Nakuru Boys High School

History

Nakuru High School is one of Kenya's National Schools located in Nakuru Town, off Nakuru-Bahati Road. It borders Nakuru State House to the East. The school was founded in 1927 as Francis Scott High School but later renamed to Nakuru High School after Kenya attained independence in 1963. The first stone was laid by the then colonial governor Edward William Macleay Grigg. It has roughly 200 acres of land facing Menengai Crater. Initially the co-educational institution was reserved for children of the whites who lived in the outlying farming areas and British administrators. All teachers, masters (as they were called at the time) were also white. First formed as a boarding school, it still allowed day pupils (day-bugs) on condition that they lived around the school.

By the late 1950s, the school had grown to have a swimming pool, numerous rugby pitches, basketball courts, football pitches, hockey and cricket fields. The school also had well equipped learning resources. It had fully furbished classrooms, and science laboratories. Unique was the weather station where geography students took practical lessons. To keep up with its fast pace of growth, a large contingent of residential subordinate staff was employed.

After Kenya's independence in 1963, gradual changes followed including being renamed and the first admissions of children of African origin. The first black students who pioneered entry to the school suffered harsh racial discrimination from students of Asian descent. In 1964 the school was opened to girls, making it the only national co-educational school in the whole country. A few years later, black teachers were employed, and in 1982 the first black principal, Francis Kesui, was appointed to the school.

The school has consistently produced notable leaders, scholars, actors, players and countless professionals despite its relatively low ranking with other national schools in National Examinations. The school employs a holistic approach of child development where emphasis is put not only academic performance but also to co-curricula activities like swimming, martial arts, rugby, and drama. Rugby is a signature game for Nakuru High School. Multiple times has it dominated provincial rugby competition but has faced stiff competition at national level. It has also represented East Africa in martial arts. The Citizen TV program Tahidi High, for example, has a good number of Nakuru High School alumni.

Two schools in one

Before the school was split, it had the largest number of students in the country one stream having seven or eight classes each with students not less than 50 so that each year a class had between 300 and 450 students - a number equivalent to a whole school in most places. By mid-2000 this uncontrolled admission led to leaders calling for its split along gender lines. It was also arguable that despite being mixed, girls had their own classes and dining hall. The aim was to reduce the number to ease management and to subsequently improve academic performance. In 2006 the school was split into the current Nakuru Boys High School and Nakuru Girls High School. Both schools have since recorded noticeable improvement in KCSE performance.

School motto

Diligentia servo "Learn To Serve"

Academics

Nakuru High School is categorised as a national school, meaning it recruits students who do well from all over Kenya according to the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education(KCPE). The old education system (O-Level and A-Level System) consisted from first forms to sixth forms but after changes occurred it changed to first to fourth forms. The school offers a wide range of subjects which are all examinable in the final exam (KCSE) Maths English Kiswahili Physics Chemistry Biology Geography History Religious Education which are all mandatory during the first two yrs. Other subjects that one is required to choose only three are Business German French and Music Woodwork Computer Metalwork and others.