Excitement as Durham International School prepares to open new campus and senior school in September 2025

When a crowd breaks out in excited whispers and gasps, it’s clear they’ve seen something special. This has been the case over and over as Durham International School reveals plans for its new Rosslyn Campus in a series of information meetings for existing and prospective families.

The school has created a stir in Nairobi’s parent and education communities, and just as exciting for the Durham community is the remarkable speed at which the construction is progressing. As one parent looking ahead put it, “Durham is not only a place for our child; it’s also a place for us as parents.”

Rapid, structured growth has always been a part of the Durham story. The school has expanded exponentially in terms of student enrolment since first opening in January 2021. Stemming from a 600-year history of educational excellence, Durham International is now building a foundation in Kenya for generations to come.

The new Rosslyn Campus comes as Durham International announces a major expansion phase. It is set to open both the new campus and its Senior School on September 9, 2025, and is currently enrolling students through to Year 9. This growth will continue each year, so that students can attend Durham International through to age 18.

“In the past four years, Durham International School has grown into a well-known and respected international school here in Nairobi,” said Mrs Sue Small, Head of Prep School. “We are very excited about this next phase of the school’s expansion to offer students a comprehensive, all- through education.”

The new campus will feature a series of classroom blocks, thoughtfully designed, with each classroom featuring a dedicated outdoor learning area overlooking the valley and sports fields.

Specialised spaces, such as science and technology labs and music and art studios, will allow students to fully engage with subjects through hands- on, active learning.

The facility is designed to celebrate Kenya’s natural beauty and climate, with covered, open areas and an emphasis on green spaces, including a charming stream that runs through the campus. Sports facilities will include football pitches, a 25-metre 8-lane heated swimming pool, padel courts and multipurpose courts, supporting a diverse range of sports, including football, hockey, rugby, cricket, athletics, swimming, basketball, netball, and tennis.

Details of the Rosslyn Campus have only recently been made public, but the concept of a Senior School has been an ambition of Durham International since its launch. The facility has been meticulously planned.

 During the information meetings, the Durham International team has faced one common question – will the new campus be ready by September? The answer is a very confident “YES!” from Mr Arvind Raghwani, Director of Laxmanbhai Construction Ltd, the company responsible for the site build. “Construction is well underway and we are moving at a great pace. We have teams working in parallel in each of the areas of the site – the swimming pool, sports facilities, the classroom blocks, the external blocks and the service areas,” he explained. “In addition, all the procurement materials required the finishing have been pre-ordered. From the beginning, we planned this project with strict timelines in mind and are in a confident position to hand over the completed buildings in late July…so the school WILL open in September 2025. We do not expect any delays, and at the same time, we are making no compromises on quality.” The careful planning around the project’s timeline is a reflection of the care that has been put into every detail of the new campus. At every step prior to breaking ground, the Durham International team has taken a measured, thoughtful approach to ensure that execution would move as quickly as possible once construction began.

Mr Deepak Krishna from Team2 Architects, the lead architect and project manager, explained that the brief for the new campus echoes a central ambition of Durham International – enable the highest standards of international education, whilst creating a Kenyan identity and context. Mr Krishna addressed this with three key factors in the facility design: “Firstly, we have taken advantage of the Kenyan climate and environment by creating a covered outdoor area for each classroom to extend nature into the classroom and the classroom into nature. Secondly, the design is incorporated into the topography of the site by having the classroom blocks sunk into the existing slope. The school appears to grow out of the hill and has a look and feel more similar to a safari lodge than a typical school. And finally, the organic, free-flowing use of small, scattered classroom blocks draws from the traditional African concept of ‘bomas’, and gives a feel of community, which is at the heart of the social fabric of Kenya.”

The new campus design reveals an additional, ground-breaking ambition – to become the first EDGE Advanced certified school in the country. This is a prestigious sustainability certification, and would set a new benchmark for sustainable education, according to Mr Amrish Shah, the Principal of Urban Green Consultants, the project’s sustainability adviser.

“This commitment reflects a bold vision for the future – one where learning spaces are designed to be highly resource-efficient, healthier for students and aligned with global climate goals,” Mr Shah explained. “By integrating energy and water-saving measures alongside carbon-conscious design strategies, Durham is not only reducing its environmental footprint but also leading the way in shaping carbon-ready schools for the region.”

The new campus has been designed to reduce the need for artificial lighting and cooling by optimising natural light and shading. It will utilise efficient water systems, including efficient flush-flow fixtures and a wastewater recycling system for the school’s irrigation needs.

Further, the school is working to develop a solar power system and aims to offset nearly all of its energy needs. Within its first few years of operation, Durham International’s Rosslyn Campus seeks to become the region’s first net-zero carbon school, meaning it will generate more energy than it consumes.”

In opening a new campus and expanding their offering for Nairobi families, Durham International School is both investing in its future in Kenya, and adding to the local education sector.

Mrs Kathy Campbell, the newly appointed Head of Admissions and Communications at Durham International School, has worked with senior leadership teams at prominent boarding schools in the UK and has also consulted with parents in Nairobi to help them find the best schools for their children.

“With over 25 years of experience in the independent education sector in the UK, I can confidently say that Durham International’s new Rosslyn Campus offers an outstanding quality of education at the doorstep of Nairobi families. In my opinion, it will be on par with the boarding schools in the UK,” said Mrs Campbell.

Current Durham International families are enthusiastic about the expansion and happy to see their children continue with the school. In addition, there continues to be strong interest from both local and international parents looking for quality British education, with many already demonstrating their confidence through steady enrolment. “This is an exciting time to be part

of Durham,” said Mr Peter Harris, incoming Senior School Principal at Durham International School. “With a brand-new, purpose-built campus, a dedicated team of experienced staff, and a commitment to upholding our core values and ethos, we are creating an outstanding learning environment for our students.”

Registration is open for September 2025, and the school has opened a dedicated Admissions office at its Thigiri Campus, which will continue to house its Pre-Prep School.

To learn more or schedule a visit, families can contact Durham International’s Admissions team at www.durhamkenya.com, or book an appointment by contacting [email protected].