Beyond the Classroom
At Braeburn we aim to ensure that we maximise opportunities for children ‘beyond the classroom’. We believe that as well as enhancing their childhood experiences, this helps them to develop into well-rounded individuals with a wide range of skills that may be of use in their futures.
Arts – music, drama, art
Through our Creative Arts departments, all children are encouraged to take part in productions on our stage. We have three major productions each year as well as regular musical concerts, talent shows and class assemblies. LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) is offered as an extra-curricular activity to children in Years 3-8 and is taught by a qualified instructor. We have a number of peripatetic music teachers instructing in different musical instruments, including drums, string, brass and voice, with our most talented students participating in the annual ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) examinations. Braeburn students are encouraged to participate in local competitions and have had successes in annual events such as, ‘The Young Musician of the Year’, ‘The Nairobi Verse Speaking Competition’ and ‘The Badminton Cup for Drama’.
Braeburn boasts a huge range of sporting successes. As a member of IAPS (Independent Association for Preparatory Schools) and KAIIS (Kenya Association for Independent International Schools), we are fortunate to be able to compete with over twenty other schools in and around Nairobi over the course of the year. An average week will have between 10 and 15 sports fixtures taking place and tournaments for each of the major sports will be attended by our teams each term. Our ‘Sport For All‘ policy ensures that children of all abilities will be given opportunities to take part in competitive sport if they show commitment by attending the training sessions on offer. In addition, inter-house competitions in athletics, football, rugby, hockey, swimming, x-country, netball, cricket, rounders take place for all age groups.
The Tim Bryett Football Academy is a new initiative at Braeburn High School in partnership with the Tim Bryett Academy. It is designed to run as a professional academy similar to those run in Europe, with training 3 to 4 times per week using sports science monitoring. All team members are expected to maintain excellent academic grades and conduct. The aim is to give the players the opportunity to fulfil their ambition of working as a professional in the football industry, whether as a player, a coach, or a businessman, while at the same time making sure they excel in their school academic performance.
Tim Bryett, who has worked with multiple Pro Academies in England and coached the Kenyan Premier League, has a degree in Sports Management in addition to UEFA and CAF qualifications.
Braeburn swimmers compete both Nationally and Internationally. A rigorous training programme is offered to serious swimmers, who can choose to attend early morning or after-school sessions. Training camps also run over school holidays and include both land and water sessions. In recent years Braeburn swimmers have participated in: the World Championships; the All-Africa Games; the Commonwealth Games; the Africa Senior Swimming Championships; the Africa Junior Swimming Championships, and the International Children’s Games. Our swimming team includes National Champions and record holders for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Members from the team have received secondary school scholarships for swimming both in South Africa and in the United Kingdom. Our graduates have also received swimming scholarships for universities in the United States and Canada.
We know that our children are the future leaders of tomorrow. Our students are able to hone their leadership skills through the student council, becoming prefects or house captains. In addition, the Model United Nations and President’s Awards offer our students real-life opportunities to learn and excel in forums outside of school.
We ensure children are given opportunities to compete using all their gifts and talents. Academic competitions that take place include Writing competitions, Mathematics Challenges, quizzes and an annual inter-school Science Fayre, hosted by Braeburn. These encounters allow our children to compete with students in other international schools in Kenya, and occasionally, with schools elsewhere in the world.
At Braeburn we highly value learning outside the classroom. This may be through field trips and outdoor adventure trips, or simply taking lessons outside. We aim to ensure that each term, children will have at least one educational trip and from Year 3 up, one residential trip per year. Kenya has some wonderful outdoor adventure locations and our residential trips range from stunning beaches to renowned bushlands, and include a wide variety of activities such as deep-sea diving, kayaking and rock climbing. International trips in recent years have included skiing in Austria and an Art and Cultural trip to France.
Throughout their school career, Braeburn students are encouraged to be cognisant of the world around them, inclusive of people, animals and the environment. From an early age, our children learn that it is important to make a difference in the world and to be caring of those less fortunate than themselves. Through a variety of age-appropriate activities, students are encouraged to take part in charity events and to initiate their own fundraising occasions.
Career - work place experience
Careers’ guidance is given to Braeburn students to assist them in making informed decisions when choosing subjects for their public examinations. In addition, our annual Careers’ Fair and opportunities for work place experience, give students a chance to talk to, and be inspired by, a wide range of professionals.