Cities / London / Halcyon London International School
Halcyon London International School
Halcyon is the only not for profit IB school in London, founded in 2013 in Marylebone. Around 190 students aged 11 to 18 running MYP and Diploma only, with a focus on small classes and central London location.
In brief
Halcyon is the only not-for-profit IB school in London, founded in 2013 in Marylebone. Around 190 students aged 11 to 18, running MYP and Diploma only, with a focus on small classes and central London location.
Fees run roughly GBP 30,400 to GBP 31,900 a year, with means-tested bursaries available. The campus is a townhouse setup with no playing fields or dedicated gym, so PE and sport happen at Seymour Leisure Centre, Westway, and rented ice and pitches around the city. The school is purely secondary, no primary feeder.
Families describe rigorous teaching, IB results that punch above the school's size, and a tight-knit community where teachers know every child. Parents who moved from the British system often cite the IB's broader, less pressured approach as the main draw. The school has no on-site sport or outdoor space. Best fit for central London families set on the IB and willing to accept a city-centre footprint over playing fields.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Grades 6-9 (MYP, ages 11-15) | 11 | £41,040 |
| Grade 10 (MYP, age 15) | 15 | £42,120 |
| Grades 11-12 (DP, ages 16-18) | 16 | £42,912 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee (non-refundable) | £375 | |
| Enrolment deposit (refundable) | £1,800 | |
| Development fee (new students) | £2,250 |
Reviews
- Parents and reviewers describe a small, central-London IB school where the small size is the point. Class sizes sit in the mid-teens or below and the school markets itself as not-for-profit.
- IB Diploma results are consistently above the global average, and graduates appear in Russell Group destinations including LSE, UCL and Imperial.
- Wellbeing and identity programmes are praised. A Mother Tongue Programme supports several home languages and weekly mentoring is built into the timetable.
- One parent moving from a British school said their children were "much more engaged and motivated" at Halcyon. Reviewers describe a "tight-knit community" with active parent involvement.
- The same small size limits competitive sport and the breadth of extracurriculars; one third-party review notes only a "limited range" of SEN provision.
- Online review volume is small, so parents should weigh consistency over count.
Positives
- IB outcomes. Diploma pass rate and average scores sit above global benchmarks, with leavers heading to Russell Group universities.
- small school feel. Around 190 pupils with class sizes of 16 or fewer; reviewers describe a tight-knit community and individual attention.
- wellbeing and identity. Mentoring, mindfulness and the Mother Tongue Programme are repeatedly praised by parents and aggregator pages.
Considerations
- sport and SEN breadth. Limited competitive sport and a narrow SEN provision are noted as trade-offs of the small-by-design model.
Leadership
Jeff Lippman
In his 30 years in education, Jeff Lippman has worked in international schools in Brazil, Spain, France, and the US. Before joining Halcyon, he served in leadership roles in prominent international institutions, including the American School of Barcelona. Jeff is known for his commitment to inquiry-based learning and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. He joined Halcyon in 2024, drawn by the school's unique not-for-profit status and its pioneering approach to the International Baccalaureate curriculum. He focuses on building a student-centred environment that encourages academic curiosity and a lifelong passion for learning.
Accreditations
- ISI 01
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges 02
Academic results
- IB DP average (2023) 34.0