Boarding

Welcome to Toad Hall, where students grow in independence

Boarding at Hillcrest is seen as a valuable opportunity for our students to grow in independence while they enhance their learning experiences. Our philosophy and approach is very much in keeping with our vision of inspiring each child to achieve personal excellence as a valuable member of our global community and we support every aspect of your child’s development — educational and social.

Offering a safe and secure family environment, boarding at Hillcrest offers every student the opportunity to live and learn in a caring, purposeful and multicultural community and their care is of paramount importance.

'Toadies', as we call our boarding children, are members of a strong community in which they feel safe and happy as they grow into responsible adults.

We warmly invite you to come and visit us at Toad Hall so you can see for yourself our wonderful new facilities and to meet the team.

About Us

Toad Hall, a home away from home

Toad Hall is a modern and comfortable boarding facility with spacious, airy rooms and a communal area, offering a cosy, family-style environment. One wing of the house is dedicated to the girls and another to the boys with spacious rooms for two students. The senior students get to enjoy the privilege of a single room. The houses are run by dedicated house parents assisted by a male and a female nurse, who reside in the boys’ and girls’ sections respectively.

All boarders are given opportunities to contribute their views during weekly student meetings where good behaviour is rewarded by house parents.

‘Toadies’ enjoy excellent meals created by our in-house catering team. All meals are served in the house dining room with the exception of weekday lunches, which are eaten in School. A family-style setting is preferred for meals in Toad Hall, with the children mixing in all ages on tables and each table being joined by a staff member.

Our excellent kitchen team offer a wide array of tasty, healthy meals that cater to all the different tastes represented in the Hillcrest Boarding family, which responds to the individual dietary requirements.

Children of all faith are encouraged to express their beliefs in an appropriate manner. Arrangements for attendance of mosque, church, synagogue or any other place of worship are made through the boarding parents.

A flexible approach to boarding

Hillcrest offers a flexible approach to boarding, with the option of flexi, weekly and full boarding to students aged 10–18 years.

  • Full boarding provides a term-long stay for students, including weekends.
  • Weekly boarding runs from Monday morning to Friday afternoon and excludes the weekends.
  • Flexi boarding provides an on campus stay for students that select a few nights to stay during the term

Boarding Facilities

Our boarding facilities are made up of three purpose built buildings: a girls’ boarding house on two floors with 18 twin rooms and bathrooms; a boys’ boarding house on two floors with 18 twin rooms and bathrooms and a large shared common building, housing the kitchen, laundry, tv room, nurses’ station, dining area and lounge. The lounge has lots of comfy seating, tables for doing projects or homework, a pool table and a large screen and projector for movie nights.

Outside, we have a landscaped garden with picnic benches as well as a basketball court. Boarders all have full use of the Secondary School facilities, including the 25m swimming pool, squash courts, cricket nets and playing fields.

Nurse station

Our two nurses reside in the boarding house and are always on hand to listen to students and offer medical care around the clock. Whether it is dispensing medication prescribed by the doctor, or attending to an emergency, they deal with the situation efficiently and with big smiles, that always encourages the unwell students that all will be well. The nurses have many years of professional experience in the nursing field and a great deal of patience which helps them attend to all the medical needs of our boarders.

Weekend Activities

Weekends of fun

The weekends include a well-planned programme of external activities that range from go-karting to paintballing and ice-cream making.

'Toadies' also have full access to school facilities (swimming pool, gym, IT labs, basketball and squash courts, etc.) in their leisure time.

Our internet access allows students to get in touch with their families, do research or complete assignments posted on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) by their teachers.

Boarding Team

The boarding team consists of house parents and a resident nurse. House parents are professional teachers with many years of experience in international schools. Being parents themselves, they have more than enough patience to offer support to all boarders and encourage them to attain their best. The nurse is are always there to listen to students and offer medical care round the clock.

Contact Us

Secondary School

Office Tel: 020-8067783/4

Office Cell: +254724-255444, +254733-255442

General Enquiries

Secondary: admin@hillcrest.ac.ke

Admissions Enquiries

Secondary: admissionssecondary@hillcrest.ac.ke

GL Education Assessment Excellence
Council of International Schools
Council of British International Schools
Independent Schools Inspectorate
Cambridge International Examinations
Kenyan International Schools Association
BTEC Level 3
Association of International Schools in Africa
The Independent Association of Prep Schools