ACS International School Egham

A Rare and Distinctive IB Commitment

ACS International School Egham holds a distinction shared by only a handful of schools worldwide: authorisation to deliver all four International Baccalaureate programmes under one roof. From the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students aged 3–11, through the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11–16, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 16–18, the school offers a seamless, uninterrupted IB education for the entirety of a student's school career.

A Philosophy Rooted in the Learner Profile

The IB philosophy is not simply a curriculum choice at ACS Egham — it underpins the school's entire approach to education. The school's vision and values articulate a belief that every student is an active agent of their own learning, and that education should be personalised to each student's experiences, abilities, and interests. This resonates directly with the IB Learner Profile, which encourages students to be inquirers, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective.

Core Values in Practice

ACS Egham's published core values — Imagine better, Aim high and make it happen, Welcome everyone, Work together, and Act with kindness — are not abstract slogans. They are woven into the everyday fabric of school life, from classroom discussions to the school's inclusive approach to admissions, which requires no entrance examination and welcomes students from a wide range of linguistic and academic backgrounds.

From Mission to Outcomes

The school's charitable mission focuses on creating caring, confident, and effective global citizens ready to change the world. This aspiration has tangible academic outcomes: in 2021, ACS Egham students achieved a 100% IB pass rate, with graduates progressing to prestigious universities including Oxford, the London School of Economics, and the University of British Columbia.

Why This Matters for Families

For expatriate and internationally mobile families, a whole-school IB pathway offers continuity and portability. Students who begin the PYP at ACS Egham can progress through MYP and DP without switching curriculum philosophies or adapting to new assessment frameworks. This consistency is particularly valued by families who may move between countries, as IB qualifications are recognised by universities worldwide.

Access Without Barriers

In a Surrey landscape populated by competitive independent schools with demanding entrance examinations, ACS Egham takes a deliberately different approach: no entrance examination is required. Admissions decisions are based on a holistic review of previous academic records, school reports, and references — a process designed to assess fit and readiness rather than to rank applicants.

Rolling Admissions

One of the most practically valuable features of ACS Egham's admissions model is its rolling, year-round application process. Families relocating mid-year — a common situation for expatriate families — can apply and be considered for entry at virtually any point during the academic year, not just at the traditional September intake. This flexibility is a direct response to the mobile, internationally-focused community the school serves.

Waiting Lists and Capacity Management

Where a particular year group is full, the school operates a transparent waiting list system, informing families of their position and keeping them updated as places become available. This is a standard feature for in-demand international schools in the Greater London catchment area.

English Language Support

The school does not publish a minimum English language requirement for entry, and this is intentional. ACS Egham provides EAL (English as an Additional Language) support across all year groups, enabling students who arrive with limited English proficiency to access the full curriculum while building their language skills. This makes the school genuinely accessible to newly arrived international families who may not yet have English-fluent children.

SEND and Learning Support

Beyond EAL, the school offers Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support, ensuring that students with learning differences are identified, supported, and enabled to thrive within the mainstream IB framework. This combination of EAL and SEND provision positions ACS Egham as one of the more inclusive international schools in the region.

Fees and Financial Considerations

A non-refundable application fee of £330 is payable at the point of application, covering the administrative costs of processing. Upon acceptance, families pay a £1,500 refundable deposit to secure their child's place. Annual tuition fees range from £15,540 (Pre-Kindergarten) to £37,440 (Grade 12), placing the school in the mid-to-upper tier for international day schools in Surrey. Bursary and financial aid options are available for eligible families.

The International Fabric of ACS Egham

Situated on London Road in Egham, Surrey — just a short distance from Heathrow Airport and within easy reach of central London — ACS Egham occupies a geographic sweet spot for international families. The school's approximately 525 students represent more than 50 nationalities, making it one of the most genuinely diverse school communities in the region.

Who Attends ACS Egham?

The school primarily serves two overlapping communities:

• Expatriate families posted to the Greater London area, often from multinational corporations, embassies, and international organisations
• Internationally mobile families including returnee students who may have previously studied abroad and are seeking an English-medium, internationally credentialled education

This dual focus shapes everything from the school's admissions flexibility (rolling intake to accommodate mid-year arrivals) to its robust EAL provision (ensuring newly arrived students can quickly integrate into the academic programme).

A School Built Around Mobility

Because so many ACS Egham families are transient by nature — arriving and departing as corporate assignments and diplomatic postings change — the school has developed institutional practices that make transitions as smooth as possible. New students are supported from day one, with peer integration programmes and counsellor oversight helping children settle into a new country, culture, and curriculum simultaneously.

Community Beyond the Classroom

The school's core value of Welcome everyone is not merely aspirational. With classrooms that regularly contain students from a dozen or more different countries, students are immersed in genuine cross-cultural dialogue every day. This lived experience of diversity is considered a core educational outcome in itself — preparing students for careers and lives in an interconnected global economy.

Staff and Leadership

With approximately 160 staff members serving around 525 students, the school maintains a supportive staff-to-student ratio. Leadership is provided by Head of School Mark Wilson, supported by Lower School Principal Alison Carl and Upper School Principal Lucinda Willis, ensuring dedicated leadership focus across different age ranges.

Rigorous Academics, Outstanding Results

ACS Egham's academic culture is shaped by the demands and philosophy of the International Baccalaureate, which values depth of understanding, critical thinking, and the ability to make connections across disciplines. The school's IB Diploma Programme students sit externally assessed examinations, and the school's track record is strong.

2021 IB Results: 100% Pass Rate

In the 2021 IB examination session, ACS Egham students achieved a 100% pass rate — a landmark result that reflects both the quality of teaching and the preparedness of students. This result was widely noted, with graduates from that cohort receiving offers from and enrolling at leading universities including:

• University of Oxford
• London School of Economics (LSE)
• University of British Columbia (UBC)

These outcomes represent the range of destinations typical for ACS Egham graduates: a mix of prestigious UK universities, North American institutions, and others across the globe.

The Semester Structure and Academic Calendar

ACS Egham operates on a two-semester academic year, running from August to January (Semester 1) and January to June (Semester 2). The school year begins in late August, with approximately 180 instructional days per year. This calendar aligns more closely with the American academic tradition than the traditional British three-term model, reflecting the school's origins and its service to American and internationally mobile families.

Assessment Philosophy

Assessment at ACS Egham follows IB conventions: formative and summative assessment throughout the year, with the formal IB Diploma examinations in May of Grade 12. The school does not publish year-on-year aggregate score data beyond notable results, but the 2021 100% pass rate provides a meaningful data point for prospective families.

AP and Additional Pathways

In addition to the IB Diploma, the school offers some Advanced Placement (AP) courses, providing students with additional academic options and the flexibility to pursue American university applications with AP credentials alongside or within their IB studies.

Origins: Serving London's International Community

ACS International Schools was founded in 1967, initially to serve the educational needs of American expatriates and other international families based in and around London. At a time when international schooling options in the UK were limited, ACS filled a critical gap, offering an American-style curriculum delivered in English to children whose families were unlikely to remain in the UK long-term.

Growth into a Multi-Campus Group

Over the following decades, ACS expanded from a single school into a group of campuses spread across Surrey and Middlesex, eventually operating schools in Cobham, Hillingdon, and Egham. Each campus developed its own identity and specialty, but all shared the common thread of serving internationally mobile families with English-medium education.

Transition to the International Baccalaureate

A defining evolution in ACS Egham's history was its adoption of — and eventual full authorisation for — the International Baccalaureate curriculum. Rather than maintaining a purely American curriculum, ACS Egham embraced the IB's globally portable, internationally minded framework. This transition positioned the school not merely as an American school abroad, but as a genuinely international institution. Today ACS Egham is recognised as one of the UK's very few schools authorised for all four IB programmes.

Charitable Status and Mission

ACS International Schools operates as a registered UK charity, reinforcing its non-profit, mission-driven character. The charitable framework shapes governance and ensures that the school's financial surpluses are reinvested into educational provision rather than distributed as profit.

A 2021 Milestone

In 2021, ACS Egham achieved a 100% IB Diploma pass rate, a milestone that demonstrated the maturity and quality of its IB programme after years of investment in curriculum, teaching, and student support. The school continues to evolve, with leadership from Head of School Mark Wilson and a team of experienced educational professionals.