International School of London
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$31K - US$50K
Curriculum: IB
Age Range: 3-18
Students: ~500
Location: Chiswick, West London, London
Updated April 2026
In Brief
ISL is a strong option for families who want the IB in a genuinely inclusive, non-selective setting - and who value mother-tongue language support above almost everything else. The Chiswick location suits families in Richmond, Kew, and Hammersmith well; it's a harder sell from north or east London.
ISL has been running the IB in west London since 1972 - longer than almost any school in the UK. It is non-selective, which means you are not competing against academically filtered cohorts, and the school's IB DP average of 33.0 reflects that mix. The Mother Tongue programme is the school's most distinctive feature: over 30 home languages are taught, and the school has won national recognition for how it manages linguistic transition for internationally mobile students. For families where maintaining a child's first language matters, ISL is the most committed option in this guide.
The campus sits on Gunnersbury Avenue adjacent to Gunnersbury Park - 200 acres of green space that the school uses for Forest School sessions and outdoor learning. A Sports Hub built in partnership with Ealing Council and Brentford FC Community Sports Trust brings professional-grade sports facilities next door. The school won the Think Global People/Relocate Excellence in Education Award in 2025, reflecting consistent recognition from the relocation community.
The trade-off is geography. West London families will find Chiswick straightforward, but it is a long journey from north or east London. ISL does not offer transport for students taking after-school activities, and there is no bus service for Grades 11-12, so older students need to manage their own commute. Fees for 2026-27 run from GBP 24,630 at Early Childhood to GBP 39,640 for the Diploma Programme - more affordable than ASL, broadly comparable to Southbank for the senior years.
What parents value
- –Mother Tongue programme supporting over 30 home languages - the most developed bilingual language provision of any international school in this guide. The school describes itself as placing linguistic identity at the centre of its educational philosophy.
- –Non-selective admissions with rolling intake, meaning mid-year arrival - common for relocating families - is handled routinely. The school's multi-award-winning transitions programme is explicitly designed for families arriving at any point in the year.
- –Gunnersbury Park location provides 200 acres of outdoor space for Forest School. The Sports Hub (in partnership with Brentford FC) gives students access to quality PE and competitive facilities without leaving the neighbourhood.
Points of consideration
- –IB DP average of 33.0 (2025) is lower than Southbank (35.4) and considerably below the top selective schools in London. This reflects the non-selective intake, but families targeting highly academic university paths should weigh this.
- –Chiswick location works well for west London but is inconvenient from north or central London - cross-city commutes can run 45-60 minutes each way. Check the transport situation before applying.
- –No bus service for Grade 11-12 students, and no transport for after-school activities at any year group. Families relying on the bus service should confirm eligibility for their address before enrolling.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood 1 (age 3) | 3 | 32,558 |
| Early Childhood 2 (age 4) | 4 | 37,422 |
| Kindergarten (age 5) | 5 | 41,930 |
| Grade 1 (age 6) | 6 | 41,930 |
| Grade 2 (age 7) | 7 | 41,930 |
| Grade 3 (age 8) | 8 | 41,930 |
| Grade 4 (age 9) | 9 | 41,930 |
| Grade 5 (age 10) | 10 | 41,930 |
| Grade 6 (age 11) | 11 | 46,874 |
| Grade 7 (age 12) | 12 | 46,874 |
| Grade 8 (age 13) | 13 | 46,874 |
| Grade 9 (age 14) | 14 | 50,866 |
| Grade 10 (age 15) | 15 | 50,866 |
| Grade 11 (age 16) | 16 | 52,399 |
| Grade 12 (age 17) | 17 | 52,399 |
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 (new students) | 397 |
| Enrolment deposit (new students) | 2,379 |
| Capital Development fee (first year) | 2,644 |
| IB Assessment fee (Grade 12) | 1,317 |
Academic Results
| IB DP average (2025) | 33.0 |
ISL offers the full IB continuum - PYP, MYP, and DP - from Early Childhood through to Grade 12. The school is also adding the IB Career-related Programme (CP) in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship from September 2026, expanding options for students who want a more vocational sixth-form pathway alongside IB academic subjects.
IB DP results average 33.0 (2025), consistent with a non-selective intake. University destinations span UK, US, and European institutions. The school's university support begins from Grade 10.
Extra Curriculars
Facilities: Gunnersbury Park location - 200 acres for Forest School and outdoor learning · Sports Hub in Gunnersbury Park (partnership with Ealing Council and Brentford FC) · Science labs and library resource centres · Music and performing arts spaces
Most extra-curricular activities are provided free of charge by ISL staff. Some specialist activities run by external providers carry an additional fee. The Forest School programme uses Gunnersbury Park weekly - genuinely unusual for an urban school.
The school's transitions care programme supports new students and families with structured integration into the community. Parents describe the atmosphere as warm and welcoming, particularly for mid-year arrivals.
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
Latest review: 2025
Inspection body: Think Global People/Relocate Awards
Rating: Excellence in Education - Schools
ISL won the Excellence in Education - Schools category at the Think Global People/Relocate Awards 2025, recognising consistent quality in supporting internationally mobile families.
Accreditations
Accreditation details are not publicly listed.
Memberships
Membership details are not publicly listed.
Student Body
Around 500 students from 60-plus nationalities on the Chiswick campus, with no single dominant nationality group. The school is non-selective and explicitly designed for internationally mobile families - students arrive from IB schools worldwide and the PYP-MYP-DP progression makes transitions smooth.
The Mother Tongue programme means most students are formally supported in their home language alongside English - an unusual and valued feature for families maintaining linguistic identity while living abroad.
Leadership
Richard Parker
Richard Parker became Head of School at ISL London in 2023. He regularly engages with the school community through open sessions and a public blog, and has prioritised wellbeing alongside academic development since joining.