About Us
Our Aims & Ethos
‘Throughout the school pupils benefit from the strong emphasis on valuing the individual child within the context of a school that has a strong family and community ethos.’
- SIS Inspection Report, 2018
Pembroke House is a unique British boarding school in the heart of Kenya. We are a small, multicultural school of around 200 pupils, and cater for boys and girls aged 6 months - 13 years. We have a 90 year history of private education in East Africa, and our focus is on developing well-rounded, happy, independent, polite and confident pupils. Our Head is a member of the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS) and we follow the British Common Entrance curriculum. Our pupils go on to top international schools in the UK, Kenya and elsewhere around the world, with a high percentage achieving scholarships and awards to their next schools. We also have a large Learning Support department, which ensures we recognise specific learning needs early on, and then have the time and expertise to help children develop key skills.
At Pembroke, the welfare, safety, happiness and security of all our children is paramount. The vision is to bring out the best in every child, both in and out of the classroom. Our motivation is to provide a small, family atmosphere and instil our school values of dignity, duty and constancy. We strongly believe that the ‘Pembroke Spirit’ is something to be valued and nurtured.
However, many of these things are intangible and very difficult to capture on a website or in a prospectus. So please don’t take our word for it – come and visit to see for yourself.
Pembroke History
Pembroke House has a long tradition of quality schooling in East Africa, and is now more than 90 years old. It was named after the Cambridge College attended by its founder Headmaster, Harold Turner, who established the school in 1927 and conducted it, from the outset, on the lines of a traditional British preparatory school. This tradition has continued ever since.
Mr Turner purchased the unfinished farmhouse and 100 acres just outside of Gilgil from Captain Alan Gibson, after Gibson’s plan to farm flax failed. The original building now sits at the heart of the school buildings, and the school has understandably undergone a huge number of changes since its inception. Some of the most significant of these have been the improvement of roads, which helped to increase the number of sporting fixtures and develop the sporting prowess for which Pembroke has become renowned; the building of the Christina Chapel by the pupils in the 1950s, with its size determined by all the boys sitting in the proposed space and measuring around them; the introduction of girls to the school in 1988, after it was recognised that this was necessary for its long-term viability; constant additions and improvements to buildings, including the development of a dedicated Science Laboratory, STEAM centre, Music School, Theatre and Cafe, all of which are valuable resources; and the development of the Pre-Prep in recent years, which has proved hugely popular with local parents and contributed significantly to EYFS learning and pupils’ integration into the school from an early age.
The school has been owned by Kenya Educational Trust Limited since 1959. This body, accepted by guarantee without having a share capital, is an independent institution with all income received devoted to the management and improvement of the school. The British Common Entrance requirements are central to the school’s academic aims, standards and expectations.
The school’s motto is ‘Fortuna Favet Fortibus’ which means Fortune Favours the Brave. The emblem is the Martlet bird, which is a mythical, legless creature that represents the ceaseless pursuit of learning. The Martlet’s inability to land is considered symbolic of the constant quest for knowledge, and has led to the little bird being used in the arms of several schools and universities around the world.
Meet the Head
I am very excited to be the Headmistress of Pembroke. My career at Pembroke has spanned over 15years, during which time I have worked in a number of different roles. I spent many years teaching Geography and being a class teacher in the Junior School, as well as being Housemistress of both Scholes and Mackie Houses along the way. I was then Headmistress for seven years between 2009 and 2016 and during this time it was rewarding to watch the school develop, confidence grow, and the numbers swell from 134 when I began, to 227 as I left.
I have really enjoyed having some time out and the chance to be at home with Robin and offer somewhat more support to my children Jemma, James and Georgina. In hindsight these years could be seen as a sabbatical, and the opportunity to have some ‘time’ and learn in other ways has been a wonderful gift. Being a little older has perhaps added a touch more perspective and hopefully what I might lack in youthfulness is offset by the benefit of extra experience. I am very much enjoying my new tour of duty at school and look forward to all I can add in the coming months and years. The values fundamental to the ethos of Pembroke will always remain the same: courage, good manners, kindness and always trying to do your best. However, the world marches on and there are many challenges to face in our modern-day life, as well as much to embrace in the educational environment of today.
Mrs Deborah Boyd-Moss
Meet the Council
RICHARD VIGNE
Billy Coulson
Graham Kayes
Thomas Wright
Edmund Lovatt
Alexandre Liebeskind
HENRY KNIGHT
Millie Seagon
Mary Murigah
Humphrey Nzeyi
Winnie Guchu
Staff
‘Teachers provide good models in the courteous manner in which they interact with pupils and in their insistence on good behaviour at all times. The staff show great understanding and care, and these factors help pupils to develop a strong sense of self-esteem and self-confidence.’
- SIS Inspection Report, 2018
Pembroke has a large team of dedicated professionals who are committed to the quality education and welfare of all our children. We have an excellent pupil to staff ratio of 6:1, which ensures that children receive the support and encouragement they need, across all areas of school life. Staff are drawn from international and local backgrounds, and we always look for staff who can prove their commitment and passion in our very busy boarding school environment. They must also have relevant qualifications and experience, to ensure that we are offering the best to all pupils. Staff undertake ongoing Safeguarding training and professional development throughout the year. Prospective staff must pass rigorous safer recruitment procedures to ensure the safety of our pupils.
In addition to teaching and administrative staff, we also have a large team of dedicated and hard-working support staff. Many of these people have a long history of working at Pembroke, and their value and importance cannot be underestimated.
Meet the Team
Mrs Deborah Boyd-Moss
Mr Mike Aung
Mr Paul Odera
Miss Ali Omell
Mrs Chantal Cillie Trevor
Mrs Evonne Wheeler
Mrs Laelia Surtees
Mrs Catherine Gatheru - Therenja
Mrs Celina Ritchie
Mrs Alison Letcher
Mr Henry Snow
Mr John Wright
Miss Alice Matthews
Mrs Alex Standen McDougal
Sister Purity Nyambura
Mr Michael Amaru
Mrs Katrina Dingley
Mrs MJ Nuijten-Coulson
Mr Ian Adams
Mrs Katie Aung
Ms Hilary Davidson
Mrs Louise Foxton
MRS DANI GOODCHILD
Ms Ash Harrold
Mr Ed Hawkins
Mrs Cathrine Jensen
MS EMILY KILONZO
Ms Kaila Miller
ms Sally Ronaldson
MS EMILY ROWE
Mrs Judy Wairimu
Mr James Standen McDougal
Mrs Barbara Terry
mrs Ginny Shambarla
mrs Kirsty Rust
mrs Heather Clarke
mrs Catherine Forsayeth
mrs Carol Ngori
Mr Victor Juma
Mr Sammy Likoko
ms Sam Stone-Wigg
Tiva Herbert-Arkle
mrs Wambura Mitaru
Mr JOHN MICHUKI
MR ISAAC NDEGWA
Mr Peter Maina
Ms Fran Pim-Kaime
mr Toby Blake
Mrs Lydia Njuguna
Mr Evanson Ndungu
Mrs Terry Mwangi
Mrs Ann Wanjiru Mutegi
Mr Obadiah Nyabaro
David Kuria Macharia
Esther Muthama
Mrs Janet Ogola-Opondo
Sister Winnie Nyambura
Sister Mildred Chabwanga
Sister Josephine Gakii Muriira
Sister Leah Wangechi Thimba
Ian rono
Mrs Shivani Shah
Miss Scolastica Nyambura
Mr. Seth Gumbo
Miss Colleta Njure
Miss Faith Kongogo
Miss Evalyne Njuguna
Miss Teresiah Gachanja
Inspection Report
In 2018, the school underwent a full inspection by the School Inspection Service. We were judged Outstanding in the areas of Pupils’ Personal Development and Effectiveness of Boarding Provision.
Read the full British Schools Overseas (BSO) Inspection Report for Pembroke House School here:
SIS Inspection Full Report 2018.
In February 2020, the school also underwent a compliance inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. The Standards for British Schools Oversees have all been met for accreditation.
Read the full British Schools Overseas (BSO) Inspection Report for Pembroke House School here:
ISI Inspection Full Report 2020.
Policies
We have policies for all areas of school life. These provide important guidelines to help govern the consistent and professional running of the school in a broad context. Links to our key policies are provided below, but all school policies are available upon request.
- Admissions Policy
- Anti Bullying Policy (Including Anti-Cyber Bullying)
- Behaviour & Discipline Policy
- Boarding Policy
- CCTV Policy
- Curriculum Policy
- Data Protection Policy
- Data Retention and Disposal Policy
- Early Years Policy
- English as an Additional Language Policy
- Equal Opportunity and Ethnic Diversity Policy
- Kenyanisation Policy
- Learning Support Policy
- Medical & First Aid Policy
- Health & Safety Policy
- Pandemic Policy
- Parents’ Complaint Procedure Policy
- Photography and Video Policy
- Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
- School and Website Privacy Policy
- Whistle Blowing Policy
Term Dates
As a general guide, the Michaelmas term runs from the beginning of September until early December; the Lent term is from early January until late March/before Easter; the Trinity term is from late April until early July. These are usually in line with other Kenyan IAPS schools to allow for match fixtures and other inter-school events.
The complete calendar for each term is available in soft and hard copy for current parents.
Please find Pembroke Term Dates below.
#WhereChildrenBelong #UniqueSpirit #KenyaPrepSchool #martletmoments #everychildmatters #everymomentcounts
