About Us

HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL

In the early days of the colonial era in Kenya, the colonialists believed that Africans should not be allowed an education beyond the basic level as they would not benefit from any higher education. The rationale was that Africans were only useful as a source of cheap labour. Missionaries who had been arriving in the country from the beginning of the 20th century strongly opposed this idea.

The missionaries had been trying to set up primary schools to provide basic education to Africans, but they faced challenges due to a lack of funding. Dr. John Arthur, who was in charge of the Kikuyu mission arranged for a conference with other Protestant missions to address these problems. The first meeting took place in 1913 in Kikuyu. Later in the year 1918, the Alliance of Protestant Missions was formed comprising the Church of Scotland Mission, the Church of the Province of Kenya, the African Inland Mission, the Friends Church (Quakers) and the Methodist Church.

Prof. Maina, PTA Chair

Dr. Arthur pushed the British government to open education to Kenyans and all Africans in all colonies. He believed that Kenyans should be given access to primary, secondary and tertiary level education as a matter of right. His efforts bore fruit when the Devonshire White Paper was written in 1923. This meant that Africans were also entitled to quality education. Dr. Arthur realised the need to have new institutions set up. He worked tirelessly, without the government's backing to establish a high school for Africans in Kikuyu. The school was finally established on 1 March 1926 under the auspices of the Alliance of Protestant Missions. Thus, the Alliance High School was born.

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Every year, we receive young boys who have excelled at the primary level. We take them through a transformational process to make them useful young men. Men who are strong in body mind and character and will serve their fellows faithfully. Men Who are Strong to Serve. This is our mission. The school has various programmes and activities both academic and non-academic that run throughout the year all meant to prepare the young men to the world. With the best teachers around, knowledge is passed, character is learnt and values are inculcated. Being a christian based institutions, students are also nourished spiritually everyday.

Which Students are admitted

Every year, over 400 students are chosen based on academic merit and choice in accordance with the education policy. The performance in the K.C.P.E exams determines academic merit. Its quota system ensures that the school admits boys from every county in the country.

Students are admitted on a need-blind basis. At any given time, there are needy students whose tuition and boarding fees are paid by parties other than their parents or guardians. This is thanks to the school’s strong alumni network (the Old Boys Club) as well as the large number of friends the school has around the world.

Academic Performance

 

The school is the highest performing high school in the country academically, always being ranked among the top 10 positions every year.The school holds the country record for most consecutive years holding the pole position in the national exams(1960-1985) . In the K.C.S.E results announced in 2011, the school emerged top in the country. In that same year, the school had more than 100 students scoring a mean grade of A in the national exams. In 2009 and 2010, the school emerged top in the K.C.S.E results posting sterling performance. In 2011, the school was ranked second.Every year, over 98% of the school’s graduates get admission to Kenyan universities. Some Alliance High alumni have proceeded to join various universities around the world including Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and United States.

 

ALLIANCE HIGH SCHOOL

KCSE PERFORMANCE SINCE 1989
YEAR
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
E
X
Y
ENTRY
MEAN
>C+ %
1989 1 19 23 21 24 13 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 108 8.907 93.52
1990 0 13 27 32 17 15 7 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 118 8.610 88.14
1991 0 20 32 35 28 23 9 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 153 8.627 90.20
1992 5 15 43 45 25 17 7 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 161 8.938 93.17
1993 23 45 45 29 20 7 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 171 9.947 98.83
1994 11 46 36 28 13 11 6 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 154 9.617 94.16
1995 7 41 46 37 20 7 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 164 9.579 96.34
1996 10 41 48 37 15 8 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 164 9.689 96.95
1997 24 50 34 27 13 18 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 170 9.847 97.65
1998 15 49 42 29 15 15 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 172 9.686 95.93
1999 18 48 38 33 22 15 6 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 183 9.574 95.08
2000 37 46 35 26 15 18 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 184 9.897 96.20
2001 35 51 45 19 15 10 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 179 10.140 97.77
2002 23 90 36 29 12 7 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 201 10.229 98.01
2003 38 64 31 24 9 13 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 184 10.212 97.283
2004 36 62 35 19 15 11 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 182 10.192 97.802
2005 45 64 34 18 9 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 178 10.517 98.876
2006 51 48 43 19 12 7 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 183 10.393 98.361
2007 41 76 35 26 7 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 195 10.446 99.487
2008 55 84 24 20 9 4 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 203 10.567 96.552
2009 105 66 24 15 5 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 218 11.106 99.541
2010 108 76 19 4 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 214 11.266 99.533
2011 86 82 41 10 8 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 232 11.145 98.707
2012 102 74 35 14 8 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 238 10.966 99.16
2013 166 77 22 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 276 11.442 100
2014 130 117 59 26 11 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 348 10.897 99.713
2015 202 96 30 12 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 347 11.322 99.712
2016 14 142 90 54 39 32 16 7 3 0 1 0 0 0 398 9.5402 93.216
2017 6 102 98 84 29 26 15 6 7 0 1 0 0 0 374 9.3422 92.246
2018 36 118 85 67 43 26 12 5 6 1 0 0 0 0 399 9.607 93.985
2019 48 160 95 55 26 21 8 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 422 10.019 95.972
2020 77 128 86 54 19 17 14 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 398 10.18 95.729
2021 68 150 101 57 20 18 5 3 2 1 0 0 1 0 425 10.19 97.412
2022 72 144 103 72 32 12 8 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 444 10.19 97.973

 

CHRISTIAN FAITH

Having been founded by Christian missionaries, the school holds Christian values in high esteem. For instance, the school's badge is embodied with the cross, students say grace before partaking in any meal and there is a daily Chapel Service (except on Saturdays) which is compulsory for all Christian students.

However, being a national school that draws students from all over the country, Alliance High School has a small population of non-Christian students, mostly Muslims. These students have the liberty to practise their faith. When the Christian students attend the daily morning chapel service, Muslim students congregate separately to carry out a religious service of their own. Although there is no permanent mosque in the school, there is always a room set aside that serves as a mosque. Due to Islamic Sharia dietary requirements, Muslim students have separate tables in the dining hall.

The school has an anthem which is sung to mark the end of special occasions such as the Founders day, Speech Day or the closing parade of the term. The anthem can also be sung when there is an occasion to celebrate, such as when the K.C.S.E results are released. The anthem is a rendition of hymn 578 of the Lutheran Hymnal, Lord, While for All Mankind We Pray

About The School

There is also a compulsory cross-country jog on the first weekend of the school term. This event is popular yet unpopular among the students; many approach it with zeal while many A.H.S students approach the game’s master with an excuse to avoid the jog.

The school is a participant in the national sports festival. The following games are offered at the school: athletics, badminton, basketball, baseball, football (soccer), handball, hockey, lawn tennis, rugby football, swimming and table tennis.

The school has three basketball courts, two football pitches, two hockey pitches, a swimming pool, a handball field, an athletics track and a gymnasium with table tennis table.

The school’s routine includes a games period every weekday from 16:30 to 17:40. On Tuesdays the program is suspended for clubs’ and societies’ meetings. There are inter-house sports competitions spread across the three school terms.

During the second school term, a mini Olympics is held in the school. During this event, the thirteen houses compete against each other in track and field events. The winning house receives the Standards Trophy and gets to feast on a bull during the end of term school dinner.

There are over 20 clubs and societies including the Research Club, The World Scholars Cup, The Dramatic Society, the law and debate club, the MIT launch X, the social welfare society, the Scouts Movement, the International Information Exchange Program Club, the school choir, the Men-in-Brass(School Band), the Science and Robotics Club, the Integrity Club, the Writers’ Club, the Poetry Society, Kiswahili Club, the Model United Nations, the Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) Society, the Young Catholic Society (YCS), the Christian Union, Muslim Association among many others. These clubs usually meet on Tuesdays from 16:16 to 17:30, while the religious societies meet every evening. The Alliance High School Scouts is one of the first troops of African scouts in the continent

The school has several exchange programs but the longest running ones are the Brooks Exchange Program and the Sir John Leeman Exchange Program. There is also the Governor’s Exchange Program.

Every year, two form 3 students of outstanding character both inside and outside the classroom are chosen to participate in the Brooks Exchange Program. The two students usually serve as hosts to two other students from Brooks School. Unlike the Brooks Exchange Program, the Sir John Leeman Exchange Program takes place once every 2 years. In addition, there are the Barack Obama Leadership Program and others to various countries such as France, Germany and South Africa. Students also participate in contests such as the International Mathematical Olympiad.

The school has thirteen dormitories, four of which were built in 2017, and accommodate almost 1,800 students. The houses are, in order of age, and with the reason for the name:

  • Livingstone House: Scottish explorer Dr. David Livingstone
  • Aggrey House: Dr Aggrey of Achimota
  • Wilberforce House: Scottish abolitionist Sir William Wilberforce
  • Grieve House: first principal of the school George Arthur Grieve
  • Arthur House: Scottish medical missionary John Arthur
  • Francis House: school’s second principal Edward Carey Francis
  • Smith House: longest serving member of the teaching staff James Stephen Smith
  • Sellwood House: Major Sellwood.
  • Campbell House: school’s third principal, L. J. Campbell
  • Sanders House: the school’s fourth principal, A. C. E. Sanders
  • Githaiga House: the school’s fifth principal, J. Githaiga
  • Wangai House: the school’s sixth principal, E. Wangai
  • Maneno House: the school’s seventh principal, S. S. Maneno

Many activities within the school are based on the house system. This includes the arrangement at the parade ground where assemblies are conducted every morning and role call parades are conducted. Inter house competitions include music and elocution, drama, math contest, Swahili contest, essay writing contest, battle of the blocks writing challenge, cleanliness competitions, and sports such as soccer, rugby, racquet games, swimming, etc.

At the end of every term, during the school dinner, awarding sessions are held where the winning house in every category receives a carton of biscuits. The First and second runners up receive half and quarter a carton respectively. The winning house in standards and athletics, K.C.S.E. and cross country is awarded a bull which is slaughtered and offered for a party.

The houses have a committee of form 3 students who run the house’s day-to-day activities. The committee is usually chosen by the house prefects and the housemaster. It is composed mainly of the chairman, vice chairman, secretary, organizing secretary, activities coordinator and resource manager and two members of the house’s choice. However, houses may have additional positions which vary depending on their need. In most cases, these committee members end up as house prefects. However, this trend is changing to incorporate students with impeccable leadership qualities who did not make it to the house committees into the prefecture body.

Students in these houses are housed in hostels. The hostels are structured into cubicles where four students share one cubicle. The hostels have washroom facilities with hot showers, laundry areas, ironing bays, a common room and open lawns. Due to the current high population old houses have been renovated to house the rapidly growing population.

Prefects

Prefects at the school are usually from 4 students who have shown outstanding leadership abilities at the house level. Most of them are chosen from the house committees. During the second term of the academic year, they are appointed to be prefects by the principal after being nominated and vetted by the housemasters and current house prefects. They are then put through a rigorous training session by their fourth form counterparts in preparation for running the school the following year.

The prefects are key to the running of the school. It is they who see that the school routine and school rules are adhered to. They have the authority to punish culprits via the prefect’s punishment department. Punishments include washing corridors and rooms, slashing fields and in some extreme cases, working in the school farm or uprooting tree stumps.

A total of about 90 prefects are chosen each year and among the 90, 28 of the most outstanding prefects are given the top honour of becoming Senior Prefects or Captains. These Captains are allocated to various major departments in the school. The school’s departments include: Dining Hall, Entertainment, Games, Compound, Library, Chapel, IT and Links, Medical, Protocol, Utilities, Sponsorship, and Academic.

The top five captains are referred to as the Pentagon. They are the School Captain, the Deputy School Captain, the Dining Hall Captain, the Entertainment Captain, and the Games Captain. The prefects’ body is given a name each year, e.g. Martinets (2014), Autocrats (2015), Acculturates (2016), Despotians (2017), Relictans (2018), Nomandians(2019), Luminaries(2020/21),Stalwarts (2021/22) and is governed by the School Captain (The Governor General) and the Deputy School Captain (The President).

@ 2023 Aliiance High School