We were delighted to welcome local Kenyan families to our UK Boarding Schools Expo in Nairobi. Over three days and three venues across the city, parents and students met representatives from 12 outstanding UK boarding schools. By having face-to-face conversations directly with school representative, parents were able to explore the opportunities a UK boarding education could offer their children, especially in comparison to local offerings.
This expo built upon the success of our previous visits to East Africa and continued to strengthen the bond between prospective students and UK schools. We’ve been supporting East African families in their UK education journey for over 10 years, and several of our staff have lived in Kenya. This history results in us visiting regularly to meet with local families, run our own events in the region, and even take students on volunteer and educational trips in Kenya.
Academic Families UK Boarding Schools Expo in Kenya 2026
When: 16:30 - 19:00
Where: Zen Garden
When: 10:00 - 17:00
Where: The Village Market
When: 11:30 - 17:30
Where: The Hub Karen
From thoughtful one-on-one conversations to lively discussions about academic ambitions, school support and life in the UK, the expo was a wonderful success.
Kenyan families had the opportunity to speak with school representatives and our own Admissions Experts to ask their most pressing questions and discover which schools may be best for their child.
The UK has become an increasingly popular destination for East African students seeking a high-quality boarding school experience. Students from this region thrive in the well-rounded environment UK schools provide - where academic success is balanced with enriching extracurriculars. UK boarding schools offer a holistic education that equips students for life beyond the classroom, with hands-on learning opportunities, exposure to new cultures, and pathways to top UK universities.
One of our students, Flora, is from Kenya and has been excelling at Eastbourne College, an exhibitor who joined us at the expo. In an interview with us for Upmarket Magazine, Flora shared:
"I enjoyed learning in Kenya, but I wanted to try studying in a different place. I had friends who spent Year 9 at UK boarding schools and enjoyed it – that inspired me to do the same. I’ve gained so much by experiencing other places and cultures firsthand.”
Flora's story reflects the transformative power of a UK education, and we are proud to have helped her on this journey.
Every child is different, and choosing a boarding school is about far more than rankings or a familiar name. It is about finding the environment in which a child can feel supported, explore their special interests, discover new strengths and thrive.
Throughout the weekend, we had the privilege of listening to many wonderful families and helping them identify boarding schools with the potential to transform their children’s lives.
These might include a pupil looking for greater academic challenge, a talented young athlete seeking specialist coaching, or a family wanting a nurturing community where their child can grow in confidence.
At the UK Boarding Schools Expo, one particular family was interested in schools with dance specialisms for their daughter who is a gifted ballet dancer. Our Admissions Experts were able to direct the family to Roedean School, Bede’s School and Eastbourne College, who all have fantastic dance specialisms.
Is your child also a talented dancer? Check out our list of top ten UK boarding schools for dance.
We are grateful to every family who joined us, asked questions and shared their hopes for the future. We also thank the participating schools for bringing their expertise and giving families a genuine insight into their communities.
These schools showcased the diversity among UK boarding schools - with a myriad of options in extracurricular specialisations, boarding styles and locations across the UK.
Every family had the chance to engage directly with 12 school representatives, and our Admissions Team were on hand to guide them through the process of selecting the best school to fit their child’s unique needs.
Beyond the expo, several members of the Academic Families team have lived in East Africa and had the opportunity to share their love of the region with attending families and the boarding school representatives during the trip to Kenya.
“[The Expo] was exceptionally well organised and a genuinely positive experience. Academic Families created an event that provided beneficial professional opportunities, and was also personally enjoyable. Thank you for such a positive few days.”
- Mat Chataway, Senior Deputy Head and Vice Principal at Kingswood School
Via an exciting partnership with Alive and Kicking, a local charity and the world's only not-for-profit football manufacturer, Academic Families gifted the attending schools with bespoke footballs with the Academic Families and boarding school logos.
Alive and Kicking creates ethical jobs for adults from vulnerable groups. We visit Alive and Kicking with students during our volunteer and educational trips to Kenya, and it was rewarding to partner with them again for this project.
For families who could not attend our UK Boarding Schools Expo, the conversation does not end here. We work closely with parents and pupils to understand their priorities, recommend suitable schools and guide them through each stage of the admissions journey - from initial research and applications to preparation for a successful start.
Once a pupil has secured a place, we can also provide guardianship while they are studying in the UK. Our gold-standard guardianship service gives families a trusted point of contact in Great Britain and helps pupils feel supported throughout school terms, exeat weekends and holidays.
If you would like help finding the right overseas boarding school for your child or want to learn more about guardianship in the UK, we would be delighted to speak with you. Contact us today to begin the process of transforming your child’s academic dreams.
This article appears in the following categories Academic Families News, School Admissions
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