For many families, January 2027 means more than a new grade. A child who has lived at home through junior school is going to boarding school for the first time, at the start of Grade 10 and senior school.
That is two big changes at once: a new level of school and a new way of living. This checklist is general practical advice from parents who have done it. One rule sits above everything here: the school's own list comes first. Schools differ on uniform, bedding, money, phones and what is allowed in a box, and their list overrides anything you read online, including this.
Start with the school's documents
Once your child has a placement, the admission letter and the school's joining instructions are the most important papers in the house. Read them twice and keep them in one folder.
- The requirements list. Tick it off item by item. If something is unclear, call the school rather than guessing.
- Reporting date and time. Plan transport early. Reporting days are busy and public transport fills up.
- Documents to carry. Usually the admission letter, birth certificate copy and any medical forms. Make photocopies and keep the originals safe at home unless asked.
- Fees and payment method. Pay through the official channel stated by the school and keep every receipt.
The packing checklist
Use this as a general guide alongside the school list. Cross out anything the school forbids and add anything it requires.
| Category | Typical items | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Uniform | As specified by the school, including games kit | Buy from the supplier the school names, and label every piece |
| Bedding | Mattress if required, sheets, blanket, pillow and cases | Pack one spare set of sheets. Washing day is not every day |
| Toiletries | Soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, lotion, sanitary items | Pack enough for several weeks, in a plastic container |
| Laundry | Basin, bar soap or powder, clothes pegs, hangers | Teach your child to wash and dry clothes before January |
| Stationery | Exercise books, pens, pencils, geometry set, calculator if listed | Label everything with name and class |
| Personal items | Slippers, towel, water bottle, padlock, shoe polish and brush | A good padlock on the box is worth the money |
| Health | Any regular medication, with a written note | Hand medicines to the school nurse as the school instructs |
Labelling: the boring job that saves money
In a dormitory of identical uniforms and identical basins, an unlabelled item is a lost item. Write the child's name on everything: shirts, socks, towels, books, the basin, the bucket and the box. Sewn labels or a permanent marker on the inside of collars both work. It takes an evening and saves a great deal of replacement shopping.
Skills to practise before January
The December holiday is the best time to build the small life skills that make boarding easier. A child who can already do these settles faster.
- Washing their own clothes by hand, including socks and uniform.
- Making a bed neatly and quickly.
- Waking up without a parent by setting a simple routine at home.
- Managing a small amount of money for a whole term, not a week.
- Organising their own things so they know what they own and where it is.
Packing the box and the bag
Pack together with your child rather than for them. If they put each item in the box themselves, they will know what they have and where to find it on the first night, when the dormitory is new and noisy. Keep a written list of what went in, and tape a copy inside the lid. At the end of term that list makes it easy to see what came home, what was lost and what needs replacing before the next term.
Money and pocket money
Follow the school's rules on pocket money exactly. Many schools hold it at the office or bursar and release it in small amounts. Give a modest sum, explain that it must last, and talk through what it is for. A child who runs out in the second week learns a hard lesson, but it is better learned in Grade 10 than later.
Phones and contact
Most boarding schools restrict or ban phones for learners. Do not send one unless the school clearly allows it. Find out the school's visiting days and how parents can contact the school in an emergency, and save the school's official number in your own phone.
Preparing for homesickness
Almost every first time boarder feels homesick in the first weeks. It usually passes. Talk about it before January so it is not a shock. Tell your child it is normal, that they can speak to a teacher, a matron or the school counsellor, and that you will see them on the next visiting day.
On visiting day, listen more than you ask. Small complaints about food or dormitory life are normal. Persistent fear, refusing to eat, or signs of bullying are not, and those deserve a calm conversation with the school.
The academic side
Grade 10 is the start of senior school, with pathways and subject choices that matter. Our guide to what actually changes from Grade 9 to Grade 10 and the overview of senior school subject combinations are useful reading over the holiday. Community Service Learning also continues in senior school; see our CSL project guide. The Grade 10 hub collects the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Should I follow this list or the school's list?
Always the school's list. This checklist is general advice. Where the school specifies an item, a quantity or a rule, the school is right.
How much pocket money should a Grade 10 boarder have?
It depends on the school and your budget. Check whether the school sets a limit, give a modest amount, and make sure your child understands it has to last the whole term.
My child is nervous about boarding. What can I do?
Talk openly about it, practise the daily skills at home in December, and if possible visit the school before reporting day. Knowing what to expect reduces fear a great deal.
Should my child study over the December holiday before Grade 10?
A little, yes, but rest matters too. A short daily habit of reading and maths keeps them sharp without exhausting them before a big change.
For a gentle head start on the academic side, the Grade 10 Complete Revision and Exam Kit shows what Grade 10 work and assessments look like across subjects, so your child arrives in January knowing what to expect.
GRADE 10: Term 3 Complete Bundle
A 41-page all-subjects start pack, plus notes, revision papers, end of term exams and marking schemes for every subject, as separate PDFs. Built for the written SBA tests and end of year exams. Sent to your email and order page once your M-Pesa payment is confirmed.
⏳ Grade 10 SBA scores are due on the KNEC portal by 31 October. Start revising now.
KSH 600 · Get it now → 📱 M-Pesa, sent to your email after payment · join parents preparing nowHave a CBC question this article didn't answer?
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