Good to know
Good to Know
- Since January 2025, UK private/international school fees carry 20% VAT, which is now built into most schools' published headline tuition — always check whether a quoted figure is VAT-inclusive.
- Headline tuition is rarely the full cost: registration fees, one-off capital/development levies, exam fees, transport, and trips commonly add 10–20% on top of the printed price.
- Some of the most famous 'London' boarding options (TASIS, ACS Cobham) are actually located well outside Greater London in the Surrey commuter belt — worth confirming commute times before committing if you need a genuinely central-London day school.
- If you expect to relocate again, IB Diploma schools are often the easiest to transfer into or out of internationally; if you're likely to return to the US, an American-curriculum school (like ASL) may ease that transition; British-curriculum schools (IGCSE/A-Level) are well suited to families settling long-term or targeting UK universities.
- Rolling admissions at London international schools can create a false sense of flexibility — the most in-demand year groups (Reception, Year 3, Year 7, Year 12) still fill up fast, so registering interest 9-12 months before a September start is the realistic norm, not the exception.
- If your child is 9.5 or older and applying to a UK independent school from overseas, budget time and a fee for the UKiset entrance test — book test slots at least four weeks before the school's deadline since slots fill up.
- For state (government-funded) schools, remember you apply through the local council, not the school directly — arriving mid-year without going through the local authority process will significantly reduce your chances of getting your first-choice school.
- UK homeschooling has very light-touch bureaucracy today (no registration needed if your child never attended school), but a new law passed in April 2026 will eventually require a 'children not in school' register in England — implementation isn't expected before 2027, so requirements may tighten during a multi-year stay.
- London's home education community is genuinely active and organized (not just informal Facebook chatter) — groups like Children's Village in SE London run regular structured sessions, fairs and open days that new arrivals can try before committing.
Schools
The American School in London (ASL)
- Area
- St John's Wood, NW8
- Age Range
- 4–18 (Pre-K to Grade 12)
- Notes
- ASL does not offer the IB or UK exams; older students take AP courses within an American curriculum model.
Tuition
- Period
- per year, 2025–26, VAT included
- High School
- £46,428
- Lower School
- £40,188
- One Off Fees
- Non-refundable tuition/re-enrolment deposit of £2,400–£3,000 and a one-time £2,400 capital fee for new students.
- Middle School
- £44,616
Curricula
- American (US High School Diploma, AP)
International School of London (ISL)
- Area
- Chiswick, west London
- Age Range
- 3–18
- Notes
- ISL offers the full IB continuum and places strong emphasis on mother-tongue language maintenance, supporting over 20 home languages.
Tuition
- Note
- Headline annual tuition not published in the sources reviewed; the school lists a £1,800 enrolment deposit, a £2,000 first-year capital development fee (then £300/year), and an IB Diploma assessment fee of £996. Base tuition likely falls within the citywide £18,000–£42,000 range depending on year group.
Curricula
- IB (PYP, MYP, DP)
Halcyon London International School
- Area
- Marylebone, central London
- Age Range
- 11–18
- Notes
- Offers the IB MYP and DP continuum in central Marylebone.
Tuition
- Note
- Specific published tuition not independently confirmed at the time of research; expect it to sit within the citywide premium range (roughly £30,000–£42,000/year for secondary).
Curricula
- IB (MYP, DP)
Southbank International School
- Area
- Multiple campuses including Westminster/Portland Place, Kensington and Hampstead
- Age Range
- 3–18
- Notes
- Known for a 'school without walls' philosophy with no compulsory uniform, and a London Exploration Society that ties the city's museums and parks into the curriculum.
Tuition
- Note
- Specific published tuition not independently confirmed; falls within the citywide £18,000–£42,000 general range.
Curricula
- IB (PYP, MYP, DP)
Dwight School London
- Area
- North London
- Age Range
- 3–18
- Notes
- Uses the International Baccalaureate as its overarching curriculum framework across all age groups.
Tuition
- Note
- Specific published tuition not independently confirmed at the time of research.
Curricula
- IB (full continuum)
Deutsche Schule London (German School London)
- Area
- Richmond, southwest London
- Age Range
- 3–18 (Kindergarten to Abitur)
- Notes
- A recognised German Auslandsschule offering continuous education from Kindergarten through to the German International Abitur or IB Diploma, with a Fachhochschulreife option added from 2023/24.
Tuition
- Note
- Specific published tuition not independently confirmed at the time of research.
Curricula
- German curriculum
- Bilingual Abitur
- IB Diploma
Lycée International De Londres Winston Churchill (LILWC)
- Area
- Wembley (Brent Town Hall), northwest London
- Age Range
- 3–18
- Notes
- A not-for-profit AEFE-network school that added the IB Diploma Programme in 2019, blending French pedagogy with international assessment pathways.
Tuition
- Note
- Specific published tuition not independently confirmed at the time of research.
Curricula
- French national curriculum
- Cambridge IGCSE
- IB Diploma Programme
Collège Français Bilingue De Londres (CFBL)
- Area
- Kentish Town / Fitzrovia, central London
- Age Range
- 3–15
- Notes
- Operates under English law, affiliated with the AEFE network and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Primary teaching split 50/50 between native French- and English-speaking teachers.
Tuition
- Note
- Specific published tuition not independently confirmed at the time of research; language-medium schools generally sit toward the lower end of the citywide fee range (from roughly £6,500/year in some cases).
Curricula
- French National Education curriculum (AEFE homologation)
- bilingual French–English
ÉCole Jeannine Manuel London
- Area
- Bedford Square, central London
- Age Range
- 3–18
- Notes
- Sister school of the Paris lycée of the same name, offering a co-educational bilingual French/English programme in central London.
Tuition
- Note
- Specific published tuition not independently confirmed at the time of research.
Curricula
- French bilingual curriculum
Stewart Bilingual School
- Area
- South Kensington, central London
- Age Range
- 2–11
- Notes
- A family-owned bilingual nursery-to-primary school with sister campuses in Paris and Bordeaux, feeding into British secondary schools or French lycées.
Tuition
- Note
- Specific published tuition not independently confirmed at the time of research; likely in the lower-to-mid range given the primary-only age range.
Curricula
- Dual British and French curriculum
King's College School Wimbledon
- Area
- Wimbledon, southwest London
- Age Range
- 7–18 (boys); girls admitted 16–18 for sixth form)
- Notes
- Pupils choose between A-Levels or the IB Diploma Programme in the sixth form.
Tuition
- Note
- Specific published tuition not independently confirmed; premium British day schools of this type typically fall in the £30,000–£45,000+/year senior-school range.
Curricula
- British (A-Levels)
- IB Diploma Programme
Godolphin and Latymer School
- Area
- Hammersmith, west London
- Age Range
- 11–18 (girls)
- Notes
- Follows the British system with the IB Diploma offered alongside A-Levels in the Sixth Form; language study begins in Year 7.
Tuition
- Note
- Specific published tuition not independently confirmed at the time of research.
Curricula
- British (A-Levels)
- IB Diploma Programme (sixth form)
North London Collegiate School
- Area
- Edgware, north London
- Age Range
- 4–18 (girls)
- Notes
- In the Sixth Form, students choose between the IB Diploma or a combination of A-Level subjects.
Tuition
- Note
- Specific published tuition not independently confirmed at the time of research.
Curricula
- British (A-Levels)
- International Baccalaureate
Marymount International School London
- Area
- Kingston upon Thames, southwest London
- Age Range
- 11–18 (girls)
- Notes
- An independent Catholic day and boarding school for girls, and the first all-girls' school in the UK to adopt the IB curriculum.
Tuition
- Note
- Specific published tuition not independently confirmed at the time of research; boarding option adds a significant premium.
Curricula
- IB (MYP, DP)
Notable Schools Outside Greater London But Commonly Used By London Families
TASIS England (The American School in England)
- Area
- Thorpe, Surrey — roughly 46-acre campus outside Greater London, not a short commute from central London
- Age Range
- 3–18 (Pre-K to Grade 12); boarding from Year 7
Tuition
- Note
- Boarding fees run roughly £35,000–£48,000/year including accommodation; day fees are lower. Included here despite the distance because it is one of the most frequently used boarding/day options by London-based international families.
Curricula
- American High School Diploma / AP
- IB Diploma Programme
ACS International School Cobham
- Area
- Cobham, Surrey — about 20 miles south of central London
- Age Range
- 2–18
Tuition
- Note
- Specific tuition not confirmed at the time of research; boarding (ages 12–18) typically falls in the £35,000–£48,000/year range for full boarding.
Curricula
- IB Diploma Programme
- American curriculum with AP
Homeschooling
- Legality
- Home education (legally termed 'Elective Home Education' or EHE) is fully legal across the UK, including England/London, under a right established by Section 7 of the Education Act 1996, which requires parents to ensure their child receives an efficient, full-time education suitable to their age, ability and aptitude, either through school attendance or 'otherwise.'
- Upcoming Change
- The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026 and creates a statutory framework for a mandatory register of 'children not in school' in England, but this is not yet in effect in practice, with implementation expected earliest in 2027.
- Curriculum And Oversight
- Parents are not required to follow the National Curriculum, hold any teaching qualification, or replicate a school timetable; local authorities have no automatic right of home access and there is no routine inspection regime, though a local authority can intervene if it appears a child is not receiving a suitable education.
- Registration Requirements
- In England there is currently no requirement to register with a local authority to begin home educating a child who has never attended school; if a child is being withdrawn from an existing school, parents must inform the school in writing, and the school then notifies the local authority.
Local Community And Co Ops
- Exists
- Yes
- National Support Charity
- Education Otherwise, one of the UK's longest-established home education charities, provides advice, legal support and a directory of local groups that includes London-area contacts.
- Description
- London has an active home education scene, reflecting the fact that home education numbers have grown substantially in England in recent years. Documented examples specific to London include Children's Village, a home education group and community based in SE London (Blackheath/Lee area) running regular sessions, a home ed winter party, a summer fair, and open days for families to try the group; there are also borough- and area-specific groups (e.g. a 'Home Education – North West London' group) and a national directory (home-ed.info) listing local groups by region, including London-area entries.
International And Bilingual School Enrollment
- Overview
- Most London international and bilingual schools run rolling or termly admissions rather than working to one national deadline, but the popular year groups and the most in-demand schools still fill up early, so foreign families should not assume rolling admissions means relaxed timing.
- Entry Points
- Schools most often admit new students at the start of a key stage — Reception, Year 3, Year 7 and Year 12 — with mid-year places depending entirely on whether an existing child has left; British independent schools also commonly use 11+ and 13+ entry testing rounds.
- Entrance Testing For Overseas Applicants
- Many UK independent schools use UKiset (UK Independent Schools' Entry Test) as the standard assessment for overseas applicants; it can be taken online with live invigilation or at approved centres in over 100 countries, with results available within three working days, and it is recommended to book test slots at least four weeks ahead of a school's deadline since slots are limited.
Cost Notes
Examples
Non-refundable Application Fee at an American-curriculum School (ASL)
- Non Refundable Application Fee At An American Curriculum School (ASL)
- £360
UKiset Overseas Entrance Test Fee
- UKiset Overseas Entrance Test Fee
- £295
Typical Confirmation Deposit Range at UK Independent Schools
- Currency Local
- GBP
- Amount USD Range
- 680–2720
- Amount Local Range
- 500–2000
Waitlist Dynamics
- How It Works
- Most international schools admit students on a rolling basis until a grade is full, after which further applicants are waitlisted; applying earlier in the cycle (e.g. in spring/early summer rather than in August) gives genuinely better odds even between equally qualified children.
- Moving Positions
- Waitlists move as accepted families decline or transfer out, and schools usually track a waitlist order so a family can ask roughly where they stand, though policies on how much follow-up contact is welcomed vary by school.
- Response Deadlines
- Once offered a place, families are typically given a limited window (often around two weeks) to confirm and pay a deposit; missing this can mean the place is passed to the next waitlisted family.
- Priority Categories
- Schools commonly give highest priority to returning families and to siblings of current students, with some schools also giving weight to certain nationalities or to families sponsored by particular corporate relocations; beyond priority categories, admission is a subjective 'fit' assessment based on ability, learning profile and family engagement.
Recommended Timing
- Mid Year Moves
- For mid-year relocations, families should contact admissions offices as soon as travel dates are confirmed, since availability at rolling-admission schools changes week to week; mid-year arrivals are generally easier at IB and American-curriculum schools than at British selective schools, where waitlists tend to be longer.
- Assessment Window
- Assessments and interviews tend to cluster in the winter and spring terms, with offers following soon after, for entry the following September.
- For A September Start
- For a September start, a sensible timeline is to research schools and register interest nine to twelve months ahead, complete applications and assessments six to nine months before, and confirm the place three to six months out.
Required Documents
- Child's passport and visa/immigration status documents
- Parents' passports and proof of a London address, or evidence of the relocation (an accepted offer letter can sometimes serve as address proof for Skilled Worker visa arrivals in the first weeks)
- Birth certificate
- School reports and transcripts, typically covering the last two to three years, translated into English if needed
- A reference from the current school, if requested
- Any standardised assessment results (some American-curriculum schools require this for Grades 5-12) or educational psychologist reports for children with additional learning needs
Typical Process Steps
- Research and shortlist schools, ideally visiting in person or attending an open day
- Register interest / submit an application and pay a non-refundable registration fee
- Assessment stage: an age-appropriate test, interview, taster day, and sometimes a reference from the current school
- Offer issued
- Acceptance confirmed by paying a deposit (and often the first term's fees)
London has one of the largest and most curriculum-diverse international/bilingual school markets in Europe, covering IB, American, British-international, French, German, Italian and other national curricula, plus dual-language bilingual programmes. This entry lists named schools with a physical presence in Greater London; a couple of very well-known 'London-area' boarding schools sit in the Surrey/Hertfordshire commuter belt and are flagged as such rather than presented as central-London options.
General Fee Range
- Low
- £18,000
- High
- £42,000
- Premium Sixth Form High
- £55,000
- Note
- Annual day-school tuition fees at London international schools typically range from about £18,000 to £42,000 depending on the year group and school, with sixth-form fees at the most prestigious day schools approaching £55,000 per year.
Typical Extra Costs
Beyond headline tuition, families should budget for registration fees (roughly £500–£1,500), capital/development levies (sometimes £2,000–£5,000 per family), exam fees (£80–£150 per IGCSE/A-Level/IB/AP subject), transport, uniforms and trips, which can add 10–20% on top of the printed tuition price. Since January 2025, UK private school fees carry 20% VAT, which most schools now show built into their headline tuition figure.
Citywide Average Fee
- Citywide Average Fee
- £24,434
Price for one year of fees for a 12-year-old, excluding one-time enrolment fees, averaged across international schools in London.
State School Note For Foreign Families
The majority of children in Britain attend government-funded (state) schools, and for these, international families apply through the local authority rather than the school itself, ranking preferred schools on a local-authority form; applying after the normal deadline or mid-year ('in-year') gives a smaller chance of securing a first-choice state school.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
This section has no cited sources.
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.