1944 — Founding
Established as The European School with just a few students at the Golf Club, BMIS laid its historic roots during colonial times.
A legacy of international education in Lilongwe since 1944.
Bishop Mackenzie International School is an English-medium private, non-profit co-educational day school founded in 1944 that has grown to provide an education to students from Pre-K to Grade 12 (4–18 years old).
The school expanded the IB programmes in 2006 introducing PYP, which was authorized in 2011. As students progressed, MYP was introduced and BMIS is now a fully authorized MYP school. BMIS is among a small group of schools globally offering the full continuum of PYP, MYP, and Diploma.
The school was named in memory of Charles Mackenzie, who joined David Livingstone on the Zambezi in 1861 as Bishop of Central Africa and Head of the Anglican Universities Mission.
Established as The European School with just a few students at the Golf Club, BMIS laid its historic roots during colonial times.
The school saw substantial growth and moved to its current location, providing boarding facilities during the Rhodesia and Nyasaland Federation.
Boarding facilities were reintroduced under the Designated Schools Board, and BMIS evolved into a primary school serving an international community.
BMIS expanded by establishing a Secondary Department, which has thrived and contributed to the school’s strong reputation.
BMIS became an authorized International Baccalaureate World School, later expanding PYP and MYP to offer the full IB continuum.
BMIS continues to provide holistic, international-standard education from Pre-K to Grade 12.
Bishop Mackenzie International School sits on a 25-acre site in Lilongwe’s Area 3, featuring modern classrooms, laboratories, specialist studios, sports facilities, and swimming pools.
Bright learning spaces designed for collaboration and inquiry-based learning.
Well-equipped labs supporting practical investigation and scientific thinking.
Courts that support student fitness, teamwork, and school sport.
Pool facilities supporting both beginner and competitive swimmers.
Well-equipped library with all kinds of books.
Fields that support student fitness, teamwork, and school sport.
You can browse the BMIS legacy publication online for a deeper historical record.
