Cities / London / Southbank International School
Southbank International School
London's most established full IB continuum school, operated by Cognita, running from age 2 through the Diploma across three central campuses: early years and primary in Kensington and Hampstead, then secondary at Westminster.
In brief
London's most established full IB continuum school, operated by Cognita, running from age 2 through the Diploma across three central campuses: early years and primary in Kensington and Hampstead, then secondary at Westminster.
Founded in 1979, Southbank teaches the IB Primary Years Programme at the two junior campuses before children move up to Westminster at 11 for the MYP and DP. The community is unusually international even by London standards, with around 70 nationalities and more than 20 languages taught at Westminster, drawing diplomatic, finance, and academic families on London postings.
Families consistently describe the kindergarten and primary years as nurturing and well-staffed, with teachers invested in each child. The Westminster diploma cohort has produced strong IB results year on year. Considerations are practical rather than academic: fees climb steeply through secondary, the campuses are split across the city so siblings can end up at different sites, and the Cognita ownership puts Southbank in the for-profit network category rather than the charitable trust model some London families prefer.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood 3 (half day) | 3 | £20,172 |
| Early Childhood 3 (full day) | 3 | £27,960 |
| Early Childhood 4 (full day) | 4 | £32,163 |
| Kindergarten - Grade 2 (PYP, ages 5-8) | 5 | £38,709 |
| Grades 3-5 (PYP, ages 8-11) | 8 | £39,858 |
| Grades 6-10 (MYP, ages 11-16) | 11 | £44,508 |
| Grades 11-12 (DP, ages 16-18) | 16 | £46,338 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| PTA fee (annual) | £42 | |
| Application fee (non-refundable) | £300 | |
| Refundable deposit | £2,000 | |
| Capital Development Fee (first year) | £3,000 |
Reviews
- Parents value the IB-only academic programme and the genuinely international student body, with strong Diploma results and a long IB pedigree.
- Cognita ownership is a recurring complaint. Parents have publicly accused the operator of running the school for profit, with one parent group forming to push back and some families later leaving to start a separate non-profit IB school.
- Leadership has churned. One ex-student described three principals in three years and called the structure unchangeable.
- Several newer posts flag a drop in teaching quality, especially in STEM, and a thinner social fabric than parents expected at this fee level.
- Facilities are constrained by the central London sites. Limited outdoor space, no on-site sports fields, and reliance on external venues come up repeatedly.
- The 2014 Vahey safeguarding scandal still surfaces in older threads. Subsequent ECIS recognition for safeguarding reform is the school's main counter.
- Very small live-Reddit pool. Most signal is from Mumsnet, school-aggregator pages, and historical press coverage.
Positives
- IB delivery and academic results. Long IB experience across PYP, MYP and DP. DP averages typically in the high 30s, well above the world average. Parents who specifically want IB-only treat this as a draw.
Considerations
- Cognita ownership and parent dissatisfaction. Parents publicly criticise the operator for prioritising profit over the school. A parent body formed in 2011 and some families departed to start a separate non-profit IB school.
- Leadership turnover. Ex-students and parents flag repeated principal changes, including three principals in three years on one campus, and describe the structure as resistant to change.
- Teaching quality drift. Older reviews praise teaching. Newer posts report falling instruction quality, especially in STEM, and apathetic faculty in places.
- Facilities and central London constraints. Three small urban campuses with no dedicated sports fields, limited performing-arts space, and dependence on external gyms. Multi-campus logistics are a parent complaint when siblings sit on different sites.
- Safeguarding history. The Vahey case still surfaces. The school points to subsequent ECIS recognition for rebuilt safeguarding processes.
Leadership
Siobhan McGrath
Siobhan McGrath is the Executive Principal of Southbank International School, dedicated to fostering a vibrant learning environment that emphasizes academic excellence and personal growth. With extensive experience in education, she leads the school in its mission to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
Academic results
- IB DP average (2025) 35.4
- IB DP pass rate (2025) 100%