Nairobi has excellent schools teaching both the British and the American curriculum. Both prepare children well for university anywhere. The differences are in structure, assessment and the qualifications at the end.
Year groups and grades
- British: year groups from Reception, with Year 1 starting at age five (by age on 1 September).
- American: grades from Kindergarten, with Grade 1 starting at about age six.
So a British Year 2 child is usually of US Grade 1 age. A child moving between the systems moves by age, which can make the numbers look like a skipped or repeated year when it isn't.
How learning is organised
The British National Curriculum sets out what is learned in each subject, year by year, measured against national expectations. American schools typically follow state or national standards, with more variation between schools and more continuous coursework grading in the later years.
How progress is measured
- British: progress against national expectations for each age, reported as working towards, at, or beyond the standard; later, IGCSE at 16 and A-levels at 18.
- American: grades and a grade point average built across high school, with standardised tests and Advanced Placement courses.
The road to university
Both are recognised by universities worldwide. A-levels are specialised (usually three or four subjects); the American high school diploma is broader. Families with a clear destination country often lean towards that country's system.
Choosing between them
- Where is your family likely to be in five or ten years?
- Does your child thrive with a clear sequence and benchmarks, or with broader choice?
- Which year group or grade would your child join, and does the school explain why?
At Elyton
Elyton teaches the British National Curriculum from the Early Years to Year 6. Check where your child would start with our year group finder.
