ACS International Schools (Cobham, Egham & Hillingdon)
🇬🇧 London · Founded 1967 · American / IB · Ages 2-18 (Cobham); 3-18 (Egham, Hillingdon)
A long-established American-and-IB group of three Greater London campuses, strongest for internationally mobile families seeking US-pathway and IB options under one operator.
Curricula
American, IB
Age range
2-18 (Cobham); 3-18 (Egham, Hillingdon)
Languages of instruction
English
Annual fees
SGD ACS Cobham 2026-2027 day tuition GBP 9,950-39,960/yr; 7-day boarding (Grades 8-12) up to GBP 69,060/yr inclusive
Enrollment
2,200
Boarding
Yes
IB authorised
PYP, MYP, DP, CP
Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) 2025
Met all standards (2025 EQI, post-2023 framework)
Accreditations
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), College Board, International Baccalaureate Organization, Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS), Independent Schools Association (ISA)
Tier Profile
We only tier dimensions backed by a public inspection verdict or verifiable accreditation. Other dimensions show a data flag — never a guessed score.
BrightKey's Assessment
ACS International Schools is a group of three co-educational, non-selective day schools near London - Cobham and Egham in Surrey, and Hillingdon in Greater London - founded in 1967 (originally American Community Schools). Across the three campuses it educates over 2,200 students representing more than 70 nationalities, with Cobham additionally offering boarding. The group's distinctive feature is the dual American and International Baccalaureate offer: students can pursue the American High School Diploma alongside Advanced Placement (AP) courses, the IB Diploma, or - at Egham - the full IB continuum.
The academic model varies by campus. ACS Egham was the first school in the UK to offer all four IB programmes (PYP, MYP, Diploma and Career-related), making it a fully through-IB option. Cobham and Hillingdon centre on the American High School Diploma with AP and the IB Diploma in the upper years. All campuses provide English as an Additional Language (EAL) support and home-language enrichment, reflecting the highly international intake.
The schools are independent and inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). ACS Cobham's most recent Educational Quality Inspection (2025) reported that the school met all the relevant standards. The group holds long-standing US-facing recognition through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and works with the College Board (AP), the IB Organization, ECIS and the Independent Schools Association.
Fees sit at the premium end of the London international market: ACS Cobham's published 2026-2027 day tuition ranges from roughly GBP 9,950 for early years to GBP 39,960 in Grade 12, with seven-day boarding (Grades 8-12) reaching about GBP 69,060 a year inclusive of tuition.
Why These Ratings?
Inspection & AccreditationA — Excellent
ACS Cobham's 2025 ISI Educational Quality Inspection reported that the school met all the relevant standards. Under the current ISI framework no single verbatim graded band such as 'Excellent' is published, so a top 'S' is not evidenced; the group's depth of independent recognition - NEASC accreditation plus College Board, IB and ECIS membership - supports an 'A'.
Strengths & Trade-offs
Strengths
- Dual American (High School Diploma plus AP) and IB pathways under one operator, rare in the London market
- ACS Egham offers all four IB programmes (PYP, MYP, DP, CP) - a full through-IB continuum
- Highly international community of 70+ nationalities with structured EAL and home-language support
- Long-established (since 1967) with NEASC accreditation and College Board / IB partnerships
- Boarding available at Cobham (Grades 8-12), including flexible temporary boarding options
Trade-offs
- Premium fees, with senior-year day tuition near GBP 40,000 and full boarding around GBP 69,000 a year at Cobham
- IB continuum breadth (all four programmes) is concentrated at Egham, not uniform across all three campuses
- IGCSE is not offered, so families wanting a British GCSE route are not served
- Current ISI framework yields a 'met all standards' outcome rather than a published top graded band
Is It Right For You?
Best For
- ✓Internationally mobile families wanting a US diploma plus AP and/or IB pathway
- ✓Students targeting US university applications who value AP and a transcript-based diploma
- ✓Families needing boarding within commuting distance of London (Cobham)
- ✓Children needing EAL support within a multinational peer group
Not Ideal For
- ✕Families seeking a British curriculum with IGCSE and A-Levels
- ✕Budget-conscious families - fees are at the upper end of the market
- ✕Those wanting the full IB continuum at the Cobham or Hillingdon campus specifically
- ✕Families prioritising a single published top inspection grade as the deciding factor
Curriculum
American High School Diploma with Advanced Placement and the IB Diploma across the group; ACS Egham additionally offers all four IB programmes (PYP, MYP, DP, CP). IGCSE is not offered.
Fees
ACS Cobham's published 2026-2027 day tuition runs from about GBP 9,950 (early years, part-time) to GBP 39,960 (Grade 12). Seven-day boarding for Grades 8-12 reaches roughly GBP 69,060 a year inclusive of tuition; five-day boarding is lower. Figures are for Cobham; Egham and Hillingdon fees are published separately on the school site.
Admissions
Non-selective with rolling admissions ('apply at any time'). Applications and tours are arranged per campus via the official ACS site.
Campus Life
Three Greater London campuses - Cobham and Egham in Surrey and Hillingdon in Greater London - serving over 2,200 students from 70+ nationalities. Cobham additionally offers boarding facilities for students in Grades 8-12, with day and boarding options.
University Placement
School-reported · not independently verified
School-reported, unverified: ACS promotes US and international university destinations across its alumni, but no independently verified placement figures were found.
Sources
Every verifiable fact carries a public source — verify it yourself.
- ACS International Schools - official site (founding, campuses, enrollment, associations) · 2026-06
- ACS Cobham - published fees 2026-2027 · 2026-06
- ACS Cobham - ISI inspection reports (2025 EQI) · 2026-06
- ACS Egham - all four IB programmes (PYP/MYP/DP/CP) · 2026-06
- ACS Cobham - curriculum, boarding ages, EAL · 2026-06
- Wikipedia - ACS International Schools (history, founders, name change) · 2026-06
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