Dear Parents, Guardians, Family Members and Friends
TAKULANDIRANI – WELCOME
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to St Andrew’s International Primary School (SAIPS), Blantyre, Malawi. Founded in 1938, SAIPS is one of Malawi’s oldest and most respected independent schools. We are proud of our heritage and our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional British and International education — for children aged 14 months to 11 years, in both our day and boarding provision — within a warm, inclusive, and nurturing environment.
We follow the British National Curriculum alongside international best practice. Our approach is child-centred, enquiry-driven and holistic, ensuring that academic excellence is balanced with wellbeing, creativity, and strong character development. As a forward-thinking school, we combine strong foundations in English, Mathematics, Science and the Foundation subjects with 21st-century learning in AI, Coding, Robotics, and Digital and Financial Literacy.
We have also strengthened the rigour behind our teaching through UK GL Assessments (End of Year, Reception to Year 6) and DELF French Certification, giving families a globally recognised, externally benchmarked picture of their child’s progress alongside our own internal standards. We also use CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities Test), a well-established UK assessment that helps us understand how each child learns and reasons, so that teaching and support can be shaped around their individual strengths from the outset.
Beyond the classroom, we value practical, hands-on experiences that build independence, confidence and real-world skills — from swimming, tennis, athletics and our now well-loved Mud Race and Go-Kart Racing, to dance and drama, vocational learning, Forest School, and our expanding After School Enrichment Programme, which includes UK and International excursions.
Our diverse school community represents over 20 nationalities, creating a vibrant international environment where every child is known, valued, and supported. We are proud to say that this community continues to grow rapidly, a reflection of the trust families continue to place in us. Small class sizes, alongside highly qualified and experienced staff with international experience, ensure personalised learning and exceptional pastoral care. We are equally committed to inclusion and individual success. Our Wellbeing and Learning Support provision caters to a wide range of needs, including Special Educational Needs (SEN), targeted learning support, English as an Additional Language (EAL), and appropriate challenge and extension for high-performing and gifted learners. Safeguarding and child protection sit at the heart of everything we do.
Our secure and well-resourced campus offers outstanding facilities, including modern classrooms, extensive sports areas, a swimming pool, a school animal farm, and dedicated Forest School provision. We also offer boarding facilities for families seeking this option.
Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions a family will make. We invite you to explore our website, visit our campus, meet our staff and experience first-hand the energy, joy and sense of community that characterise SAIPS.
Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow.
It would be our privilege to welcome your family into the SAIPS community.
Warm regards,
Headteacher
I am a British international school leader and Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching (FCCT), with BSO Inspector certification, a PGCE, an MA in Economics, and an MBA (E) from the London School of Economics, complemented by leadership training at Harvard University and Imperial College London.
With more than two decades of experience across Early Years, Primary, Secondary, IGCSE and Sixth Form/IB education in the UK, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, I have led school turnarounds, curriculum development and academic improvement across Cambridge, IB and UK curriculum pathways. My experience also includes accreditation and inspection, safeguarding compliance, financial and operational management, staff development, mentoring and strategic school improvement. I have supported schools through successful inspections and accreditations, including achieving Centre of Excellence status and recognition among the top-performing schools nationally.
I am passionate about integrating AI, Forest School, green learning and 21st-century life skills into education, preparing every child to become confident, capable and future-ready. At the heart of my leadership is a simple belief: children come first. I am committed to building positive, inclusive school cultures where young people are supported to thrive and grow into resilient, confident and compassionate individuals.
