ACS International Schools

What ACS International Schools does

ACS International Schools is a UK-registered charity that operates three co-educational, non-sectarian campuses in Greater London — ACS Cobham (ages 2–18, day and boarding, on a 128-acre Surrey site), ACS Egham (ages 3–18, the first UK school to offer all four International Baccalaureate programmes), and ACS Hillingdon (ages 3–18, close to central London). The group educates approximately 2,200 students drawn from more than 70 nationalities, serving both expatriate and UK-based families seeking a globally portable curriculum. Academic provision is built around the International Baccalaureate (PYP, MYP, IBDP, IBCP), Advanced Placement courses including AP Capstone, and an ACS High School Diploma, augmented by co-curricular programmes such as the Global Citizen Diploma and the Elite Performance Pathway. Boarding is offered at Cobham via Woodlands House for students aged 13–18.

The underlying technology stack combines Apple Distinguished School status (1:1 iPad programmes for younger students, Apple laptops for older students) with Google Workspace for Education, Microsoft 365 Education, and Schoology for parent communication, alongside OpenApply for admissions and ParentPay for billing. ACS has developed an AI literacy framework embedded across the curriculum and holds the Good Future Foundation AI Quality Gold Mark. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through open days, campus and virtual tours, and direct admissions, augmented by a structured relocation-professional channel (ARP, EuRA, AMCIS), an Agent Hub for education agents, and gold sponsorships of expat community organisations.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring tuition and boarding fees on an annual billing cadence. Since becoming a UK registered charity in 2018, ACS has supplemented fee income with charitable donations (over £2.5 million raised), funding means-tested bursaries (over £5 million invested, supporting 90 students) and an outreach Partnerships Programme delivering 1.6 million student interaction hours and 100,000+ teacher training hours with local schools. The group divested its overseas ACS Doha operation to Artemis Education in 2024 and operates under the governance of a Board of Trustees chaired by Robert Macnaughton, with Robert Harrison appointed Chief Executive from 2026.

Name

ACS International Schools

Legal name

ACS International Schools

Website

https://acs-schools.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

ACS International Schools is a UK-registered charity operating three co-educational international campuses in Greater London (Cobham, Egham, Hillingdon), educating approximately 2,200 students aged 2–18 from 70+ nationalities through IB, AP, and diploma programmes, with boarding at Cobham and means-tested bursary places funded by charitable donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nonsectarian Independent Boarding Schools (EDAJABAB), International Curriculum Early Learning Academies (e.g., IB Early Years) (EDACADAK)

Keywords

• International K-12 education
• Day and boarding schools
• International baccalaureate programmes
• Advanced placement courses
• Private independent schooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Cobham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: ACS generates revenue primarily through tuition fees for day and boarding students aged 2-18 across its three schools in Greater London.
2. Boarding Fees: ACS Cobham offers world-class boarding facilities for students ages 13-18, generating additional revenue from residential students.
3. Bursaries and Charitable Donations: As a registered UK charity since 2018, ACS receives donations to support bursaries for financially-assisted places. Since becoming a charity, parents, former parents, alumni and staff have raised over £2.5 million, with over £5 million invested in financially-assisted places.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ACS International Schools provides international day and boarding education for students aged 2-18 across three campuses in Greater London (ACS Cobham, ACS Egham, ACS Hillingdon). The schools deliver International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) curricula, with ACS Egham offering the full IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, IBDP, IBCP). Boarding is provided for students ages 13-18 at ACS Cobham, and the schools operate as a UK-registered charity offering means-tested bursary places.

Product overview

ACS International Schools operates as a unified educational group comprising three non-sectarian, co-educational campuses in Greater London: ACS Cobham (ages 2-18, day and boarding), ACS Egham (ages 3-18), and ACS Hillingdon (ages 3-18). The schools share a common international curriculum built around International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) programmes, unified under a charitable mission to advance education. ACS Egham uniquely offers the complete IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, IBDP, IBCP), while ACS Cobham and ACS Hillingdon focus on IBDP, AP, and IB Career-related Programme. The group provides boarding at Cobham, co-curricular programmes including Global Citizen Diploma and Elite Performance Pathway, plus charitable Partnership and Bursary programmes. Technology integration includes Apple Distinguished School designation, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and AI literacy woven throughout the curriculum.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ACS Cobham International day and boarding school for students aged 2-18 situated on a 128-acre campus in Surrey countryside. Offers IB and AP programmes, world-class teaching and facilities including a swimming pool and sports arena, with boarding for ages 13-18.
• ACS Egham Leading IB World School set in 36 acres of Surrey countryside, offering all four International Baccalaureate programmes (PYP, MYP, IBDP, IBCP) for students aged 3-18. First school in the UK to offer all four IB programmes.
• ACS Hillingdon Leading international school close to central London, known for its rigorous curriculum, thriving community, and exceptional facilities for students aged 3-18. Offers IB, AP, ACS High School Diploma, and ACS Global Programme pathways.

Quantifiable outcome

• 69% of UK universities say IB diploma is the best pathway to thrive
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ACS has a strategic partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to elevate arts education provision. This collaboration grants ACS and partner school students exclusive access to world-class musical and production experiences, marking the initial phase of their envisioned Arts Pathway.
• SATROcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACS hosts SATROFest welcoming 21 Surrey senior schools for a day of STEM challenge activities, fostering collaboration between ACS and local schools.
• YesfestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACS partners with Yesfest, which introduces 8-10 year old children to peer networks and gives them practical tools to 'do something good in their part of the planet'. ACS seed funded this project as their first startup project and pilot.
• Eden ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACS works with the Eden Project to develop unique sustainability projects, both as individual schools and with other independent and partner schools.
• Surrey Wildlife FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACS students have engaged with the IDIOT (I Do One Thing) programme alongside Surrey Wildlife Foundation, with many initiating their own personal projects developing future solutions to combat climate change.
• Sustainable AdvantageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACS partners with sustainability experts Sustainable Advantage to capture credible data from key stakeholders on all elements of sustainability, planning towards meeting UN Sustainable Development Goals with the aim of all schools reaching net zero by 2030.
• Destination Imagination UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACS collaborates with Destination Imagination UK for creative problem-solving activities and competitions for students.
• Association of Relocation Professionals (ARP)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerACS is an active member of ARP, the leading relocation professional association, to reach internationally mobile families.
• European Relocation Association (EuRA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerACS is a member of EuRA to connect with relocation professionals across Europe serving expat families.
• AMCIS (Admissions, Marketing and Communications in Independent Schools)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerACS is a member of AMCIS, the association for admissions, marketing and communications professionals in independent schools.
• FOCUS MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerACS is featured in FOCUS magazine, an excellent resource for expatriates moving to the UK, providing valuable insights and practical advice.
• Relocate MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerACS partners with Relocate magazine to reach expatriate families seeking information about international education in the UK.
• American Wives of Surrey (AWS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerACS is a Gold sponsor of AWS, which offers a fantastic community for women new to the area, with regular meet-ups.
• All Women in Berkshire and Surrey (AWBS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerACS is a Gold sponsor of AWBS, supporting the expat women's community in the Berkshire and Surrey area.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nord Anglia Education: One of the world's largest operators of premium international schools, offering IB and other international curricula across more than 80 campuses globally. Directly comparable to ACS as a premium, fee-paying international schools group competing for the same globally mobile family segment.
• Cognita Schools: Global independent schools group operating premium private and international schools across multiple continents. Directly comparable in scale, IB-style international curriculum positioning and target expatriate/mobile-family demographic.
• Dulwich College International: Network of British-curriculum international schools across Asia and beyond, anchored by the historic UK Dulwich College. Comparable to ACS as a UK-rooted premium international schools group serving expatriate families seeking British/international curricula.
• Harrow International Schools: Premium boarding-school brand with international campuses in Asia and a UK heritage, offering IGCSE/A-level curricula. Comparable to ACS Cobham's premium boarding positioning and the wider group's international expatriate family focus.
• Wellington College International: Premium UK independent school with growing international campuses in Asia and the Middle East. Directly comparable as a UK-heritage premium international schools group focused on globally mobile families.
• TASIS The American School in Switzerland: Long-established American-style international boarding and day school in Switzerland offering AP and IB programmes. Closely comparable to ACS in offering AP alongside IB and serving expatriate/boarding families at a premium price point.
• British International School of Houston: Large British-international day school in the United States offering IB programmes to a globally mobile corporate-expatriate community. Comparable to ACS Hillingdon/Cobham in scale and target expat-family demographic.
• Rugby School: Historic UK independent boarding school with international outreach including Rugby School Thailand. Comparable to ACS as a UK premium boarding school expanding internationally for expatriate families.

Regional players

• British School of Milan: British-style international school in Italy offering IB programmes to a mainly expatriate community. Comparable in mission and IB focus to ACS Egham, though operating in a different geographic market.
• Sevenoaks School: Highly regarded UK independent boarding and day school with a strong international student mix and IB Diploma. UK-only without overseas campuses, but comparable in premium UK positioning, IB focus and expatriate family appeal.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ACSintschools
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/ACS
• Facebookfacebook.com/acsalumni
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/school/acs-international-schools
• Instagraminstagram.com/acscobhamschool
• TikToktiktok.com/@acsinternationalschools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ACS International Schools