CBC age structure explained: Why senior school starts at 15

Kakamega Hill School, Junior school assessment candidate sharpen his pencil as he wait to start write exams on October 27, 2025. [Benjamin Sakwa/ Standard]

Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) continues to reshape the country’s education journey, with age-appropriate placement emerging as one of its most defining features.

One of the biggest shifts is the age at which learners are expected to join senior school Grade 10 now set at 15–16 years, which the government says is a deliberate move aimed at protecting young adolescents, supporting healthy development, and ensuring readiness for specialised pathways.