ACS Hillingdon International School
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$19K - US$44K
Curriculum: IB · American
Age Range: 4-18
Students: ~600
Location: Hillingdon, West London, London
Updated April 2026
In Brief
ACS Hillingdon is worth a serious look if you want strong IB results, campus space, and flexibility in exit qualifications - and you're realistic about being in Hillingdon. The bus network covers a lot of London, but this is a suburban school and the daily journey from zone 1 or 2 is an honest 40-50 minutes each way.
ACS Hillingdon occupies a different tier from most London international schools. Eleven acres, a historical mansion house, tennis courts, sports fields, and a purpose-built music centre with recording studio: genuine campus infrastructure at a fee point well below central London IB competitors. An IB DP average of 35.4 in 2025 matches Southbank's top result and is one of the strongest in the country for a non-selective school. The school also offers IBCP, AP, and the American High School Diploma alongside the IB.
The campus delivers what central London schools can't. A new Sports and Activities Centre opened in 2024. The bus network runs from Westminster to High Wycombe and Windsor, making the school accessible across the western corridor. The school is explicitly set up for internationally mobile families and handles mid-year arrivals routinely. Families who've moved from other ACS schools (Cobham, Egham) describe a consistent culture and a smooth transfer.
The honest question is Hillingdon itself. It's not Chiswick and it's not St John's Wood. The UB10 postcode means a genuine journey from central or north London - without the school bus, you're looking at 50-plus minutes from zone 1. Some families on the London school circuit also raise questions about ACS's long-term ownership structure since ACS International Schools operates as a charity but has sold campuses before; this is worth discussing directly with the school. For families in west London or on the commuter belt who want campus space, multiple curriculum options, and competitive IB results, it's a strong option at a lower price than the central London alternatives.
What parents value
- –IB DP average of 35.4 in 2025 - matching Southbank and among the top results in London for a non-selective school. Offers IBDP, IBCP, AP, and American High School Diploma - more exit pathway flexibility than any other school in this guide.
- –11-acre campus with genuine facilities: sports fields, tennis courts, a music centre with recording studio, and a new Sports and Activities Centre opened in 2024. Real outdoor space is rare in London international schools.
- –Extensive bus network with door-to-door routes from Westminster to High Wycombe and Windsor. Strong transition support designed for internationally mobile families, with mid-year arrivals handled as standard.
Points of consideration
- –Hillingdon location is suburban west London. Without the school bus, the commute from central or north London is 50-plus minutes. Map your family's journey before applying.
- –ACS International Schools operates as a charity, but families on the school circuit occasionally raise questions about the group's long-term campus ownership. Worth asking the school directly about its governance and plans.
- –Exam fees for IB Diploma (approximately GBP 700) are not included in annual tuition, unlike at Halcyon. Budget for these alongside the annual Campus and Development Fee of GBP 1,680 for new students.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-K (ages 4-5) | 4 | 19,432 |
| Kindergarten (ages 5-6) | 5 | 32,677 |
| Grades 1-2 (ages 6-8) | 6 | 34,898 |
| Grades 3-4 (ages 8-10) | 8 | 34,977 |
| Grades 5-6 (ages 10-12) | 10 | 41,163 |
| Grades 7-8 (ages 12-14) | 12 | 41,481 |
| Grades 9-10 (ages 14-16) | 14 | 45,525 |
| Grade 11 (ages 16-17) | 16 | 45,763 |
| Grade 12 (ages 17-18) | 17 | 46,001 |
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) | 436 |
| Enrolment deposit (refundable) | 1,983 |
| Campus and Development Fee (Grades K-12, one-time) | 2,221 |
Photos
Academic Results
| IB DP average (2025) | 35.4 |
ACS Hillingdon offers four academic pathways at senior level: IB Diploma Programme, IB Career-related Programme (IBCP), Advanced Placement (AP), and the American High School Diploma. This breadth means students who are not natural IB Diploma candidates have genuine alternatives rather than being squeezed into a single track.
The 2025 IB DP average of 35.4 is competitive for a non-selective school and places ACS Hillingdon at the top of the London IB table alongside Southbank. The school also participates in the ACS Global Programme, which provides cross-campus academic and enrichment links between ACS schools internationally.
Extra Curriculars
Facilities: 11-acre campus - historical Hillingdon Court mansion · Sports fields, tennis courts, outdoor courts · Purpose-built music centre with recording studio · New Sports and Activities Centre (opened 2024) · iPads provided to students in Grades Pre-K to Grade 8
The campus gives students space that is genuinely unusual for a London-area international school. Sport is on-site with real pitches and courts - no need to travel to a leisure centre for PE. The new Sports and Activities Centre, opened in 2024, added further indoor capacity.
The co-curricular offer includes performing arts, sport, and an ACS Global Programme linking activities across the international network. Students in junior years are provided iPads; senior students use their own devices with a small annual IT service fee.
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
No published inspection details are currently available.
Accreditations
Accreditation details are not publicly listed.
Memberships
Membership details are not publicly listed.
Student Body
Around 600 students from Pre-K to Grade 12 on a single campus in Hillingdon. The school draws heavily from the internationally mobile community in west London and the western commuter corridor, with a significant proportion of families on corporate relocation packages.
No dominant nationality and a parent community described as active and welcoming. The school's explicit focus on transition support means families arriving mid-year - and families leaving mid-year - are managed with systems rather than improvisation.
Leadership
Martin Hall
Martin Hall joined ACS Hillingdon as Head of School in 2022, having previously led the International School of Tanganyika and held senior positions at the Inter-Community School Zurich. His academic background is in Political Economy and Philosophy.