ACS Cobham is the founding campus of ACS International Schools and one of the best known American schools serving the international schools in London market. Opened in 1967 as the American Community School, it now teaches around 1,400 students aged 2 to 18 on a single Surrey campus, leading to a NEASC accredited High School Diploma that North American and global universities recognise. Families choosing it are usually weighing an American education with the option of the IB Diploma against the British independent schools nearby.
ACS Cobham at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | US High School Diploma, IB Diploma Programme, Advanced Placement (College Board) |
|---|---|
| Stages | Age 2 to 18 (Lower School 2 to 10, Senior School 10 to 18) |
| Founded | 1967 (as the American Community School) |
| Accreditation | NEASC accredited; IB World School; member of CIS, ECIS, ISA, BSA and HMC |
| Boarding | Weekly and full boarding, Grades 8 to 12 |
| Fee band | Premium (day tuition roughly GBP 9,950 in early years rising to about GBP 39,960 in Grade 12 for 2026 to 2027) |
| Campus area | Heywood, Portsmouth Road, Cobham, Surrey |
Curriculum and academics
The senior curriculum at ACS Cobham is built around the US High School Diploma, taken alongside either the IB Diploma Programme or Advanced Placement courses in Grades 11 and 12. Younger children in the Lower School follow an inquiry led American programme from age 2, and the school holds Apple Distinguished School status for its use of one to one devices. Offering a genuine choice between the IB Diploma and AP within the same school is unusual in the London area and is the main reason mobile American and dual nationality families shortlist it.
The IB Diploma cohort at Cobham reported an average score of 35 points out of 45 in the 2025 session, with a top score of 44 and a pass rate of 97 per cent, figures the school publishes openly. AP students sit College Board examinations that feed directly into US university credit. The breadth of the offer, from the American curriculum core through to the IB Diploma, means the school supports both the standardised testing route to US colleges and the points based route favoured across the UK and Europe. English as an Additional Language support runs throughout the school for children still building academic English.
Compare ACS Cobham with other London schools
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ACS Cobham fees
ACS Cobham fees place it in the premium band of the London international school fees landscape. For the 2026 to 2027 year the school publishes day tuition of about GBP 9,950 for the youngest full day places, GBP 26,700 at Kindergarten, GBP 30,000 in Grades 1 and 2 and around GBP 39,960 in Grade 12. Weekly and full boarding for Grades 8 to 12 lifts the combined annual figure to between roughly GBP 56,940 and GBP 69,060 depending on the boarding pattern.
Budget beyond tuition for the standard line items. The school charges a non returnable application fee of GBP 330, a refundable enrolment deposit of GBP 1,500 to reserve a place, and a one off campus development fee of GBP 1,680 in the first year for Grades K to 12. School bus services run from about GBP 1,300 to GBP 4,480 a year depending on zone and whether you choose a shuttle or door to door route. External examination fees are extra, at roughly GBP 700 for the full IB Diploma and GBP 125 per AP examination. All figures are drawn from the school’s published 2026 to 2027 fee schedule and should be confirmed at the point of application.
Admissions
ACS Cobham operates rolling admissions, so applications are accepted year round and assessed as places come free rather than against a single deadline. The main intake aligns with the August start of the academic year, but mid year entry is common given the mobility of the families it serves. Each application carries the GBP 330 fee, after which the school reviews school reports, may request references and assesses the child for year group placement and any English language support needs.
Because the school runs weekly and full boarding, overseas families applying for a boarding place should allow extra time for visa documentation. The school issues a Confirmation of Acceptance to Study for child or student visas only once the first year tuition and boarding fees are received. Sixth form applicants choosing between the IB Diploma and AP confirm their pathway during the admissions conversation.
Location and who goes there
The campus sits on Portsmouth Road in Cobham, Surrey, a commuter belt town about 18 miles southwest of central London with fast rail links into Waterloo. The surrounding area, taking in Cobham, Esher, Weybridge and Oxshott, is one of the densest concentrations of expatriate and high earning professional families in the country, which is why an American school of this scale took root here. Many families live within the school bus zones that radiate out across Surrey and into southwest London.
The community skews American, with significant British, European and East Asian cohorts and a long tail of other nationalities typical of a large international school. Boarding widens the catchment further, drawing students whose parents are posted overseas. For the wider picture of where international families settle across the capital and its commuter towns, see the London city hub.
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Frequently asked questions
How much are ACS Cobham fees?
For 2026 to 2027 ACS Cobham publishes day tuition of about GBP 9,950 for the youngest full day places, GBP 26,700 at Kindergarten and around GBP 39,960 in Grade 12. Weekly and full boarding lifts the combined figure to roughly GBP 56,940 to GBP 69,060. Expect a GBP 330 application fee, a GBP 1,500 refundable deposit and a GBP 1,680 one off development fee on top.
Does ACS Cobham offer the IB Diploma?
Yes. In Grades 11 and 12 students choose between the IB Diploma Programme and Advanced Placement courses, both taken alongside the US High School Diploma. The 2025 IB cohort averaged 35 points out of 45.
Is ACS Cobham a boarding school?
ACS Cobham offers both day places and weekly or full boarding for Grades 8 to 12, which is unusual for an American school in the London area. Most students attend as day pupils.
When do ACS Cobham applications open?
The school runs rolling admissions and accepts applications throughout the year. Most families target the August start of the academic year, though mid year entry is common.
Is ACS Cobham accredited?
Yes. It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, is an authorised IB World School and is a member of the Council of International Schools, ECIS, the Independent Schools Association and HMC.
