Dear Parents, Guardians, Family Members and Friends,

TAKULANDIRANI – WELCOME

I am delighted to welcome you to St Andrew’s International Primary School (SAIPS) in Blantyre, Malawi- the warm heart of Africa. SAIPS has a proud history spanning 87 years, with strong roots in the UK, providing primary day and boarding education to Malawians and international families seeking a safe, nurturing, green and stimulating environment to prepare their children for the challenges of the 21st century.

At SAIPS, we follow the National Curriculum for England within both local and international contexts and embrace an inquiry-based philosophy. We welcome children from 14 months in our Toddler class through to Year 6 (age 11).

We take pride in our team of energetic, dedicated, and highly qualified expatriate and local staff, many of whom hold UK qualifications and bring extensive international school experience. They are committed to delivering a high-quality education that equips learners with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for success. Lessons are enhanced by smartboards, robotics, tablet technology, and a rich after-school and holiday enrichment programme. Most importantly, our team is highly caring, dedicated and passionate about supporting every child’s learning and wellbeing.

One of SAIPS’ unique features is our school farm, home to a camel, donkey, goats, tortoises, chickens, geese, ducks, rabbits and guinea pigs. This provides pupils with rare, hands-on learning experiences that nurture curiosity, responsibility, and engagement with the natural world.We are an inclusive school with a dedicated Wellbeing & Learning Support team, supporting children with special educational needs, additional learning needs, language development, counselling, and emotional wellbeing. We also collaborate with world-renowned educational psychologists to provide tailored support for our pupils

Headteachers Message

Our Educational Philosophy

We aim to develop curious, independent and reflective learners:

Inquiry-Based Learning: Learners ask questions, explore ideas and construct knowledge through hands-on, interactive experiences.
Global Awareness & International-Mindedness: Pupils develop respect, empathy, and understanding of cultural diversity and global issues.
Holistic Development: We nurture social, emotional, ethical and physical growth through arts, sports, ICT, outdoor learning and engagement with our farm.
Pupil-Centred & Reflective Teaching: Teachers guide personalised learning journeys, encouraging reflection, resilience and lifelong learning.
Action & Application: Learning is applied to meaningful projects, community initiatives and real-world challenges.
Innovation & 21st-Century Skills: We integrate technology, coding, robotics, and AI to prepare learners for a rapidly evolving world while promoting creativity at every stage.

Through this philosophy, SAIPS creates an environment where each child can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, becoming a compassionate, confident and engaged global citizen.

Why SAIPS

SAIPS provides a high-quality learning environment with small class sizes, ensuring personalised support and guidance. Our staff prioritise pupil wellbeing, personal growth, and pastoral care, reinforced by mentorship, emotional support, a strong anti-bullying policy, and pupil-led initiatives.

Our learners come from over 21 countries, and we celebrate cultural diversity through events such as International Weekend. We foster strong partnerships between the school, pupils, and parents to promote open communication, trust, and shared responsibility for learning.

Our facilities support academic and extracurricular development, including:

School buses
Boarding hostel offering a safe and comfortable “home away from home”
Media room and library
Spacious classrooms and specialist Art, Music, IT, and French rooms
Swimming pools, tennis, cricket, rugby, netball, and basketball courts
Dance and drama spaces
Full-sized sports field

We warmly welcome visitors to explore SAIPS, whether you have children in school or simply wish to experience a unique primary school in this beautiful country. Walk through our classrooms, see our facilities, and meet our happy, engaged pupils. You are also welcome to meet me in person or virtually. Please call or email to arrange a visit so that I can personally welcome you to our school community. Mr Akif Naqvi, FCCTBA, TEFL, IT Dip., PGCE, MA (Econ.), MBA (E)UK DfE / BSO (British Schools Overseas) Inspection Certificate Advisory Board Member

My Introduction

I am a British educationist and school leader, UK DfE British Schools Overseas (BSO) Inspection-certified, with expertise in training, accreditation, school improvement, and transformation. I bring over 20 years of teaching experience across the UK, Middle East, Asia, and Africa in Early Years, Primary, Secondary, and IBDP education, alongside 15 years in leadership roles.My curriculum expertise spans the National Curriculum for England, Cambridge, Oxford, Edexcel, IB, IPC, STEM, Common Core, BTEC, Kenyan CBC, and Ethiopian curricula.In previous roles, I have guided schools to elevate academic, pastoral, and operational standards, achieving UK DfE/BSO accreditation. I have led strategic reforms that transformed schools at risk into centres of excellence, with pupils consistently achieving top results nationally and internationally.In recognition of my contributions to education, I was recently honoured with a Fellowship of the UK’s Chartered College of Teaching, an institution holding a Royal Charter granted by His Majesty The King. This accolade represents the highest and most prestigious category of membership, placing me among an elite group of educational leaders whose work has significantly shaped teaching and learning globally.I am honoured to serve and lead SAIPS, guided by a visionary Board of Governors. I am passionate about academic and pastoral excellence, innovation, technology, AI, and strong community partnerships. At SAIPS, I see tremendous potential and look forward to working closely with staff, parents, and pupils to continue building a school we can all be proud of.