ACS Cobham International School
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$15K - US$51K
Curriculum: IB · American
Age Range: 2-18
Students: ~1,400
Location: Cobham, Surrey, London
Updated April 2026
In Brief
ACS Cobham is a genuinely strong choice for American-curriculum families or families who want the flexibility of both American diploma and IB Diploma - provided you are realistic about the Cobham commute and the transient nature of the community. If you want a stable long-term community or are not tied to an American-style education, explore other options in this guide.
ACS Cobham occupies a different category from London's urban international schools: 128 acres, boarding from Grade 8, and a student body that is roughly a third American, a third British, and a third from across 70-plus other nationalities. The campus is in Cobham, Surrey - about 30 minutes by train from Waterloo or around an hour by school bus from central London depending on your postcode. It is marketed as a London-area school but the daily reality is suburban Surrey, and families in zones 1-2 should budget the commute honestly.
On-campus life is where ACS Cobham earns its fees. Sports facilities, arts programmes, and a cohort large enough to offer serious academic depth in the US College Counselling pathway all contribute to strong university placements at US and UK institutions. The 2023 IB DP average of 35 sits comfortably above the world average. Class sizes are capped at 20. The boarding option is a practical consideration for families with intermittent relocation: it means a child does not have to move school mid-cycle if a parent returns overseas. Families settled in the Surrey commuter belt - Cobham, Esher, Weybridge - find the location genuinely convenient rather than a trade-off.
Turnover is the most consistent observation from families who have spent time at the school. Around a third of the upper school student body turns over in any given year, which is typical for large American international schools serving corporate relocating families. For children who are relatively outgoing and used to international moves, this is unremarkable. For a child who finds transitions harder, it is worth weighing. Long-term locally based families who join tend to settle well into the permanent cohort - but that cohort is smaller than the total enrolment suggests.
What parents value
- –128-acre campus with boarding from Grade 8 gives students access to facilities - sports, arts, outdoor space - that central London schools simply cannot offer. The boarding option also provides continuity for families with frequent relocation.
- –American High School Diploma and IB Diploma both available, with IB DP average of 35 in 2023. This gives flexibility for university applications to the US, UK, and international institutions. University counselling for US admissions is a genuine strength.
- –Large enough to offer meaningful academic and co-curricular depth at senior level, while maintaining a 20-student class-size cap. The multi-nationality cohort - 70-plus nationalities - means global networking is real rather than a prospectus claim.
Points of consideration
- –Cobham is 30 minutes by train from Waterloo and around 45-60 minutes by school bus from south-west London. Families in central or north London should plan the commute carefully. The school runs an extensive bus network but timings vary significantly by route.
- –Student turnover at the upper school level is around a third per year, driven by corporate relocation cycles. This is standard for this type of school but worth discussing with your child before applying, particularly for secondary-age students.
- –Fees are among the highest in this guide for day places, and boarding adds considerably. Families who are self-funding rather than on a corporate package should model the full cost including the Campus and Development Fee (GBP 1,680 one-time) and annual cost escalation.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Scramblers Half Day (ages 2-3) | 2 | 13,181 |
| Pre-Scramblers Full Day (ages 2-3) | 2 | 19,075 |
| Pre-K Half Day (ages 4-5) | 4 | 15,658 |
| Kindergarten (ages 5-6) | 5 | 35,369 |
| Grades 1-2 (ages 6-8) | 6 | 39,740 |
| Grades 3-4 (ages 8-10) | 8 | 39,979 |
| Grades 5-6 (ages 10-12) | 10 | 46,894 |
| Grades 7-8 (ages 12-14) | 12 | 47,291 |
| Grades 9-10 (ages 14-16) | 14 | 52,537 |
| Grade 11 (ages 16-17) | 16 | 52,616 |
| Grade 12 (ages 17-18) | 17 | 52,934 |
| 5-day boarding + tuition (Grade 8) | 12 | 75,427 |
| 5-day boarding + tuition (Grades 9-10) | 14 | 80,673 |
| 5-day boarding + tuition (Grade 11) | 16 | 80,752 |
| 5-day boarding + tuition (Grade 12) | 17 | 81,070 |
| 7-day boarding + tuition (Grade 8) | 12 | 85,839 |
| 7-day boarding + tuition (Grades 9-10) | 14 | 91,085 |
| 7-day boarding + tuition (Grade 11) | 16 | 91,164 |
| 7-day boarding + tuition (Grade 12) | 17 | 91,482 |
Fees converted from GBP. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Additional Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee (non-refundable) | 437 |
| Enrolment deposit (refundable) | 1,987 |
| Campus and Development Fee (Grades K-12, one-time) | 2,225 |
Academic Results
| IB DP average (2023) | 35 |
| Max class size | 20 |
ACS Cobham offers the American High School Diploma from early years through to Grade 12, with IB Diploma available in the senior years. Both pathways provide strong preparation for US and UK university applications. AP courses run alongside the IB option from Grade 9 onwards.
University destinations span the full range of US, UK, and international institutions. The American-style college counselling programme begins early and is a practical asset for families targeting selective US universities. The 2023 IB average of 35 places the school in a competitive tier among Surrey and London-area international schools.
Extra Curriculars
Extra-curricular activities: 100+
Facilities: 128-acre campus in Cobham, Surrey KT11 1BL · On-site boarding houses from Grade 8 · Multiple sports pitches, athletics track, and outdoor facilities · Performing arts centre with theatre, music, and visual arts spaces · Science and technology labs across the campus · School bus network covering central London, Surrey, and Middlesex
The campus scale is the defining feature of school life at Cobham. Students have access to outdoor space, sports, and arts facilities in a way that urban international schools in London zones 1-2 cannot match. The co-curricular programme runs to more than 100 activities.
Boarding adds a social dimension that extends well beyond school hours. Day students and boarders share activities and the afternoon programme, and the weekend programme for boarders draws on the Surrey countryside, London day trips, and the school's own facilities.
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
Latest review: 2023
Inspection body: ISI
Rating: Good
ISI inspected ACS Cobham and found the school meets Independent School Standards. The inspection confirmed strong academic and boarding provision.
Accreditations
Accreditation details are not publicly listed.
Memberships
Membership details are not publicly listed.
Student Body
Around 1,400 students from more than 70 nationalities, with roughly a third American, a third British, and a third from other countries. The student body at the younger years tends to be more stable - local families with long-term Surrey roots. Upper school sees higher turnover from corporate relocation cycles.
Boarding students (from Grade 8) add a residential dimension that shapes campus culture. Boarders and day students mix through activities and the afternoon programme, which means social divisions between the two groups are less pronounced than at dedicated boarding schools.
Leadership
Barnaby Sandow
Barnaby Sandow has been Head of ACS Cobham International School since 2019. He leads a campus of around 1,400 students aged 2-18 on a 128-acre estate in Cobham, Surrey, offering the American High School Diploma and IB Diploma.