TOP SCHOOLS IN GHANA
As most of us know, a positive, stable and supportive school environment complements a positive home environment, and is essential for a child to flourish. Access to qualified and experienced teachers, as well as high quality learning materials and technologies, gives them even greater opportunities to succeed. A school can, of course, also have a huge influence on its pupils’ social awareness and culture.
It’s no wonder then that, as parents, we put so much emphasis on choosing the right school for our children.
Sadly, many of Ghana’s government schools are under-funded and under-resourced, and therefore can only provide a basic education. So, most expats in the country opt to send their kids to one of the excellent international-standard private schools available, most of which are located in Accra.
We recommend the following top nursery, primary and high schools to our executive relocation clients and their families. We would be happy to arrange visits to them for you, and also handle the application and registration processes on your behalf. Please visit the Dwell Ghana School Search page for more info on our School Search Program.
NURSERY & KINDERGARTEN
Funhouse Nursery
Funhouse Nursery is a multinational and bi-lingual nursery school in Airport Residential area that offers a welcoming, friendly and stimulating atmosphere. It can accommodate up to 80 children from the ages of 15 months to 6 years.
The nursery is divided in 3 levels:
> Funhouse nursery baby / toddlers’ program from 15 months to 2,5 years: to develop your child’s gross/fine motor skills, language/cognitive skills and assess his/her physical and emotional development.
> Funhouse transitional program from 2,5 to 4 years: to prepare for the transition from preschool to a more formalised school education.
> Funhouse advanced transitional program from 4 to 6 years: Classes are structured towards the development of languages, writing, pre-reading as well as the basic concepts of language, mathematics and science.
One class is in French to prepare better the children who would like to pursue school in the French system.
Facilities includes a playground and material for extra curriculum activities.
4 Mankata Close, Airport Residential Area, Accra
https://www.funhousenursery.com/
+233 264 234890 / +233 244 234890 / +233 302 922212
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Little Explorers Montessori Plus
Little Explorers Montessori Plus is a Bilingual (English/French) school based on the Montessori system with the “Plus” referring to its additional school-readiness component. Little Explorers is currently home to 188 pupils from 36 different countries, aging from 14 months to 6 ½ years old.
Since 2009 Little Explorers has been accredited by the Montessori Evaluation and Accreditation Board (MEAB) in the UK. They’ve just received the South African IQAA accreditation. IQAA is an Independent Quality Assurance Agency that provides quality assurance through evaluation of schools. Little Explorers is the first international school to go through this process.
Children are divided in different levels:
> Early childhood (2 groups)
> Montessori (3 groups)
> Montessori plus (2 groups): a hybrid system that combines Montessori with other more formal systems of education.
The curriculum is divided into 6 different areas of learning: sensorial, practical life, language and literacy, mathematics, cultural subjects and creative subjects.
Facilities include a tech & library room, gymnasium, dance & music room, art room, auditorium, children’s kitchen, science & geography room, swimming pool, and a large leafy playground.
Additional afterschool activities include Zumba, physical education, arts & crafts, cooking, yoga, mathematics and literacy, Taekwondo, ecological studies, swimming, drama.
#15th Link Road, Cantonments, Accra
https://littleexplorersmontessori.com/
+233 57 738 6539 / +233 24 231 0225
kamilla@littleexplorersmontessori.com
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Montessori Kinderland
Montessori Kinderland welcomes children from 15 months to 5 years old in 3 classrooms to develop mutual support and respect, and exchanges between the children. Montessori materials, developed scientifically, are provided to allow the children to manipulate new concepts while having fun.
Children are supervised by francophone and Anglophone teachers throughout the day.
Tripoli Street, East Legon, Accra
http://montessoriskinderlandghana.website2.me/
+233 244 310 610
montessoriskinderland@gmail.com
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Petits Scholars
Petits Scholars International Nursery and Pre-School is a premium early years education facility catering for 1-5 year old children. The school follows the United Kingdom’s Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS), which is the government-approved curriculum in the UK. It is also a member of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) UK.
Classes are small with each class not exceeding 16 children in order to guarantee quality of care. Child to teacher ratios are 3:1 for Tiny (1-2 years), 4:1 for Tweenie (2-3 years), 6:1 for Preschool (3-4 years) and Reception (4-5 years).
Children are mostly taught through games, creative play, and practical life activities.
Facilities at Petit Scholars include a library, a computer room, a practical life room, a carpentry workshop, a playground and an outdoor water play zone. Afterschool activities are: music, rhymes, creative play, and storytime for the under 3s. Ballet, Multisport, Taekwondo, performing arts, gymnastic for the 3-5 year olds.
There is a parent communication app, with daily updates, instant messaging, automatic reminders and notifications, which keeps you in touch with your child throughout the day. You will receive pictures and videos of your child’s daily activities, see logs of every diaper changes, and receive updates of all meals consumed and how much they ate.
Odoi Kwao street, Airport Residential, Accra
https://www.petits-scholars.com/
+233 30 277 6406 / +233 50 158 3808
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The Owl’s Nest International School
Children can be admitted to the Owl’s Nest from 16 months to 7 years. With students representing over 35 different nations, Owl’s Nest is proud of its international and multi-cultural ethos.
The school’s curriculum is based on the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and National Curriculum for England at Key Stage One (Years 1 & 2).
In the nursery (children aged 16 months to 4 years), staff to child ratio is 1 to 4 for children under three years and 1 to 8 for children over 4 years (pre-School).
In primary school (4 to 7 year olds, or Reception, Class 1, and Class 2), high aspirations and low class numbers enable all Owl’s Nest children to successfully realise their potential. A limit is set on the number of pupils per class so you can be assured that your child will receive the care and attention they need.
Afterschool activities encourage the children to participate in a full range of activities including piano, ballet, gymnastics, taekwondo and French.
Facilities include an outdoor playground with bicycles, and a computer room.
Shippi Close, Cantonments, Accra
+233 245 113 227
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Gingerbread Montessori school
It is a Montessori school situated next to the British High Commission.
Martina the Managing Director founded Gingerbread Montessori school in 1998 after her own children where born and created a loving, safe and educational environment which teaches children the Montessori ethos throughout. They pride themselves on what they teach and achieve with all their children and have done for over 20 years.
In 2019 ‘Little Monties’ was opened in a separate building adjacent to the school. This room caters for babies from 11 months to 2 1/2 years old. When the children become 2 1/2 years old, they move to the other room until they are around 6 1/2 years old.
Both rooms are ran by fully trained experienced staff members and run closely together, you can see the true meaning of ‘little teachers’ when the older children help with the younger toddlers.
The school year runs from September to June with fees being invoiced over x3 terms. Gingerbread offers holiday clubs including Christmas, Easter and Summer camp.
Gingerbread is open from 7:30am – 2pm Monday – Friday and offers after school club 2-3:30pm x5 days a week for an additional fee.
Julius Nyerere Link, Ridge (Next to The British High Commission), Accra, Ghana
https://gingerbread-montessori.com/
+233 30 222 8978
JUNIOR, MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL
Al-Rayan International School (ARIS)
Al-Rayan International School is one of the leading IB world schools in Ghana. ARIS was established to bring the highest standard in education for each and every student in their care, within a world class, highly enabled dynamic and caring environment. The aim of the school is one of excellence. The school tasks themselves with keeping the welfare and wellbeing of the students at the forefront and providing them with a morally sound environment.
ARIS enrols students in the following groups:
> Primary school: Playgroup phase (ages 2-3), followed by the Primary Years Programme (PYP) from Nursery through to Year 6 (ages 3-12)
> Secondary school (secondary level 1, secondary level 2 and upper secondary)
The languages of instruction for ARIS are English and French, and the British and IB (International Baccalaureate) curriculums are followed.
Facilities at ARIS include: library and multimedia centre, computer lab, science lab, art spaces, and an interactive learning centre. ARIS offers co- curricular activities such as basket ball, art club, cartoon animation, football, golf, gymnastics, piano club, etc.
Beside the routine weekly schedule, ARIS runs an Arabic Language programme on Saturdays. This programme caters to more than 100 students who attend other schools in Ghana.
Primary section: Spintex Road, facing Casa Trasacco, Accra.
Secondary section: Shiashie Road, East Legon, Accra.
+233 (0) 54 189 7254
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French School Jacques Prevert (LFA Lycée Français d’Accra)
The French School is the only accredited French educational institution in Ghana, it is an integral part of the network of French establishments managed by the AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad), and offers a complete program from nursery school to the final year of high school. LFA has 660 students of over 30 different nationalities.
The Primary school comprises Cycle 1 and enrolls children from 3 to 6 years old in 2 nursery classes, 2 kindergarten classes and 2 reception classes.
Elementary school comprises Cycle 2 (1st grade to 3rd grade) and Cycle 3 (4th grade and 5th grade), and enrols children from age 6 to 11.
Junior High School runs from 6th to 9th grade, and covers 28 hours weekly compulsory education, to which optional subjects may be added. At LFA, students benefit from an additional hour of English lessons, and starts as early as 6th grade with Spanish as a second foreign language.
In the 9th grade, the student prepares for the DNB exams (equivalent to the ‘O’ Level certificate exams) and participate in a compulsory internship program at a workplace.
Senior High School (10th to 12th grade) is aimed at preparing each student to pursue higher education.
Two thirds of the curriculum is taught in the French language and 1/3 in the English language.
Facilities at LFA include a playground, a reading area, sport courts, and a mini golf for primary school. Extra-curricular activities include arts & crafts / DIY, visual arts, hand sewing, chess, football, basketball, piano, guitar and music theory lessons, theatre games, board games, cooking, multimedia activities, table tennis, Taekwondo, Zumba, classical ballet, hip hop, yoga, gymnastic, mini golf, photography, young engineers, etc.
Bathur Street, East Legon, Accra
+233 (0) 302 544 067 / +233 (0) 302 544 156
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German – Swiss International School (GSIS)
GSIS was founded in 1966 and is an officially recognized German school, which teaches its pupils bilingually from an early age. Individual support and inclusion have been part of the school programme for years and are implemented and lived in a variety of ways in everyday school life. GSIS is attended by pupils from different countries with different learning requirements.
The educational concept is based on the Thuringian curriculum for regular school in the German-speaking stream and on the Cambridge program for the English-speaking stream.
GSIS has pupils from nursery all the way to secondary school. Nursery has a capacity for 12 children aged between 1 year and 3 years, with bilingual staff. Kindergarten consists of three mixed-age groups. The children are from 3 to 6 years old or until they are enrolled in the first class. Since the requirements in the English and German streams are different, the pre –school children are divided into two groups in order to be prepared for their respective first class.
Our primary school currently has 45 pupils, who are taught in learning groups of mixed ages. In our bilingual system, we have a class 1/2 and 3/4 classes in the German stream and class 1/2 and 3/4 classes in the English stream. There is a current maximum of 15 children in a class. In the secondary school, the pupils continue to be taught in mixed-year groups in the bilingual system. Currently, classes 5/6 consist of 19 pupils and classes 7-10 of 12 young pupils.
Facilities at GSIS include a playground, swimming pool, multimedia room, basketball court, and an ICT room. Extra curriculum activities include violin, piano, guitar, taekwondo, dance and movement, pottery, painting football, chess, etc.
Ring Road Central, Accra
+233 (0) 302 22 35 22
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Ghana International School (GIS)
Ghana International School was established in 1955 as Gold Coast International School and was changed to Ghana International School in 1957 after the country’s independence.
GIS is one of Ghana’s leading schools providing enrolments and quality education for diverse backgrounds and student population from over 50 countries and cultural orientations.
GIS delivers English National Curriculum and Cambridge International Examinations, IGCSE and GCE Advanced level and has English language as the medium of instruction. There are dedicated ESL teachers on both campuses to support students who speak English as a second language. Your child will be assessed in order to develop a personal learning plan that will meet the needs of your child and ensure a successful academic outcome.
The School operates four departments: infant, junior lower and upper secondary school, and accepts enrolment from ages 3 to 18 years (around 1400 students). Class sizes are restricted to no more than 28 in a class. In the Primary Section, each class has a dedicated, qualified teacher and a full-time teaching assistant. In the Secondary School form tutors are assigned to each class. Each department also has at least one dedicated full-time teaching assistant.
Ghana International School has a co-curricular programme which means that non-academic activities are acknowledged as being just as important as classroom learning. In the Primary School there are more than 20 different clubs available for students in Class 2 to Class 6. Clubs include Drama club, Book club, Debate club, Football club, Choir and Drumming. In the Secondary School there is also a diverse range of clubs on offer including the Yearbook Committee, Community Service, Badminton, Music and many more.
Facilities at GIS include a laboratory, a film room, swimming pool, amphitheatre, gymnasium, sporting facilities for (soccer, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and handball). GIS also provides co-curricular activities such as crafts, dance club, spoken word, cookery, and athletics.
2nd circular road, Cantonments, Accra.
+233 (0) 302 777163 / +233 (0) 302 773299
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Lincoln Community School (LCS)
Lincoln International School’s mission and vision are to be a learning focused, leading and connected school. LCS is also committed at ensuring all students enjoy a diverse range of learning choices in curricular and co-curricular programs aimed at driving them towards achieving their goals in academics, arts, athletics and action in the community.
LCS embraces cultural diversity with around 750 students representing more than 50 countries and regions and uses curriculum standards of the United States.
The School is an International Baccalaureate world school, and offers the following classes:
Primary years – Pre-kindergarten through Grade 5.
Middle years – Grade 6 through 10
Diploma Programs – Grade 11 and 12
The main language of instruction is English. English Language support is offered for learners of the English language to participate fully as possible in the School’s complete curriculum.
Some of the School Amenities include a library, music department, swimming pool, counselling centre and clinic. LCS also offers additional activities such as visual arts, theatre, music, and a well-developed program of competitive sports.
#126/21 Reindolf Road, Abelemkpe, Accra
+233 302 218 100
To find out more about which of these schools might best suit your child contact Dwell Ghana… As parents ourselves we fully understand that your child’s adjustment and happiness in a new country is paramount to you. Through our school search program we can help you with every step of your school search, up to and including applications and registration.
