ACS International Schools

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ACS International Schools
Location
Cobham, Surrey Egham, Surrey Hillingdon, Greater London England
Coordinates	51°20′49″N 0°24′04″W / 51.347°N 0.401°W / 51.347; -0.401
Information
School type	Private Pre-school–12th grade
Established	1967
Founder	Gordon E Speed and Emmanuel J Poularas
Chairman	David Thomas
Gender	Co-educational
Age	2 to 18
Enrollment	2400
Campus	Four locations: Cobham, Egham, Hillingdon, Doha
Mascot	Cobham: Cougars, Egham: Jaguars, Hillingdon: Hawks
Accreditation	The New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Tuition	£7,910-£27,650 (per annum)
Website	acs-schools.com

ACS International Schools is a group of international schools catering for local and international families with three schools in Greater London. Until 2005, the organisation was known as American Community Schools. The three campuses are in Cobham and Egham in Surrey, and Hillingdon. Full boarding fees including tuition are from £53,400 per year for children aged 13-18 years.^[1]

The head office is on Portsmouth Road, Cobham.^[2]

ACS International School Cobham is a co-educational day and boarding school located in Cobham, Surrey, approximately 15 miles from London, United Kingdom. The school caters to students aged 2 to 18 and offers a globally focused education through programmes such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), and an American High School Diploma. It prepares students for admission to universities worldwide and has a diverse community of over 1,280 students representing more than 70 nationalities.

The school is situated on a 128-acre campus equipped with extensive facilities, including modern classrooms, science laboratories, a performing arts centre, a swimming pool, a three-hole golf course, and various sports pitches. Boarding options are available for students aged 13 and above, with on-campus accommodation.

In its most recent inspection in March 2022, ACS Cobham was rated as meeting all standards in regulatory compliance and achieving "excellent" in the quality of pupils' personal development. The inspection highlighted the school’s inclusive community, the development of pupils as confident, reflective learners, and the strength of pupils' social awareness and sense of justice. The report also praised pupils’ strong communication skills and use of technology, though it recommended enhancing challenge and pace in some lessons to maximise achievement.

Tuition fees range from £9,300 for the youngest pupils (aged 2) to £37,500 annually for older pupils (aged 17–18). Boarding fees range from £53,400 to £57,400 annually, depending on the pupil’s age.

ACS Cobham places an emphasis on holistic education, providing a wide range of extracurricular activities alongside its academic programmes. The school promotes values of global citizenship, inclusivity, and personal development, attracting both local and international families.

Opened in 1995,[5] ACS Egham is located on a 20-acre campus in Surrey, opposite Windsor Great Park. ACS Egham, previously known as American Community School, is a co-ed day school, 25 miles from Central London. The School is home to approximately 500 students, aged 4 to 18, and 150 faculty and staff from around the world. The fees start from £14,580 a year for children 4–5 years old.

ACS Egham is International Baccalaureate world school and was the first in the UK authorised to offer all four International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes - IB Primary Years, IB Middle Years, IB Career-related, and IB Diploma. The IB Career-related course specialises in Business, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.

The campus is home to facilities, including the Woodlee Sports Centre, which was opened in 2012, which has a dance studio, climbing wall, fitness suite, two FIBA basketball courts, 3 volleyball courts and 8 badminton courts. Additional sports facilities also include two covered tennis courts. Two brand new spaces were opened in 2024; the Science labs (August 2024) and outdoor Amphitheatre (September 2024). The campus is also home to specialist learning centres for English, Mathematics, Art, Design, Music, Theatre, Individual and Societies, Wellbeing, Languages, Lower School, Forest School, three libraries, computer science lab and IB Centre.

ACS Egham was recognised in its 2024 Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) report for its commitment to educational excellence and innovation. The report highlights the school’s strengths in fostering student confidence, adapting teaching to individual needs, and providing a broad, ambitious curriculum that balances literacy, mathematics, and cross-curricular opportunities. Teachers are commended for their ability to encourage self-reflection and support student well-being, while specialist staff ensure tailored progress for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The report also praises ACS Egham’s secure, modern campus and well-maintained facilities, which offer a dynamic learning environment.^{[citation needed]}

ACS International School Hillingdon is a private, co-educational day school located in Hillingdon, within the M25 motorway, approximately 15 miles (24 km) from Central London. The school serves approximately 550 students aged 4 to 18, representing over 50 nationalities. ACS Hillingdon offers multiple academic pathways, including the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP) with specialisations in VFX, animation, digital game design, and theatre arts, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and the US High School Diploma. Graduates proceed to universities worldwide, with the class of 2024 securing offers from 149 universities across eight countries and achieving a 100% IBDP pass rate.

The school is set on a 13-acre campus that incorporates the historic Hillingdon Court, acquired by ACS in 1978, along with a 14-acre sports fields site in nearby Iver. Over the years, the campus has expanded to include additional facilities, such as a gymnasium and cafeteria (1986), a new wing (1997), a science centre, and a Sports & Activities Centre. The campus also features three libraries, art studios, music facilities, an auditorium, and modern IT and science laboratories.

ACS Hillingdon is recognised as an Apple Distinguished School, reflecting its integration of technology into education. It is also a member of the Global Citizen Diploma consortium, which supports students in areas such as intercultural communication, community involvement, multilingualism, and advanced academics.

The school participates in competitive sports through the International Schools Athletic Association (ISAA), competing with schools across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa in sports including football, volleyball, cross-country, athletics, basketball, swimming, and tennis. Notable extracurricular activities include the Model United Nations, Hillingdon Scholars Programme, "The Hawk Eye" student newspaper, a climbing club, Medical Society, National Honor Society, and annual drama and musical productions, such as Chicago, Oliver, Grease, and Beauty and the Beast.

In its most recent inspection, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) commended ACS Hillingdon for its high standard of education and care. The quality of pupils' personal development was rated as excellent, supported by dynamic teaching and a curriculum that promotes holistic development. The Early Years Foundation Stage was rated as outstanding, and the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of pupils was highlighted as a particular strength. Inspectors also noted the school’s strong sense of community and its comprehensive arrangements for welfare, health, and safety.

The school is located near the town of Hillingdon, with convenient access to Central London via the Underground. Annual tuition fees begin at £14,280 for children aged 4–5 years.

• Ugo Brachetti Peretti (1983), oil executive, chair of Anonima Petroli Italiana^{[citation needed]}
• Alex Corbisiero (2005), rugby player^{[citation needed]}
• Misha Nonoo (2003), fashion designer^[3]
• Dave Weigel (2001), writer

Citations

Bibliography

• Pearce, Ken. (2007) Hillingdon Village. Stroud: Sutton Publishing ISBN 978-0-7509-4675-9

• Official website