January 2027 Intake: Join Smartious Online School
By Alfred Ouko, Founder · October 2026 · 9 min read
Smartious takes in new students at the start of each term, and the next start date is Monday 5 January 2027, when Term 2 of the 2026–27 academic year begins. That is our January 2027 intake. It suits families in Kenya, Nigeria, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the other 40+ countries we teach in, whether you are moving house over December, unhappy with your current school, or ready to stop teaching every subject yourself. This guide explains who the intake is for, how the placement assessment works, what it costs, and the dates that matter. The short version: apply by December, so that your child has a place, a timetable and a login before the first lesson.
What the January 2027 intake is
Smartious is an online school founded in Nairobi in 2018. Students learn at home and join live lessons taught by qualified subject teachers, on a fixed weekly timetable, with homework, assessments and written reports. Our academic year 2026–27 runs in three terms, and Term 2 starts on 5 January 2027. A new student who joins in January starts with everyone else on the first day of term, in a class at the right level. They do not arrive halfway through a topic, and they are not asked to catch up on their own. That is why we run intakes at term boundaries. Students can join at other points when a place is free, but the start of a term is the cleanest moment to begin.
Who it suits
January is a natural starting point in several of the countries we serve. In Kenya the national school year begins in January, so families moving to an online school or to home education can start in step with the local calendar. In Nigeria the second term of most schools begins in January, which makes it a common moment for a change. In the UAE and Saudi Arabia many families use the winter break to settle a relocation or a change of school before the new calendar year. We also hear every year from parents whose child is struggling socially or academically in a school setting, and from homeschooling parents who love the lifestyle but want qualified teachers to carry the subjects they cannot. All of these families fit the January intake.
Curricula and levels
Smartious teaches the Cambridge pathway from Primary through Lower Secondary, IGCSE and AS and A Level, alongside Pearson Edexcel, IB, American and Kenyan CBC/CBE programmes. Your child is placed by level, not only by age. A twelve year old who is strong in mathematics but behind in writing can be placed accordingly and supported where they need it. For the examination years, students sit Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel exams as private candidates at authorised centres such as the British Council in their country. We guide families through that registration, which has its own deadlines, so it is worth raising it at the assessment stage if your child is in Year 10 or above.
How to apply, step by step
Step one: message our admissions team on WhatsApp at +254 745 021 212, or use the contact form. Tell us your child’s age, current school year, curriculum and country. Step two: we arrange a placement assessment. It is a short online session that checks reading, writing and mathematics at the right level, and it gives us a chance to hear about your child’s interests and any learning needs. Recent school reports help, so have them ready. Step three: we recommend a class and level and share the timetable in your time zone. Step four: you receive the termly invoice. Step five: your child gets their login, we run a short onboarding so they know how lessons, homework and messages work, and they join their first live lesson on 5 January 2027.
Deadlines: apply by December
We ask families to apply by December for a January start. The assessment, the placement decision and the timetable all take time, and classes are kept small, so places at popular levels can fill. Applying in October or November gives you the most choice. A December application is still fine, but the earlier in the month the better, because our team and many families travel over the holidays. If you contact us after the holidays, we will still help: your child may be able to join a little later in Term 2 if a place is available, and we will plan how they catch up on anything they missed. Exam registration is separate and has its own closing dates set by the exam centre, so check those early if your child is in an examination year.
Time zones in the four main countries
Our teachers work from Nairobi on East Africa Time, which is three hours ahead of GMT. That is the same clock as Saudi Arabia, so families in Riyadh and Jeddah see lessons at the same local time we do. The UAE is one hour ahead of Nairobi, so a lesson at 9am in Nairobi is at 10am in Dubai. Nigeria is two hours behind Nairobi on West Africa Time, so the same lesson is at 7am in Lagos, and timetables for Nigerian families are planned with that in mind. Before you accept a place, we show you the full weekly timetable in your local time, so you can check it works for your household.
Fees, payment and the refund rule
Fees start from USD 423 a month for Primary and are payable termly. Fees vary by curriculum and level, so the exact amount for your child is confirmed after the assessment. One-to-one tuition, for families who want extra help or only need a single subject, is USD 15 an hour. Exam entry fees are paid separately to the exam centre. Please read our refund rule before you pay: fees are non-refundable once the assessment is done, the timetable has been created and lessons have started. We explain this up front because a place in a small class is held for your child from that point. The country guides linked below show approximate figures in local currency.
What to prepare before 5 January
A laptop or desktop computer is best, with a webcam and a headset with a microphone. A tablet can work for younger children, but a keyboard helps from upper primary onwards. A stable internet connection matters more than a fast one, and a backup such as mobile data is wise. Set up a quiet, consistent place to learn, away from the television and siblings. Gather your child’s recent reports and any assessment or learning support documents. Finally, talk to your child about the change. Children settle faster when they know what a school day will look like, who their teachers are, and that they will meet classmates in live lessons from the first week.
The January 2027 intake is the simplest way to start with Smartious: a clear first day, a class at the right level and a timetable in your time zone. Message admissions on WhatsApp at +254 745 021 212 or email hello@smartioushomeschool.com, and apply by December so your child is ready for 5 January.
Frequently asked questions
When does the January 2027 intake start?
Term 2 of the 2026–27 academic year starts on Monday 5 January 2027. New students in the January intake begin on that day.
When should we apply?
Apply by December. October and November give you the most choice of places. Later applications are considered if a place is available.
Is there an entrance exam?
There is a placement assessment, not a pass or fail exam. It shows us the right level for your child so they are neither bored nor lost.
How much does it cost?
Fees start from USD 423 a month for Primary, payable termly, and vary by curriculum and level. One-to-one tuition is USD 15 an hour. Exam entry fees are paid to the exam centre.
Can my child sit IGCSE or A Level exams?
Yes. Students sit Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel exams as private candidates at authorised centres such as the British Council. Registration deadlines are set by the centre, so raise it early.
Next steps
What parents say
Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 130+ reviews. Read our Google reviews
“Smartious Homeschooling delivers genuinely effective one-on-one instruction. The teachers are patient, consistent, and skilled at identifying and addressing each learner's specific academic gaps. Since enrolling, our child has become more confident, enjoys lessons, and is now performing above grade level. For families in Nairobi seeking a dependable, academically rigorous homeschooling programme with personalised support, Smartious is a standout choice.” — Allan H., Google review