School information

This page contains a list of schools and educational establishments in The Gambia with which Pageant is associated, together with UK schools which have helped Gambian schools in association with Pageant. Each school entry has very brief information about the school, and if appropriate, links to  pages with more information on the Pageant website and links to the school's own website. There is also a 'search' button for each school to find all references to the school on our site (including this page!) The [MAP] link shows the school's location as accurately as we know it on a Google map. All these schools are also shown on our set of Gambia maps listed below. The [map] link is used where we know the general area of the school but not its exact location. [map] means we do not know where the school is.

 If you can add to the information about any school, such as a link to a school website, or a more accurate location or can correct any errors, then please email me:
 

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To find a school, move the mouse pointer over the alphabet above. This will display the schools whose name starts with that letter. After selecting a letter, move straight down to the list before moving sideways to select a school. For each letter, the schools are listed by type (see Gambia Education System below). Schools which combine several levels on one site will appear in more than one list. Schools listed like this have Pageant sponsored students, but no other formal relationship with Pageant. Schools listed like this have a strong association with Pageant, and may also have their own Pageant web page. Also listed are UK Schools which have strong associations with Pageant or The Gambia. To return to this 'Find a School' section, click on any of the [?Λ] links at the right of many of the school entries.

The Gambian Education System

Nursery schools & classes Nursery education is not financed by the Gambian state system, and parents must pay fees for attendance and for books etc. Some Lower Basic Schools have nursery classes, and there are separate nursery schools in many areas. These schools are increasing in number all the time, particularly in the western part of The Gambia but also now in the up-country villages.

Lower Basic Schools (LBS) (Also known as Primary Schools) These provide education for 7 to 13 year olds, in Grades 1 to 6. Attendance at the State-run schools is 'free', but the families pay for school fund, books, food, uniform etc.

Upper Basic Schools (UBS) (Also know as Junior Secondary Schools) These provide education for 13 to 16 year olds, in Grades 7 to 9. In the State-run schools girls go 'free' while boys pay tuition fees, but book fees are considerably higher. Also, as there are fewer UB than LB schools, many children either face a very long walk or must pay increased transport costs.

Basic Cycle Schools (BCS) These schools are mainly in rural areas, and combine both LBS and UBS with all Grades from 1 to 9.

Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) (Also known as High Schools) These are equivalent to UK Sixth Form Colleges, and provide education for 16 to 19 year olds, in Grades 10 to 12. Both boys and girls pay fees. The book and exam fees are higher still and the number of SS schools is quite small, making the funding of travelling to school a major consideration.

Further Education Tertiary education in The Gambia is provided by the University of the Gambia, and a number of other post-secondary institutions including the Gambia College (GC), the Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI), the Management Development Institute (MDI) and the Gambia Telecommunication and Multi-Media Institute (GTMI), which all provide degree level courses. There are also many Skills Training Centres which provide training in practical, technical and commercial subjects.

More about Schools and Maps

There is a list of schools produced by the Gambian Government, but this doesn't include nurseries or skill centres. The Gambia Resource Page is a website holding a vast range of information about The Gambia. This direct link to their Education Section show you a comprehensive list of the majority of Gambia's schools and colleges. To see the drop in numbers at schools from LBS to SSS, have a look at Region 3, the North Bank Region, which is where Bakalarr is situated. The Falling Rain directory covers the whole of The Gambia, listing latitude and longitude of many towns, villages and communities. Gambia Tourist Support has some large scale maps of The Gambia.

Pageant has produced a set of Google maps of The Gambia showing the locations of all schools where we know the precise location. The final map shows the location of the UK schools which are listed on this page. Select the 'Satellite' view, and you can zoom in to see the actual buildings. Back to top of page.

• Banjul City

• around Bakau & Serrekunda

• around Abuko

• around Brikama (the South)

• North Bank

• Up River

• UK Schools

List of Gambian Schools

Abuko LBS Abuko, Kanifing near Banjul
[website]	[Pageant page]		[MAP]	No. sponsored	9	[?Λ]
Abuko Nursery School			[MAP]	No. sponsored	1
Abuko UBS			[MAP]	No. sponsored	8

Abuko is a small village about 10km south-west of Banjul on the way to the International Airport. Abuko Lower Basic School was started as a local initiative, so that the village children did not have to travel 5km to the nearest school. See the main Abuko page above and the following updates:

Albion Lower Basic School was the main beneficiary of a pen and pencil collection, organised by seven year old Oliver in 2007. Read Oliver's story and see some photos taken at Albion on this page.

The above schools have Pageant sponsored students, but otherwise have no formal links with Pageant.

Bakalarr is located north of the Gambia River and is reached from Banjul by ferry to Barra and a 15km road journey. The school serves five local villages, and has Grades from 1 to 9, as well as a nursey class. Pageant has been involved with many projects at this school since 2001. Much of the credit for the huge improvements achieved is down to the enthusiasm and commitment of its headmaster Mr Bakary Gitteh, who visited us in the UK in 2005. There is a summary on the Bakalarr projects page with more details on the following pages:

Pageant helped Bakau New Town Lower Basic School with its vegetable garden in 2003, and it has been used as a base for unpacking containers. Though the school doesn't have any major Pageant projects at the moment, there are several sponsored children.

The above schools have Pageant sponsored students, but otherwise have no formal links with Pageant.

Chestnut Grove School in Balham, London has links with this school (see details)

Sarah Hayes has been helping this school for some time, and currently sponsors a pupil there. She is raising funds for the school by running in the 2009 Marine Corps 10k run. (see details)

The above schools have Pageant sponsored students, but otherwise have no formal links with Pageant.

This nursery school was set up as a local initiative, on land donated by the village mosque. Pageant is funding the completion of building work, to render the walls, lay concrete floors and fit doors and windows.

These schools both have Pageant sponsored students. Busumbala Farato LBS has received furniture, materials or donations from Pageant, but the nursery has no formal links with Pageant.
Pageant is associated with the Women's Group in Busumbala.

Campama Lower Basic School was brought to Pageant's attention in February 2007 because of its poor state of repair. See the main Campama page for details of this visit and the second Campama page for details of the visit in October 2007. In February 2008 Pippa's niece, Frances, and some friends spent a couple of days teaching the children at Campama. In April 2008, Pageant unloaded a container of furniture and school equipment at Campama - see Pageant News blog.

Crab Island Upper Basic School is located just south of the centre of Banjul, on the river side of the peninsula. See the main Crab Island page above and also the following updates:

The above schools all have Pageant sponsored students. Deeper Life and Don McMaeth have received furniture, materials or donations from Pageant, but Daday Jobe has no other links with Pageant.

Essau is on the north bank of the Gambia River, opposite Banjul, and close to the ferry terminal. This school received a Science Kit from Collier's School in February 2006, organised a Science Fair in September 2006 and was the venue for one of the Practical Science Seminars in February 2007.

This school has Pageant sponsored students, but otherwise has no formal links with Pageant.

The Foundation for Disabled People has a workshop which produces specialised all terrain wheelchairs and trains disabled people to build, maintain and repair wheelchairs. It also runs a computer training centre for people with a physical handicap. The Foundation supplied one of its special wheelchairs to Sarjo, one of Pageant's sponsored students (see Sarjo's wheelchair) and Pageant funded a further batch of 15 wheelchairs for disabled students from different regions of The Gambia.

Both the Home Economics Skills Centre (GHESC) in Old Jeshwang, and the Hotel School have Pageant sponsored students, and have received furniture, materials or donations from Pageant.

Gambia Senior Secondary School (Gambia High School) in Banjul was visited twice in November 2005 - see 1st visit - 2nd visit. It received a Science Kit from Collier's School in February 2006 and was the venue for one of the Practical Science Seminars in February 2007. It was helped extensively by Keith Farrington, see news item March 2006.

The above schools all have Pageant sponsored students and have received furniture, materials or donations from Pageant.

GTMI is primarily the training wing of the Gambia Telecommunications Company (Gamtel), but it also takes fee paying students. Its program includes science and technology related areas. Pageant has sponsored students at GTMI

GTTI provides two and three year craft, technician and business training programmes leading to certificates or diplomas in Business Studies, Computer Studies, Accountancy, Engineering and Construction. It received a Science Kit from Collier's School in February 2006 and was the venue for an offshoot of the Practical Science Seminars in February 2007 when Joe Brock taught a lesson at one of the Automotive Engineering classes. Pageant has several students who are attending or have completed GTTI courses.

The above schools all have Pageant sponsored students. Jambanjali has received furniture, materials or donations from Pageant, but the others have no formal links with Pageant.

Jarreng is more than 150 km east of Banjul, on the south side of the Gambia River. Jarreng Basic Cycle School received a microscope in 2002,and then took part in a microscopy competition. It was visited in 2003 and Pageant helped the headmaster set up a chicken farming project. However, the conditions proved to be too hot for successfully rearing of chickens and the building has been put to alternative uses. The most recent visit by Pageant was in February 2008. Jarreng is now in the process of adding SS grades, so by 2010 will teach the complete range of Grades 1-12.

The above schools have Pageant sponsored students, but otherwise have no formal links with Pageant.

JJT Nursery School is in Serrekunda a few km west of central Banjul. Pageant member Aris Harrison-Price coordinates assistance given to this school by Nuneaton Lions Club, Ashby Castle Rotary Club, Coleman Primary School and other organisations in the Leicester area.

Jurunku is a village on the north bank of the Gambia River, about 15 km east of Bakalarr. Pageant has been involved in several projects at this school and Pageant member Jon Quinnell and Lamin Jammeh, a young man from Jurunku village, organised much of the work at this school.

The above schools all have Pageant sponsored students. Kalagie has received furniture, materials or donations from Pageant, but Kaur has no formal links with Pageant.

The King's Kid Academy (KKA) was founded about 10 years ago by a Nigerian missionary, to provide nursery education. Pageant started helping this school in 2006. There are two Pageant pages. The first page covers 2006-2007, and the second page covers 2008 onwards. Funds have been raised by teams in Plymouth-Banjul Challenge - Desert Mice & First to the Bar in 2007 and Transplant Titans in 2008. Students from Oakham School (UK) and Copenhagen International School are funding a new toilet block in July 2008, as part of the Toilets and Textbooks project.

KMJ Nursery School is in Wellingara, at the southern end of Serrekunda. Pageant first visited this school briefly in October 2003, then in February 2006 and again in February 2007. Again in February 2007, Pageant member Tina Boswell carried out an Art Project there. In February 2008, Tina's daughter, Frances, and some friends spent several days teaching the children.

The above schools all have Pageant sponsored students. Kunkujang Keitaya UBS has received furniture, materials or donations from Pageant, but the others have no formal links with Pageant.

Life Nursery School was first visited in October 2003 and on several other occasions to visit Pageant-sponsored children.

The above school has Pageant sponsored students, but otherwise has no formal links with Pageant.

Mahmoud Achten Nursery School is in Fagikunda a suburb of Serrekunda. John Emery and Jane Bull started helping this school in February 2007, and achieved some great improvements, but a lot still needs to be done.

The above schools all have Pageant sponsored students. Masroor has received furniture, materials or donations from Pageant, but the others have no formal links with Pageant.

Ndow UBS has had football kit and science equipment funded by Christ's Hospital students. Two of the houses at CH also fund the sponsorship of a pupil at Ndow.

The above schools all have Pageant sponsored students. New Yundum and Nusrat have received furniture, materials or donations from Pageant, but the others have no formal links with Pageant.

Nemakunku is a village about 12km southwest of Banjul. Pageant has been helping Saloum Nursery School in this village since 2005. Funds for this school were raised by team Shap Ahoy in 2006 Plymouth-Banjul Challenge.

The above schools all have Pageant sponsored students. Serrekunda LBS has received furniture, materials or donations from Pageant, but the others have no formal links with Pageant.

This school, which opened in September 2008, caters for pupils aged from 3 to 5. It is currently the only nursery school in Gunjur providing both Islamic and conventional education. Pageant has helped by providing furniture, and will next fund renovation of the perimeter wall and building a new kitchen.

Siffoe Lower Basic School is about 40 km south of Banjul, close to the border with Southern Senegal. Pageant provided funds for the completion of the new five classroom block. A lot of progress was seen during the October 2005 visit. There has recently been further funding, and the work has now been completed (see details).

Sinchu Baliya Lower Basic School is one of the largest primary schools in The Gambia. It is near Serekunda, about 10km west of Banjul. It has a well established Science Club and a Resource Centre, which was built with funding raised by Pageant members Linda Murgatroyd and Chris Hyde. Team Ibrakeforcake in the 2007 Plymouth Banjul Challenge made Sinchu Baliya their own special project, raising £1200 for the school. It was the venue for one of the Practical Science Seminars in February 2007.

The Nursery and Skills Training Centre are near Serrekunda. Both have Pageant sponsored students and have received received furniture, materials or donations. See details of visit in February 2006.

The above schools have Pageant sponsored students, but otherwise have no formal links with Pageant.

St Augustine's Upper Basic is in Banjul. Pageant member Keith Farrington has been involved in supplying computers for their computer laboratory and setting up a woodwork facility. There were visits to see sponsored students and these facilities in November 2005, February 2006 and March 2006. Pageant organised one of the Science seminars at St Augustine's UBS in February 2007. See news item.

The above schools and the University have Pageant sponsored students. Unity Comprehensive have received a science kit. Tanji, Wellingara and the University have received furniture, materials or donations from Pageant, but the others have no formal links with Pageant.

Wesley Primary School is located in Banjul.  Pageant member Andrew Rattray funded the refurbishment of the school kitchen, which was completed in 2005.

Yakanu International Nursery in Serrekunda was in rented premises, with the lease soon due to run out. Alex Odell started a project to relocate the school in new premises, and she was supported by an enthusiastic group who call themselves the Gambia Crew. They have already raised funding and purchased land for building the new school.

List of UK Schools

Bishop's Waltham Junior School have a close relationship with Abuko LBS, and children in their Worldclass club have their own penpals at Abuko. They have raised money in various ways to provide education equipment, and are funding the sponsorship of a set of triplets at Abuko. They have now also established a link with Serrekunda LBS.

Bramley School is a girls independent Preparatory School. They have provided play equipment for the nursery classes at Bakalarr BCS, and furniture to Abuko LBS and Campama LBS.

Christ's Hospital is an independent boarding school for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. They have raised considerable sums of money for various Pageant projects, helping schools such as Ndow UBS in Bakau and Sinchu Baliya LBS. The boys from Peele A & B Houses run an Arts Festival each year to fund the sponsorship of a boy currently at Ndow UBS.

Collyer's (The College of Richard Collyer) was founded in Horsham in 1532 and after hundreds of years as a grammar school, it is now a Sixth Form College. Collyer's has been awarded 'Beacon Status' in Science for its outstanding teaching. The school works in partnership with other schools to design, develop, test and share innovative ideas to raise standards of teaching and learning. Joe Brock, Head of Science, has produced teaching units and resources for use in UK schools. He has also produced science and electronics teaching kits, and specially written teacher's manuals for use in The Gambia. These were distributed to various and demonstrated to both staff and students. For further information see the news items below:

The pupils of Dame Tipping CE Primary School have engaged in a lot of fundraising for Pageant. This has allowed them to sponsor pupils at Gambian schools.

Downsend is a co-educational day preparatory school, providing education from 2 to 13. They have made Pageant their Charity of the Year for 2007-8.

Pageant members visited this school (see news item) to help the children's fundraising for Saloum Nursery School.

Glenesk is a kindergarten and nursery school. They collected a large number of packets of vegetable seeds for Pageant at a Harvest Festival in 2005, which were then sent to various vegetable gardens in The Gambia.

Manor Green Primary School have raised funds for and donated materials to Campama LBS and exchanged letters with Campama children.

Ringwood School is a secondary school with a close link with Bakalarr BCS. They have donated educational materials and sports equipment. In 2006, the old school minibus took part in the Plymouth Banjul Challenge, and in 2007 the IceCold teams in this Challenge visited the school to help with their fundraising. (see report)

This school has a link with Kings Kid Academy, and the pupils of the two schools are exchanging letters.

Ben, one of Warnham School's pupils, organised fundraising events at the school and they purchased Glowstar solar powered lanterns for the villagers of Siffoe and Bakalarr.