Cities / London / International School of London
International School of London
Independent IB World School founded in 1972, located on Gunnersbury Avenue in Chiswick with around 500 students from 60-plus nationalities. Annual fees for 2026-27 range from GBP 24,630 (Early Childhood) to GBP 39,640 (Diploma Programme), with a distinctive Mother Tongue…
In brief
ISL was one of the UK's first IB schools, founded in 1972, now split across a Chiswick campus for 3 to 15 year olds and an Ealing Diploma College for sixth form. Around 500 students, 86 percent on international passports, with the full PYP, MYP, DP and Career-related Programme.
The school sits next to Gunnersbury Park, with daily Forest School in primary and a sports hub run with Brentford FC. ISL teaches up to 24 home languages alongside English, the headline differentiator and the reason transient expat families pick it. Fees run roughly GBP 24,600 to GBP 39,640. The 2024 Diploma average was 33 points.
Families praise the SENCo team, the home language programme and a calm, non-hothouse approach to the IB. Parents looking for a high-pressure academic school find the rigour lighter than expected, while families with a child who has wobbled elsewhere find it a softer landing. Best fit for internationally mobile families who want curriculum continuity, multilingual support, and pastoral care ahead of a relentlessly competitive academic culture.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood 1 (age 3) | 3 | Annual | £24,630 |
| Early Childhood 2 (age 4) | 4 | Annual | £28,310 |
| Kindergarten (age 5) | 5 | Annual | £31,720 |
| Grade 1 (age 6) | 6 | Annual | £31,720 |
| Grade 2 (age 7) | 7 | Annual | £31,720 |
| Grade 3 (age 8) | 8 | Annual | £31,720 |
| Grade 4 (age 9) | 9 | Annual | £31,720 |
| Grade 5 (age 10) | 10 | Annual | £31,720 |
| Grade 6 (age 11) | 11 | Annual | £35,460 |
| Grade 7 (age 12) | 12 | Annual | £35,460 |
| Grade 8 (age 13) | 13 | Annual | £35,460 |
| Grade 9 (age 14) | 14 | Annual | £38,480 |
| Grade 10 (age 15) | 15 | Annual | £38,480 |
| Grade 11 (age 16) | 16 | Annual | £39,640 |
| Grade 12 (age 17) | 17 | Annual | £39,640 |
| Application fee (new students) | One-time | £300 | |
| IB Assessment fee (Grade 12) | One-time | £996 | |
| Enrolment deposit (new students) | One-time | £1,800 | |
| Capital Development fee (first year) | One-time | £2,000 |
Reviews
- Parents repeatedly point to the international mix (around 60 nationalities) and the mother-tongue programme as the reason they chose the school.
- Most-cited strengths are the small, family-feeling community, the pastoral support, and IB delivery from PYP through Diploma.
- Negative reviews exist and are pointed: one parent called the academic standard appalling and said events feel pointless; another warned that anyone wanting an academically driven school should look elsewhere.
- parent threads on ISL are short and mostly prospective parents asking for opinions rather than current ones giving them.
- Fees sit around 20,000 to 30,000 pounds a year, and Finnish expat threads flag the cost as the main barrier for incoming families.
Head of school
Paul Morris
Richard Parker joined the International School of London (ISL) in 2017 as Principal. Prior to his appointment, he was Principal at ISL Surrey and has previously held various leadership roles in Hong Kong, Portugal, Brunei and Spain. He is an IB Workshop Leader for administrators new to the Middle Years Programme and MYP Humanities, and is active in the Alliance of International Education. He holds an MA and BA in history from Cambridge University.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
Academic results
- IB DP average (2025) 33.0