha

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees TZS 3,669 - 13,687
Ages 2 - 13 years
Pupil numbers 100
Type Co-educational
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), British Curriculum
Taught languages Swahili, French
Typical class size 12
Strengths Sport, Languages, Outdoor Education
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Early Years, Preschool, Primary School, Middle School
Introduction

Kennedy House International School offers the Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary curriculum within a UK framework for ages 2 to 13. Located on a 20‑acre campus in Usa River, Arusha, Tanzania, the school combines English national standards with a Tanzanian context, including Swahili studies and explorations of local culture, history and geography. The on‑site facilities support active learning: a 25‑metre swimming pool, extensive playing fields for cricket, hockey, rugby, football and athletics, hard‑court tennis and netball, three cricket nets and a 1km cross‑country track; an Early Years play area and a treehouse encourage outdoor discovery. Inside, a science laboratory with video microscopes, a mezzanine library, and ICT‑enabled spaces underpin inquiry. A dedicated music suite hosts vocal and instrumental lessons; LAMDA examinations certify communications skills. Small class sizes (about 1:12) and termly drama productions, field trips to Mt Meru and Maasai villages, and a student wellbeing curriculum complete the international experience.

The Essentials

Kennedy House International School has 100 pupils, typical class sizes of 12, instruction in English.

Location
Located in Usa River, Tanzania, on the outskirts of Usa River, about a 30-minute drive from Arusha. The campus sits on 20 acres in a rural setting. It is served by a daily door-to-door minibus service for families living in Arusha.

Stages
Early Years/Foundation Stage and Primary (Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 3). Pupils aged 2-13.

Type
International Cambridge Curriculum primary school (UK Cambridge Curriculum; Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary).

Country affiliation
United Kingdom

School day structure
The school day starts with drop-off at 7:45am and ends with activities until 4:00pm.

Bus service
Daily door-to-door minibus service to Arusha.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The school has a uniform. Uniform is to be paid for at the uniform shop at school and is not included in the above fees.

Food Options
School meals are optional. Snack & Lunch for Nursery–Year 4 costs USD 300 per term; Snack & Lunch for Year 5–Year 8 costs USD 350 per term; Lunch only for Nursery–Year 4 costs USD 200 per term; Lunch only for Year 5–Year 8 costs USD 250 per term; Snack only for Nursery–Year 4 costs USD 100 per term; Snack only for Year 5–Year 8 costs USD 100 per term.

House System
The school uses a house system with inter-house events, including an inter-house swimming gala for Year 3-8.

Governance and Ownership
Kennedy House Limited is the company name used for Kennedy House International School's bank account.
Fees

Annual tuition at Kennedy House International School ranges from TZS 3,669 to TZS 13,687 for 2026/27.

Application and entry fees

- Non-returnable registration / application fee: USD 450 for a new pupil; USD 400 for a sibling (where applicable).
- Admission fee (one-off, payable at joining): USD 250 per child.
- Development fee (one-off, payable at joining): USD 400 per child.

Tuition fees (annual and per-term by year group)

- Pre-Nursery / Nursery / Preschool (3 days per week): Annual USD 3,669–3,798; payable in three equal terms (annual divided equally across Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3).
- Nursery / Preschool (5 days per week): Annual USD 6,156–6,371; payable in three equal terms.
- Reception: Annual USD 7,980–8,259; payable in three equal terms.
- Year 1 – Year 2: Annual USD 9,902–10,249; payable in three equal terms.
- Year 3 – Year 6: Annual USD 10,877–11,258; payable in three equal terms.
- Year 7 – Year 8: Annual USD 13,687–14,166; payable in three equal terms.

(Each of the annual tuition figures above is invoiced as three equal instalments; per-term instalment = annual tuition ÷ 3. The school's published term payment dates are used for invoicing and late-payment rules.)

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Billing schedule: Fees are split into three equal payments each academic year; typical payment dates are in August (Term 1), December (Term 2) and March (Term 3). Fees should be paid by bank transfer or cheque 14 days before the start of each term.
- Late payment: Late payments incur an additional charge of 10% on the outstanding amount for that term; this charge is added to the invoice for the following term. Continued non-payment can lead to exclusion and forfeiture of the pupil's place.
- Sibling discounts: A reduction schedule is applied by sibling order: second child 5% off fees, third child 10% off fees, and 12% off for each subsequent sibling.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not applicable; Kennedy House operates as a day school.

Other mandatory or optional costs

- School meals (optional): Snack & Lunch and other meal options are charged per term; examples shown in published schedules include amounts such as USD 300 (Snack & Lunch for younger years) up to USD 380 per term for older years, with separate per-term pricing for lunch-only or snack-only options. Meal charges are invoiced in addition to tuition.
- School transport (optional): Sample published route charges (per term) include an Arusha–Kennedy House return route (approximately USD 350–425 per term) and a Usa River–Kennedy House route (approximately USD 230–250 per term). Transport is a separate charge and is invoiced per term.
- Uniform: Uniform cost is not included in tuition; uniform purchases are paid at the time of purchase from the school uniform shop (cash, direct bank deposit or cheque as listed).
- School trips and examination charges: School trips are charged separately and are not included in the standard tuition; examination fees (for example, Cambridge Year 6 Checkpoint or other externally assessed tests) may be invoiced separately.

Refunds and transfers

- Refund policy: Fees are neither refundable nor transferable. No refunds, reductions or set-offs are made for a child's absence or withdrawal from school. Continued non-payment can result in exclusion and the student's place being forfeited.

Fee payment options and banking details

- Accepted payment methods (published): bank transfer and cheque for term fees; uniform purchases may be paid in cash, by direct bank deposit or cheque. Specific account details are provided by the school for USD payments; the named account on published materials is KENNEDY HOUSE LIMITED with an Exim Bank (T) Ltd. USD account. Use the school's published bank details when making bank transfers.

Notes for parents

- Meals, transport, uniform, school trips and specified examination fees are additional to the yearly tuition and are invoiced separately. Parents should expect per-term invoices for tuition plus any selected optional services. Payment deadlines are enforced, and a 10% penalty is applied to late term balances.
Academics

Kennedy House International School teaches Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), British Curriculum for students aged 2 to 13.

Curriculum
The Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary curriculum is used, tailored to meet the needs of a diverse cohort. It provides a globally recognised benchmark at Primary and Lower Secondary levels. The curriculum is structured into Stages that align with the English year groups. Swahili is studied and learners explore Tanzania's culture, history and geography.

Student Teacher Ratio
Average class size: 12; student-teacher ratio 1:12.

Higher Education Progression
Pupils progress to senior schools in the United Kingdom or to international schools around the world.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school provides a holistic education which will allow pupils to develop socially, academically, physically and emotionally. The ethos emphasises developing children who are life-long learners, disciplined, creative and compassionate. The school cultivates a range of skills including confidence, resilience, and teamwork, and fosters a growth mind-set to turn challenges into opportunities. The school places emphasis on inclusivity and celebration of diversity within a multi-cultural community. Creativity is embedded across the curriculum, empowering the children to take charge of and reflect on their learning.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school has a Special Needs Teaching Assistant.

Mental Wellbeing
Wellbeing is prioritized; happiness and wellbeing are paramount. There is a weekly Wellbeing lesson and opportunities to talk about feelings during wellbeing activities.

Safeguarding
The school provides a secure, disciplined, caring and friendly environment in which children are able to grow.
Parent Experience

Community
Kennedy House has a welcoming, safe and happy community in Tanzania that celebrates diversity and values a multi-cultural environment. The school emphasizes partnership with parents and active involvement in school life. There are regular competitions, performances and events planned for the term, shared with parents via newsletters, the website and social media. A broad co-curricular program includes after-school activities such as kickboxing, gymnastics, knitting and woodwork, plus field trips and workshops, including nativity performances, a drama piece Evelyn the penguin saves the world, and a parent-led Aladdin pantomime.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Kennedy House International School sits on a 20-acre campus in Usa River, Arusha, Tanzania, with spectacular views of Mt Meru and Mt Kilimanjaro. The campus includes a 25-metre swimming pool for lessons and competitions. The grounds feature expansive playing fields for cricket, hockey, rugby, football, rounders and athletics, along with hard-court tennis and netball courts, three cricket nets and a 1km cross-country track, with routes nestled in surrounding avocado fields. A new Early Years play area and a treehouse in the playground support active outdoor learning. Learning spaces include a spacious library with an early-years area, a science laboratory and a music suite for arts and music lessons.

Sports Facilities
Sport is a core part of the education at Kennedy House, with expansive playing fields for cricket, hockey, rugby, football, rounders and athletics. Hard-court tennis and netball courts have been installed. There are three cricket nets and a 1km cross-country track on the grounds, with cross-country routes through the avocado fields.

Academic Facilities
The curriculum is based on the English National Curriculum and tailored to the diverse cohort, with opportunities to study Swahili and explore Tanzania's culture, history and geography. The Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary curriculums are used, organized into stages that align with the English system; the Cambridge curriculum is referenced for more information. The school also offers LAMDA Examinations to certify communications skills. A science laboratory is equipped with video microscopes and an interactive whiteboard, and a newly built library features ample shelves, an early-years cave, a mezzanine and ICT-enabled spaces for integrated lessons. A dedicated music suite supports music lessons, with private tuition available in guitar, flute, piano and singing.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Kennedy House provides a wide range of extracurricular activities, including a broad sports program with fixtures against other schools. Sports include touch rugby, rounders, tennis, football, hockey, kick boxing, athletics, taekwondo, cross country, swimming, cricket and netball. The school has a dedicated music room with instruments, a choir and private tuition in piano, guitar, drumming and singing. Drama is supported through termly plays and public speaking awards from LAMDA, with ballet lessons available. Field trips are an integral part of the education, with visits to Mt. Meru, Maasai villages, national parks, local farms and museums.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The curriculum is based on the Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary curriculum and tailored to meet the needs of a diverse cohort. It provides an internationally recognised benchmark at primary and middle levels while acknowledging the local Tanzanian context through Swahili language study and exploration of culture, history and geography. The Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary curricula are organized into stages that align with English year groups, with Cambridge Primary Checkpoint tests taken at the end of Year 6.

Arts & Creative
The school has a dedicated music room with instruments including a state-of-the-art piano, guitars and African drums. It has its own choir and offers private tuition in piano, guitar, drumming and singing. Inside Performing Arts, termly plays are staged, ballet is offered and pupils can pursue awards in public speaking through the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.

Cultural & Language
Swahili language study is offered in addition to the core Cambridge curriculum. Pupils learn about Tanzania's culture, history and geography as part of their studies. This combination supports a globally-conscious international education within the Cambridge framework.

Social & Hobbies
Kennedy House provides a broad range of extracurricular activities across sport, music, drama and field trips. Sport includes a wide roster such as touch rugby, rounders, tennis, football, hockey, kick boxing, athletics, taekwondo, cross-country, swimming, cricket and netball. The music program features a dedicated room, a choir, and private tuition, while drama and public speaking are supported through termly plays, ballet and London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts awards. Field trips take students to places such as Mt Meru, Maasai villages, national parks and museums.

Leadership & Professional
Students can take on leadership roles, including head boy and head girl who participate in assemblies and merit awards. The school emphasizes teamwork and citizenship as part of its ethos and prepares pupils for leadership in life beyond school.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Small class sizes (about 1:12) allow one-to-one attention and personalised support. On-site meals use locally sourced ingredients with a school garden, and vegetarian meals are offered daily with seasonal menus. Wellbeing is integrated through a wellbeing lesson on Fridays and assemblies that recognize merit and citizenship; swimming provides a high-quality fitness option with a 25-metre pool and a competitive swim program.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the language of instruction in the Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary curriculum, which is based on the English National Curriculum. Swahili is studied as part of the curriculum to learn about Tanzania's culture, history and geography.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Entry ages: Children can enter our pre-school from age 2, and can enter Reception in the September following their fourth birthday. Pupils can remain at Kennedy House until they are 13 and are prepared for entrance examinations to a variety of independent senior schools worldwide. The admissions page links to the fee structure, an application form and a medical form. 2. Visiting Kennedy House: Your next step is to visit Kennedy House to see first-hand the education and opportunities offered to your child. Contact the School Office or Headmistress Francie Charters to arrange an individual visit and a tour of the school. They can answer questions and discuss your child's needs. Appointments can be made by calling +255 (0) 689119788 or +255 (0)784222820. 3. Registering your child: If you would like to register your child, complete the application form (downloadable). There is a non-refundable registration fee of $450 and $400 for siblings in addition to school fees. The registration form can be downloaded from the site. 4. Further information: For additional information contact Linda Msolla in the School Office or use the enquiry form. Office Mon-Fri 8am-4pm.

Scholarships
Kennedy House offers bursaries to assist families in need. Bursaries are means-tested and resources are allocated on merit. To apply, contact the secretary or fill in the enquiry form.
School Events
The school has not added events
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