Halcyon London International School
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$52K - US$54K
Curriculum: IB
Age Range: 11-18
Students: ~190
Location: Marylebone, Central London, London
Updated April 2026
In Brief
Halcyon suits families who want a boutique, parent-founded IB school in central London, don't need a primary option, and are comfortable with a small cohort and no on-site sports. If you're after a large campus with traditional sports provision, look elsewhere.
Halcyon is the only parent-founded, not-for-profit IB school in London, structured so that fees are reinvested rather than returned to shareholders. Small (around 190 students across Grades 6 to 12), tech-forward, and genuinely non-traditional: there are no GCSEs, the IB MYP runs straight through to the Diploma, and the school runs on a US-style semester calendar. An Ofsted Outstanding rating in 2020 and accreditations from NEASC and COBIS, plus Apple Regional Training Centre and Google Reference School status, give it credibility beyond its size.
What families consistently mention is how well the school knows each child. At around 25 students per Diploma cohort, teachers function more as cognitive coaches than classroom instructors; every student has a weekly 15-minute mentor meeting built into the timetable. The fee model is inclusive: GBP 41,040 to GBP 42,912 per year covers daily vegetarian lunch, day trips, the annual residential, exam fees, and school supplies. The Explorations programme offers 34 weekly taster activities (ice skating, horse riding, robotics, flamenco) and most are included in fees.
The trade-off is real and worth understanding before you apply. There is no sports field on site: PE uses the Seymour Leisure Centre nearby, Westway football pitches, and a local ice rink. The small cohort limits university destination volume, and the vegetarian-only canteen is non-negotiable. Families with younger children need to plan ahead: Halcyon does not take students below Grade 6.
What parents value
- –Fees fund the school directly. There are no shareholder returns and no group overheads. The school was founded by parents in 2013 and remains independent.
- –Inclusive fee model covers daily lunch, residential trip, day trips, exam fees, and school supplies - fewer add-on costs than most London international schools at this price point.
- –IB DP average of 34.0 (2023) from a non-selective intake, with 31% of students scoring 37 or above. Ofsted Outstanding (2020). Apple Regional Training Centre and Google Reference School accreditations reflect genuine technology investment.
Points of consideration
- –No on-site sports field or gym. PE takes place at the Seymour Leisure Centre, Westway, and an ice rink nearby - workable, but families who prioritise competitive sport should ask specifically about provision.
- –Grades 6-12 only. Families with children under 11 need a separate primary school. The school does not feed from a lower school of its own.
- –Cohort size of around 190 total and approximately 25 Diploma students per year means fewer sports teams, smaller performing arts productions, and a narrower peer group than at larger London schools. Worth visiting to sense whether the scale suits your child.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Grades 6-9 (MYP, ages 11-15) | 11 | 54,250 |
| Grade 10 (MYP, age 15) | 15 | 55,677 |
| Grades 11-12 (DP, ages 16-18) | 16 | 56,724 |
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) | 496 |
| Enrolment deposit (refundable) | 2,379 |
| Development fee (new students) | 2,974 |
Photos
Academic Results
| IB DP average (2023) | 34.0 |
| Students scoring 37+ (2023) | 31% |
Halcyon offers IB MYP (Grades 6-10) and IB DP (Grades 11-12) with no GCSE track. Students who want to take GCSEs at 16 should look at other schools. The MYP runs without external exams at 16, which the school argues reduces pressure and allows more creative depth.
The Diploma cohort averaged 34.0 in 2023 with 31% scoring 37 or above, which is strong for a non-selective school. The school also runs Pamoja online IB courses for students who need options not available in a small setting. University counselling is individual given the cohort size, and destinations include competitive UK and US institutions.
Extra Curriculars
Extra-curricular activities: 34+
Facilities: Seymour Leisure Centre (rock climbing, basketball, swimming) - short walk from school · Westway Sports Centre - football · Queen's Ice and Bowl - ice skating · School building in Seymour Place with STEM labs, art rooms, and tech facilities
The Explorations programme runs 34 weekly activities covering sport, arts, and enrichment - ice skating, horse riding, flamenco, robotics, coding, cooking - most included in the annual fee. For a school of 190 students in a central London townhouse, the breadth is wider than you'd expect.
Sport is off-site by design. The school uses the Seymour Leisure Centre five minutes away, Westway for football, and local facilities for other activities. Families from competitive school sports backgrounds should ask directly about fixtures and teams before applying.
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 190 students from over 50 nationalities in a school that has no dominant national group and no uniform. The non-selective admissions policy means children are assessed for fit with the school's ethos rather than academic ability, and the school takes mid-year arrivals.
The small cohort creates a close-knit community - students describe knowing most people in the school by name. Parents new to London find this scale less daunting than larger campus schools. The international mix reflects London's professional relocation market, with a proportion of families on corporate packages.
Leadership
Barry Mansfield
Barry Mansfield has led Halcyon since its founding in 2013 by a group of parents who wanted a genuinely not-for-profit IB school in central London. He brings long experience in the IB system and has shaped the school's ethos around wellbeing, small class sizes, and technology integration.