The American School in London
St John's Wood, London · Founded 1951 · K1–Grade 12
Overview
| Full Name | The American School in London (ASL) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1951 by journalist Stephen Eckard — began with 13 students in his own home |
| Location | 1 Waverley Place, St John's Wood, London NW8 (current site since 1971) |
| Type | Private, independent, co-educational day school |
| Grade Range | K1 through Grade 12 (Ages 4–18) |
| Enrollment | ~1,432 students (696 boys, 736 girls) |
| Nationalities | 70 countries represented |
| Demographics | ~70% hold US passports • ~70% hold non-US passports • ~50% are dual citizens |
| Campus Policy | Phone-free campus |
| Accreditations | MSA, CIS, NAIS, ISA |
| Ofsted (Nov 2023) | Outstanding — ALL categories |
| Website | asl.org |
Academics
| Curriculum | American curriculum + 20+ Advanced Placement (AP) courses |
|---|---|
| IB | Not offered |
| AP Pass Rate (3+) | 93% (1,020 exams taken, May 2025) |
| Graduation Req. | 24.5 credits + minimum 3 AP exams |
| Early Years | Reggio Emilia-inspired approach |
| Class Size (LS) | 18–22 students |
| Class Size (HS) | ~15 students |
AP Courses Offered (20+)
- English: AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature & Composition
- History/Social Studies: AP US History, AP European History, AP World History, AP Government & Politics, AP Economics (Macro/Micro), AP Psychology
- Mathematics: AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics
- Sciences: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1, AP Physics C, AP Environmental Science, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles
- World Languages: AP Spanish Language, AP French Language, AP Mandarin Chinese
- Arts: AP Studio Art (Drawing, 2D, 3D), AP Art History, AP Music Theory
Graduation Requirements
| Subject | Credits Required |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Social Studies | 3 |
| World Languages | 3 |
| Mathematics | 2 |
| Science | 2 |
| Arts | 2 |
| Well-being | 2 |
| Technology | 0.5 |
| Electives | 1 |
| Minimum AP Exams | 3 |
| Minimum GPA | 1.67 |
| Total | 24.5 credits |
Student Body
| Total Students | ~1,432 (696 boys, 736 girls) |
|---|---|
| Nationalities | 70 countries |
| US Passport Holders | ~70% |
| Non-US Passport | ~70% (significant overlap = ~50% dual citizens) |
| Average Tenure | 5 years |
| Annual Departure | ~10% |
| New Students/Year | 250–300 each August |
| Re-enrollment Rate | 89% |
| SEN Students | 10.6% identified with special educational needs |
College Placement (Class of 2025)
| Total Applications | 1,608 applications from 135 students across 10 countries |
|---|
Acceptances by Region
| Region | Count | Notable Institutions |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 232 | Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, UCLA, University of Chicago, Boston University, Tufts |
| UK (Russell Group) | 87 | Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College, UCL, King's College London, University of Edinburgh, St Andrews, Durham, Exeter |
| Canada | 18 | McGill, University of Toronto, Queen's University |
| Europe (non-UK) | 14 | Various |
| Other | 2 | — |
Leadership Team
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Matthew Horvat | Head of School (since July 2023) |
| Devan Ganeshananthan | High School Principal |
| Peter Lutkoski | Middle School Principal |
| Sacha McVean | Lower School Principal |
| Nadjib Aktouf | Director of Technology |
| Mirangela Buggs | Director of Diversity, Inclusion, Community & Equity (DICE) |
| Sarah Donovan | Director of Teaching & Learning |
| Megan Gomm | Director of Human Resources |
| Jim Heynderickx | Director of Operations |
| Belinda Nicholson | Director of Student Support |
| John Robinson | Director of Finance |
| Siofra Rucker | Senior Leadership |
Faculty Profile
| Nationalities | 14 nationalities represented among faculty |
|---|---|
| US Faculty | ~65% |
| Avg Tenure | 9 years |
Tuition & Fees (2025–26, including 20% VAT)
| Division | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Lower School (K1–Grade 4) | £40,188 |
| Middle School (Grade 5–8) | £44,616 |
| High School (Grade 9–12) | £46,428 |
Additional Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Capital Fee (one-time) | £2,400 |
| Application Fee | £360 (waived for financial aid applicants) |
| Re-enrollment Deposit | £3,000 |
| School Bus (annual) | £4,830 |
| SLD Support (part-time) | £4,740 |
| SLD Support (full-time) | £9,300 |
Financial Aid
| Recipients | 225+ students currently receiving aid |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 25%–99% of tuition (means-tested) |
| Reassessment | Annual reassessment required |
Facilities
- Aquatics: 25-metre, 6-lane swimming pool + fitness centre (underground complex)
- MILL Makerspace: 3D printers, laser cutters, robotics equipment
- Theatre: 450-seat performing arts theatre
- Community Arts Building: Opened 2016, designed by Walters & Cohen architects
- Athletics: 2 gymnasiums, Canons Park playing fields (off-site)
- Rowing: Boathouse in Chiswick on the Thames
- Library: Mellon Library
- Technology: 1:1 laptop programme (High School)
- Clubs: 100+ sports and activity clubs
Inspections & Accreditations
| Body | Rating | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | Outstanding — ALL categories | November 2023 |
| MSA | Fully Accredited | Current |
| CIS | Accredited | Current |
| NAIS | Member | Current |
| ISA | Member | Current |
Admissions
| Main Entry Points | K1 and Grade 6 (largest intake years) |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | January 15 |
| Documents Deadline | January 31 |
| Decisions | End of February |
| Application Fee | £360 (waived for financial aid applicants) |
Accepted Standardised Tests
- ISEE, SSAT, CTP, MAP, PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP exams
Tests NOT Accepted
- IOWAs, CAT, TerraNova, UK SATs
Required Documents by Division
- Lower School (K1–G4): Application form, birth certificate, passport, current school reports (2 years), teacher recommendation, developmental assessment (K1)
- Middle School (G5–G8): Application form, transcripts, standardised test scores, English/Maths teacher recommendations, student statement
- High School (G9–G12): Application form, full transcripts, standardised test scores, counsellor recommendation, English/Maths teacher recommendations, personal essay
Student Life & Co-Curricular
Campus Culture
- Phone-free campus policy — devices collected at start of day and returned at dismissal
- Average student stays 5 years; 250–300 new students join each August
- 89% re-enrollment rate indicates high family satisfaction
- ~50% of students hold dual citizenship, creating a uniquely bicultural community
Athletics & Activities
- 100+ sports and activity clubs
- Rowing programme with dedicated boathouse in Chiswick on the Thames
- Competitive interscholastic leagues
- Canons Park playing fields for outdoor sports
- Underground swimming pool complex (25m, 6 lanes)
Arts & Innovation
- Community Arts Building (2016, Walters & Cohen) — purpose-built for visual and performing arts
- 450-seat theatre for drama productions
- MILL makerspace — 3D printing, laser cutting, robotics, electronics
- Mellon Library — research and reading across divisions
Student Support
- 10.6% of students identified with special educational needs — dedicated SLD programme
- Part-time SLD support (£4,740/yr) and full-time SLD support (£9,300/yr) available
- College counselling programme with strong track record of Ivy League and Oxbridge placements
Parent Sentiment
Positive
"Ofsted Outstanding across all areas — the inspectors were genuinely impressed."
"Excellent facilities — the pool, MILL makerspace, and arts building are world-class."
"Strong college placement including Ivy League and Oxbridge acceptances every year."
"Child-centred pedagogy that feels less pressured than the British independent school system."
"The phone-free campus policy has made a visible positive difference in student engagement."
Negative
"Among London's most expensive day schools — £46,428 per year at the top end before extras."
"The campus is described as a 'maze' with limited outdoor space for the number of students."
"Long waitlists at popular entry points, especially K1 — some families wait years."
"American sports focus (baseball, basketball, football) may not suit families wanting traditional UK sports."