St. Mary’s School Yala is a Roman Catholic primary and secondary school for boys located on the Kisumu-Busia highway in Yala Township in the Nyanza Province of Western Kenya. Founded in 1927 by the Mill Hill missionaries notably Msgr. Brandsma who wanted to start a teachers college for catholic schools, the school opened its doors in 1927 making it one of the oldest schools in Kenya. The school eventually evolved to become a full primary school and junior secondary school that expanded to become the current St. Mary’s Yala. Approximately 2000 students attend the school each year and has a teaching staff of 40. The school follows the Kenyan 8-4-4 education system. History St. Mary's School Yala was a by-product of increased missionary activity by the Mill Hill Missionaries in Kenya in the early 1900s when Monsignor Brandsma (1874-1935) and a group of Mill Hill missionaries from There Netherlands whose vision to expand catholic education and counter Anglican and other Protestant missions already developed in Kenya. Brandsma succeeded in obtaining land from the then local Chief Odera Okang'o. Initially intended to be a teacher training institution, the school opened its doors to its first batch of students in 1927 and was upgraded to "A" level in 1957. The school played an important role in the spread of Christianity and education development in post-colonial Kenya alongside Maseno School, Kabaa High School Alliance High School. Student life The student body is headed by the Chairman of the student leadership council. The position is currently held by Nobert Okoth(2021/22) succeeding Allan Rodgers (2020/2021) (Head Boy) together with secretaries (Secretary General, Secretary of Academics, Housing and catering, Students Welfare, Environment and Organizing Secretary) and Councillors. There are a total of 16 dormitories named after founders and prominent alumni of the school. These are divided into zones i.e. Northern zone's dormitories include: Stam House, Kennedy House, Brandsma House. Central zone's dormitories include: Farmar/Tom Mboya, Annex and Hall House. Eastern zone's dormitories (Prof. George Magoha Territory) include Bouma, Kodhek<Rugambwa, K'Ojwang', Ollando and Awiti . Southern zone's dormitories include: Lambert, Grace Ogot and Lwanga. Co-curriculum activities The school offers various sporting disciplines, which include rugby, athletics, soccer, basketball, handball, indoor-games, volleyball, badminton and field hockey. The rugby team won the national secondary school rugby championship in 2003 and came in Third Place in 2017 and was able to proceed to Uganda for the EA championship. The school