Relocation often makes it difficult to provide appropriate education for one’s children. Fortunately, the American Community Schools, England (ACS), has three outstanding campuses and programmes to solve these difficulties. Designed originally to meet the educational needs of American families based in London, ACS has evolved to serve both British and international families with dynamic campuses and small, academically stimulating classes, including an extensive International Baccalaureate Programme. So successful has the approach been that, since the School’s inception in 1967, it has grown from 35 to over 2,400 students from 60 countries, one of the largest independent schools in Europe.

Three superb locations close to London, Heathrow, and Gatwick Airports via the M25 Motorway, provide well-equipped facilities for Pre-K through to grade 13. In stately country settings in Cobham, Hillingdon, and Egham, students may choose either a programme leading to the traditional American diploma, including Advanced Placement courses, for acceptance into American colleges and universities, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma for worldwide university access. ACS is accredited on both sides of the Atlantic and the flexible curriculum is designed to facilitate the easy transition back to schools in America and other countries.

The International Baccalaureate
The IB Diploma Programme has proved itself to be the success story in secondary education over the past 30 years. Fully recognized as an entrance qualification to universities in 112 countries worldwide, this academically rigorous two-year course of study is completed by students between the ages of 16-18. To earn an IB Diploma, students are required to study six subjects (three at higher level and three at Standard Level): a literature course in the student's native language; one additional language; maths; experimental sciences; humanities; and arts or another subject from the sciences, languages or humanities. In addition, students must complete 150 hours of Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), write an extended essay (similar to a university research paper), and take a Theory of Knowledge course.

IB Diploma Assessment
Diploma candidates are assessed on a combination of coursework and external exams. Responsibility for all academic judgements with regard to examinations and coursework rests with IB trained examiners worldwide. All external marking is moderated for validity and reliability by IB Chief Examiners. Universities recognise and appreciate the reliability of the Diploma assessment.

Primary and Middle Years Programmes
Since 1997, the IBO has also offered a Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Primary Years Programme (PYP), which provide curriculum models, teaching methodologies, and assessment strategies, but the actual assessment is carried out by the individual IB schools. ACS Egham offers both the MPY and PYP. Schools may subscribe to any or all of the IB programmes;
however, none is a prerequisite for another.

The IB at ACS
ACS has offered IB courses for over 20 years, and our students have achieved high exam results. ACS consistently has a 95% or higher pass rate for full diploma candidates (the international average is approximately 80%).
ACS IB Diploma graduates have gone on to Oxford University, Cambridge University, London School of Economics, University of Edinburgh, Yale University, Stanford University, Harvard University, University of Tokyo, McGill University, Stockholm School of Economics and other fine universities around the world.

ACS Philosophy
Central to all our ACS programmes is the philosophy to develop students who are critical thinkers and responsible global citizens, prepared to achieve the highest standards both in subsequent education and throughout their careers. Students may enter our programmes at any age in their primary or secondary education. At ACS, our aim is to combine a flexible approach with high standards of scholarship and discipline to nurture the individual abilities of our students, develop confident learning strategies, and provide for ease of transfer to other schools when the time comes to move on.

Primarily a day school with an active housing office to assist parents in finding homes within the school’s busing areas, ACS also offers five-and seven-day boarding programmes on the Cobham campus. These highly-tailored services assist international families whether relocating to greater London or living elsewhere.

ACS is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (USA) and by the Independent Schools Association (UK). It is a member of the International Baccalaureate Programme, the European Council of International Schools and The Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools.

Full details about our IB, facilities, and all our programmes can be found at www.acs-england.co.uk