Educating Children from 18 Months to 18 Years (Day & Boarding)
40 Years of Academic Excellence:Crèche, Early Years, Primary, Secondary, Cambridge IGCSE, IB Diploma Programme and Boarding
Welcome to BSL Boarding School
A Gateway to University
A warm welcome to the British School Lomé, where we are committed to providing an international education that upholds the best traditions of British independent schooling.
As the Head of School, my aim is to maintain and develop a happy and vibrant environment in which everyone feels safe, is treated with respect and is encouraged to learn. This shapes the school’s vision of achieving all-around academic and personal development for our students; enabling them to reach their highest potential and to become future leaders and role models.
We offer a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment, catering to both local and expatriate communities. Our students receive an outstanding, modern all-through education from 18 months to 18 years - with our boarding school accepting boarders from the age of 8. Furthermore, one of the great strengths of BSL is its happy, friendly, and inclusive community, which wonderfully reflects the people and culture of Togo. Our vision is to inspire and enable every student to reach their true potential and become responsible participants in a global world. We strive for a holistic approach towards excellence in academic and personal all-round achievement; nurturing a love of learning and equipping our students with a strong foundation that prepares them for future success.
I understand that investing in a top-tier education can seem costly. However, at the British School Lomé (BSL,) we are committed to providing a 21st-century education that integrates the latest standards and resources, delivered by a highly qualified and experienced international and local staff and leadership team. By choosing our school, you are ensuring that your child receives the best educational opportunities in the region. Thus, which will yield valuable returns in their academic and professional pursuits - as evidenced by our successful global alumni. The quality education and holistic development they gain here, will be a lasting asset that pays dividends throughout their lives.
We strongly believe in collaboration among the school, parents, and the wider community, fostering strong partnerships to support our students' growth and success. Through our global network, we continue to support and open doors for our students long after they have last set foot in school. We are committed to continuous improvement and innovation, striving to provide the best educational practices, resources, and methods to meet the evolving needs of our students. Our strong team and international contacts guide our students in pursuing further studies at universities around the world.
We are very proud of our school and especially of our amazing students. I invite you to explore our website, study the ten reasons for choosing us, subscribe to our social media platforms and attend our school events, becoming an active part of our dynamic school community.
I sincerely hope you can visit the school to experience this firsthand and consider becoming a part of the BSL community as a student, parent or staff member. We would be delighted to meet you and welcome you into the British School Lomé.
Yours sincerely,
Akif Naqvi
BA, TEFL, IT Dip., PGCE, MA (Econ.), MBA (E), FCCT
UK DfE/BSO (British Schools Overseas) Inspector (Levels 1 and 2)
Advisory Board Member – ICEOTAS UK
Head of School
Professional Summary of Achievements in Education Leadership
I come from the UK and have been teaching for over 23 years across Early Years, Primary, and Secondary. Over the past 14 years, I have held leadership roles including Deputy Head, Headmaster, Principal, and Head of School. My main areas of expertise include founding and transforming schools, accreditation, IT, assessment and data analysis, curriculum development and staff development. My diverse experience includes teaching, overseeing the founding and construction of a school, serving as Head of Primary, Secondary, and Boarding schools, as well as Head of the Whole School, across England, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Myanmar, Ethiopia and Thailand. This has made me well-versed in many curricula, including the National Curriculum for England, Cambridge, IB, Edexcel, Common Core, BTEC, and IPC to name a few.
I have been awarded the prestigious Fellowship of the Chartered College of Teaching (FCCT) UK in recognition of my significant contributions, achievements, skills and expertise as an educationist. I am affiliated with Oxford University Educational Research and serve as an Advisory Board Member for ICEOTAS UK. Additionally, I am the author of ‘Reading & How to Help – From Nought to 80’.
With over 14 years of school leadership experience, I have a proven track record of delivering outstanding academic and operational reforms, achieving accreditations, and fostering sustainable growth in schools. My expertise encompasses data-driven assessments, staff training, team building, financial management, marketing, safeguarding, and community engagement. I founded and coordinated the first cohort of the teaching course from The University of Nottingham, UK, for our local staff, empowering them to gain international qualifications. I guided one of my previous schools through a successful inspection, leading to it becoming the first BSO-accredited school in the city. In less than two years, I transformed a boarding school into a ‘Centre of Excellence,’ where our students scored the highest marks in the region in their National Exams, ranking us among the top 3% of schools in the country. Additionally, our school's success was highlighted in an international TV documentary titled ‘The Hope of Female Students’, and many of these students are now attending universities and receiving scholarships abroad.
“I am deeply committed to bringing out the best in staff and students. I believe that students should receive a broad, balanced, student-centred education that fosters creativity, confidence, and courtesy—equipping them to cope as global citizens with the demands of life in the twenty-first century, wherever they may live. To achieve this aim, I rely on my extensive teaching experience and school leadership skills.
