The American School in London

The American School in London (ASL), founded in 1951 in St John's Wood, is the pre-eminent American-curriculum day school in the UK. It is an independent, college-preparatory, K1-Grade 12 (roughly age 4 to 18) school enrolling around 1,400 students drawn from some 70 nationalities. About 70% of families hold a US passport and roughly half hold dual citizenship, reflecting ASL's role as the default landing spot for American and globally mobile families relocating to London.

Academically, ASL delivers an American curriculum taught in English, culminating in more than 20 Advanced Placement (AP) subjects and SATs in Grades 11 and 12. The school is explicit that it does not offer the International Baccalaureate or UK examinations such as GCSEs and A levels, so families wanting an IB or British pathway should look elsewhere. English as an additional language (EAL) support is provided, and a fee-based Student Learning Differences (SLD) programme exists for students needing structured learning support.

On external assurance, ASL is strong. Its most recent Ofsted standard inspection (14 November 2023) judged the school 'Outstanding', the highest grade available, and it is separately accredited by the Middle States Association and the UK Department for Education, with memberships in the Council of International Schools and NAIS. The Board has approved a move to the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) for future inspection cycles, so the next published verdict will come under a different body.

The trade-off is cost and continuity. ASL is among the most expensive day schools in London, with 2025-26 tuition between £40,188 (Lower School) and £46,428 (High School) including VAT, plus a £3,000 deposit and a £2,400 one-time capital fee for new students. Average attendance is about five years and roughly 10% of students leave each year, mirroring the transient expatriate community the school serves.