Usutu Forest School is an independent, coeducational day school which offers an education program from prekindergarten through Form 5 for students from 37 nationalities. The school has been in existence since 1963. With outstanding facilities, dedicated staff, an idyllic setting, and an academic and extracurricular program that keeps abreast with modern trends, Usutu prides itself on the excellent, well-rounded education it provides. The school year consists of three semesters extending from mid-January to mid-April, mid-May to mid-August, and mid-September to the beginning of December.
Organization: The school is a registered Section 21 (not-for-profit) company whose affairs are managed by a Governing Council, comprising 11 members who give visionary, strategic, and financial leadership to the school. The U.S. Embassy has a representative on the council.
Curriculum: Beginning January 2017, the school introduced the Cambridge Curriculum in the primary and high schools, from Grade 1 to Form 5. The school also offers a variety of sports and cultural activities throughout the year. Usutu Forest is a member of ISASA (Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa), SAHISA (Southern African Heads of Independent Schools Association) and SABISA (Southern African Bursars of Independent Schools Association). In 2021, the school became a full member of AISA (Association of International Schools in Africa). The school is fully accredited with Cambridge International Examinations (Reg. number SZ011) and registered as an independent school with the eSwatini Ministry of Education.
Faculty: In the 2021-2022 school year, Usutu Forest School has 138 total staff including 64 teachers. All teaching faculty maintain a teaching degree or certificate from their country of origin. These range from master’s degrees, honors, bachelor’s degree of science, or specialist teaching diplomas.
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, enrollment will be at 631 (PK–Form 5).
Facilities: Usutu Forest School is situated in Mhlambanyatsi in the Western Highlands of eSwatini, 25 km from the capital Mbabane. The school has fully equipped classrooms and an IT center with WiFi. Interactive Smart Boards are utilized throughout the classrooms. Specific language rooms, a media center, and a learning center are available for students. The learning center provides the services of a remedial therapist, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, and a school counselor. Usutu Forest also has two large sports fields, which accommodate, Hockey, Soccer and Athletics and a basketball court, as well as a swimming pool, a multipurpose hall and an adjacent golf course. A club nearby allows the school to utilize the tennis and squash facilities.
Finances: In the 2020-2021 school year, the school is funded entirely by tuition fees and the various levies. Annual tuition rates are: PK-K: between $1560 and $2746 (including all levies); and Grades 1–7: $3360 (including all levies). There is one-time registration fee of $320 for Pk-K, that is used for capital projects. In the high school, fees are $5,120 per annum with a registration levy of $560, as well as a refundable deposit of $1,500. (All fees are quoted in U.S. dollars and may vary dependent on the exchange rate.)
Special Needs: Download the Special Needs Profile (Special Needs ESwatini, Mbabane) for this school to learn more about their capability to support students with exceptionalities.
This Fact Sheet is intended to provide general information. Prospective users of the schools may wish to inquire further of A/OPR/OS or contact the school directly for more specific and up-to-the-minute information. Information and statistics are current as of September 2021 and are provided by the school.