Senior school

Our eager children have a real thirst for learning and our excellent staff team are committed and dedicated in ensuring that each and every child achieves. We have high standards and expect the best.

Our Senior School admits boys within the age of 14 – 18. At Senior School level the main focus is acquisition of academic knowledge. Students are taught a variety of subjects and prepared for examination-based assessment.

When advancing from primary school to secondary school, students have an option of continuing with the second stage of the 8-4-4 curriculum (K.C.S.E) or joining the I.G.C.S.E curricula.

In addition to classroom teaching our Senior school program places an emphasis on discipline – the second element of our school ethos as expressed in our motto: Bonitas, Disciplina, Scientia (Goodness, Discipline, Knowledge).

Most of our seniors are boys who have spent their primary school years in the school and so are already soaked in our holistic education culture, hence they continue to develop friendships they made in primary school and develop talents they discovered as juniors and this gives them a strong sense of identity and personal confidence.

In our Senior School, students are prepared for either the KCSE (the second stage of the 8-4-4 curriculum) or IGCSE. While in Senior School , the students are encouraged to strive for academic excellence whilst fulfilling their potential in co-curricular activities. In these co-curricular activities a student’s time is spent learning about himself, God and the world around him.

We place an added emphasis on Sports, Music, Drama and the Arts. Many of our seniors play Rugby, Basketballand Soccer. Others play a musical instrument or participate in our Annual Musical as actors, technical crew or musicians. This all makes for a broad curriculum that develops the student in and out of class. Case in point being our famous Rugby team which most of our seniors play in.

The team has acquired a penchant of producing some of Kenya’s finest Rugby Players. In fact two of the school’s former students are in the Country’s triumphant National Rugby Sevens team. Not to mention, the many Saints who now play roles in the Sports’ growth in the country as Coaches, Players and Event Facilitators. The current team consists of 22 players, 8 of who are in Clubs already. Two of the team members played in the Kenyan U-20 squad at the recent IRB Junior World Rugby Tournament.

As far as the Musical is concerned many of our seniors have gone on to become performing artistes, entertainers and Media personalities of note thanks to this broad curricula that emphasizes excellence in and out of class.

KCSE Curricula & Entry Requirements

KCSE is the second examinantion phase in the Kenyan 8-4-4 education system

It is reputable because it gives students a broad understanding of everyday life. Its curricula encompasses humanities and sciences that are relevant to the social,economical and political speheres of life. The curricula is in-depth in nature and prompts learners to be self-disciplined,organised and thorough.

Further, because the sytem is grades based it develops students to be self-motivated knowledgeable individuals. Also, the system is exam focused and is recognised the world over.

Many parents who choose the KCSE route at St Mary’s do so because they want their children to benefit from the system’s rigorous training. They appreciate that the broad curricula gives students a lot of options to decide what to specialise in once in college.

The program takes four years. It ends with the final assessment: The KCSE exam done in form four which tests students theory and pract ical knowledge of subjects covered.

IGCSE Curricula & Entry Requirements

IGCSE stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education 

IGCSE or the Cambridge IGCSE program as it is commonly known is a popular academic program as it offers students international career opportunities. The program  develops students’ skills in creative thinking, enquiry and problem solving, and gives them excellent preparation for their senior high school years and university education.

There are many pluses to the program,

  • First it is recognised by many universities worldwide
  • Also the program does more than teach the coursework; instead it encourages the student to research, be inquisitive and global in understanding of issues. Consequently, students grow to be thoughtful, knowledgeable world citizens.
  • The program is popular with parents who want their children to get a varied curricula that would prepare them to continue their studies overseas.

Our IGCSE Secondary curriculum runs from year eight to eleven with the last two years comprising of the actual IGCSE examination curriculum. Pupils from the Std 7 can proceed to year eight of this program. The program is also adapted to enable those who have completed Std 8 to proceed to year nine of the program.

Admissions - Senior School

Interviews for admission to Form 1, Year 8 and Year 9 for the next year take place in September, and students wishing to join the school must take entrance tests in Maths, English and General paper, to allow for accurate class placement. Interviews for our pre-university IB diploma programme are oral.
Please note that a non-refundable registration fee usually accompanies applications for admission for IB.If the application process and interviews are successful, an admission offer is made to the applicant in writing.
For other forms , admission takes place throughout the year and students wishing to join the school must take entrance tests in Maths and English, with restrictions in Form 3 and Year 10.
To begin the admission process please complete the application form and submit it to us. In addition to the application form remember to submit the following:
  1. Recommendation letter from current school.
  2. Birth certificate (copy).
  3. Recent academic reports (at least for the last three school terms).
  4. 2 recent passport size photographs.