The first term of our 2022-2023 school year has been an exciting time at Durham Kenya, seeing the launch of Year 2, the opening of our new early childhood facility, sports field and tennis court, and a special visit from some of our colleagues in the UK! As we continue to grow, adding more opportunities, year groups and students, we are thrilled to nurture our working relationship with the wider Durham International Schools family, exchanging ideas and ensuring the same very special style of education across all of our institutions.
Durham Kenya opened in 2021 to a fantastic reception. At our Thigiri school in Nairobi, we are continuing a long history of academic excellence, stretching back to the founding of Durham School in 1414. The school first expanded internationally in 2019, with the opening of Durham School for Girls Doha in Qatar, and Durham School Dubai opened in August this year. We are proud to be a part of the Durham International Schools family, united by strong core values, a focus on academic achievement, and an understanding of the importance of a rich co-curricular programme.
In line with our mission to offer a world class education, we welcomed colleagues from Durham School UK and Durham International Schools to review our current curriculum and our plans for growth, as well as to offer our insights on what makes Durham Kenya such a special place.
We welcomed Kevin Hannah, Director of Operations at Durham International Schools, and April Davies, Early Years Lead at Durham School UK, both visiting for the first time. Ann Champion, former Early Years Lead at Durham School and one of our Governors, and Brijesh Bakhda, Durham International School Managing Director, also made return visits to Nairobi, having come to the school regularly since it was initially announced in 2020.
During a Coffee Morning with parents, Mr Hannah noted, “We are excited to be part of the education community of Nairobi, and will work closely with our sister school here to ensure it offers the same outstanding learning opportunities. We have a wonderful team of teachers, and a happy community.”
The Coffee Morning was a great opportunity for our Durham Kenya parents to meet with the team from the UK and learn more about our path forward as we continue to grow.
During his visit, Mr Hannah worked closely with the Durham Kenya leadership team on our plans for expansion, including the opening of Year 3 and Year 4 in September 2023 and our future primary school, which we hope to offer more news on in the near future.
Ms Davies and Ms Champion worked closely with Durham Kenya Headteacher Sue Small and our team of educators to conduct a quality assurance review of the school, offering inspiration and guidance from their experience in the UK. Our teachers at both schools regularly communicate to ensure that students in Nairobi are receiving a consistent education with those in Durham, incorporating the latest educational principles and engaging learning opportunities.
“Coming to Nairobi, the school here really does feel familiar, and you can sense a common identity with our school in the UK,” said Ms Davies. “It was wonderful to see how engaged the students are in their lessons, and we have full confidence in the calibre of education on offer at Durham Kenya.” Ms Davies noted that she was happy to share her expertise whilst also picking up ideas from the Durham Kenya team to take back to the UK.
This mutual exchange of insights is one of the strengths of Durham International Schools, benefiting students at all of our global institutions. United by our core values of Moral Integrity, Ambition, Responsibility and Kindness, the MARK of a Durham education, we aim to instill Confidence for Life and Respect for All!
