ACS Cobham International School is the original campus of the ACS group and a long standing fixture of the international schools in London region. Founded in 1967, it brings together students from a wide spread of nationalities on a single Surrey site, teaching from age 2 through to university entry at 18. Its defining feature is breadth: the same school delivers an inquiry based early years programme, a US style middle and high school, and a choice at sixth form between the globally recognised IB Diploma and Advanced Placement.
ACS Cobham International School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | US High School Diploma, IB Diploma Programme, Advanced Placement (College Board) |
|---|---|
| Stages | Age 2 to 18, full continuum on one campus |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Accreditation | NEASC accredited; authorised IB World School; member of CIS, ECIS and HMC |
| Boarding | Available for Grades 8 to 12 |
| Fee band | Premium (early years from about GBP 9,950 to roughly GBP 39,960 in Grade 12, 2026 to 2027) |
| Campus area | Cobham, Surrey, southwest of London |
Curriculum and academics
As an international school, ACS Cobham builds its programme around mobility. Children entering with little English receive structured language support, and the curriculum is designed so that a family arriving mid posting can slot a child into the right year group without losing ground. At sixth form the school runs the IB Diploma Programme and Advanced Placement in parallel, both sitting on top of the US High School Diploma. That dual pathway lets a student aiming at a US college lean on AP and grade point average, while a student heading for the UK, Europe or Asia can present IB points.
The 2025 IB Diploma cohort averaged 35 points with a top score of 44 and a 97 per cent pass rate. The school is an Apple Distinguished School and runs a one to one device programme from the lower grades upward. University counselling is a particular strength, with a dedicated team guiding the very different application timelines for North American, British and continental European systems. The international intake means home language enrichment and a genuinely global outlook are part of daily school life rather than an add on.
Budget the full cost of a place at ACS Cobham International School
Use our fee calculator to add tuition, registration, deposit, capital levy and bus into one annual figure before you commit.
ACS Cobham International School fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Pre-Scramblers (age 2 to 3, half day) | GBP 9,600 |
| Grades 1 to 2 | GBP 28,980 |
| Grades 9 to 10 | GBP 38,340 |
| Grade 12 (day) | GBP 38,640 |
Source: ACS Cobham International School (acs-schools.com). Annual day tuition, inclusive of VAT where applicable. Boarding (Grades 8 to 12) is charged on top. Excludes application, deposit and development fees. Fees are the most recent published figures and exclude one-off costs such as registration, deposits and capital levies. Always confirm current fees directly with the school.
ACS Cobham International School fees sit at the top of the London school fees range. The published 2026 to 2027 schedule runs from about GBP 9,950 for the youngest full day places to GBP 26,700 at Kindergarten and around GBP 39,960 by Grade 12. Boarding for Grades 8 to 12 raises the all in annual cost to between roughly GBP 56,940 and GBP 69,060.
Plan for the same one off and recurring extras the ACS group applies across its campuses: a non returnable application fee of GBP 330, a refundable enrolment deposit of GBP 1,500, and a one time campus development fee of GBP 1,680 in the first year. Transport runs from roughly GBP 1,300 to GBP 4,480 a year by zone, and external examination fees add about GBP 700 for the full IB Diploma or GBP 125 per AP paper. To turn these into a single budget figure for your child’s year group, use our fee calculator. Confirm all numbers against the school’s current schedule before you commit.
Admissions
Admissions run on a rolling basis throughout the year rather than to a fixed deadline, which suits the mid year arrivals common among international families. The process starts with the GBP 330 application, followed by a review of prior school records, references where relevant, and an assessment to confirm year group placement and English language needs. The school welcomes enquiries from families still finalising a relocation and can advise on likely availability by year group.
Overseas families requiring a child or student visa should note that the school issues the Confirmation of Acceptance to Study only after the first year fees are settled, so build that into your timeline. Sixth form candidates discuss the IB Diploma versus AP choice as part of the admissions conversation, since the decision shapes the rest of their school career.
Location and who goes there
The school occupies a large campus on Portsmouth Road in Cobham, Surrey, in the affluent commuter belt southwest of London. Cobham, Esher, Weybridge and Oxshott together hold one of Britain’s highest concentrations of international and senior professional households, and the school bus network reaches across Surrey and into the southwestern London suburbs. Waterloo is a short train ride away for parents commuting into the City or West End.
The student body is genuinely international, with a large American contingent alongside British, European and Asian families and a wide spread of smaller national groups. Boarding pulls in students whose parents are posted abroad. Families comparing this catchment with central London options will find the wider context in the London city hub, which maps where each expatriate community tends to settle.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are ACS Cobham International School fees?
Published 2026 to 2027 day tuition runs from about GBP 9,950 in the youngest full day classes to GBP 26,700 at Kindergarten and around GBP 39,960 in Grade 12. Boarding for Grades 8 to 12 raises the total to roughly GBP 56,940 to GBP 69,060.
What curriculum does ACS Cobham International School follow?
It teaches a US High School Diploma throughout, with a choice of the IB Diploma Programme or Advanced Placement courses in Grades 11 and 12, and an inquiry based American programme in the lower years.
Is ACS Cobham International School a good school?
It is a long established and fully accredited international school whose 2025 IB cohort averaged 35 points. We do not publish a star rating without verified parent reviews, so we describe its programme and record rather than score it.
When do ACS Cobham International School applications open?
Applications are accepted year round under a rolling admissions system. Most families aim for the August start of the school year, although mid year entry is common.
Does ACS Cobham International School offer boarding?
Yes, weekly and full boarding is available for Grades 8 to 12, with day places the more common choice.
