Our History - ACS International Schools
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Our History

Back in 1967 our founders opened their first school with one division and 35 students. Today ACS is a leader in the field of international education, enrolling 2,400 students, aged 2-18, at 3 schools in Greater London.

1935-2019

Gordon E Speed

Mr. Speed was born into a Scottish-American family living in Florida USA, where he attended school and received his MA from Florida State University. After teaching in Florida, the Dominican Republic, France and Italy, Mr Speed moved to London in 1965.

1943-2008

Emmanuel J Poularas

Mr. Poularas was born in 1943 into a Greek-Armenian family living in Port Said, Egypt. He came to London in 1962 and quickly progressed in the maritime industry.
Mr. Poularas passed away in 2008, just before ACS's 40th anniversary, while Mr. Speed also left us in 2019, marking ACS's 52nd year.

The ACS character Mr Speed and Mr Poularas created all those years ago remains fresh and constant – a genuinely caring, engaged community with a strong sense of its role and responsibilities to the local and global families we serve. A place where innovative teaching drives a dynamic learning environment.

The ACS Story so far

ACS is founded

ACS founded as The Overseas School of London at Netherall Gardens, Hampstead, London, NW3, in July, by Mr E J Poularas and Mr G E Speed.

2ND School opens

The Knightsbridge School opens, 11 Lennox Gardens, London, SW1.

3RD SCHOOL OPENS

The Hyde Park School opens, 3-4 Elvaston Place, London, SW7.

4TH SCHOOL OPENS

The Wimbledon School opens, 27 Arterberry Road, London, SW19.

ACS COBHAM OPENS

The Cobham School opens on a magnificent 128-acre campus.

6TH SCHOOL OPENS

The Parkside School opens, 83 Parkside, London, SW19.

ACS HILLINGDON OPENS

ACS Hillingdon School opens, 108 Vine Lane, Hillingdon.

PARKSIDE STUDENTS TRANSFER

The Parkside School closes, with students transferring to ACS Cobham.

STUDENTS MOVE TO COBHAM AND HILLINGDON

The Knightsbridge, Hyde Park and Wimbledon Schools close, with students transferring to Cobham and Hillingdon campuses.

HAMPSTEAD STUDENTS TRANSFER

The Hampstead School closes to channel growth into the larger Cobham and Hillingdon Schools.

BOARDING OPENS

Boarding students arrive at ACS for the first time with the opening of the Boarding House at the Cobham School.

ACS EGHAM OPENS

ACS Egham School opens, Woodlee, London Road, Egham, TW20 0HS.

WEST WING OPENS

The modern West Wing opens at the Hillingdon School.

STATE-OF-THE-ART SPORTS CENTRE

State-of-the-art Sports Centre opens on Cobham campus, housing an arena, 25 metre pool, dance studio and fitness suite.

ORGANISATION REBRAND

ACS rebranded as ACS International Schools, to better reflect our growing international mix of students.

MAPLE AT ACS EGHAM

Maple, a new art, design technology and IT building, opens at ACS Egham.

FIRST SCHOOL IN DOHA

Our first overseas school, ACS Doha, opens in Qatar.

WOODLEE SPORTS CENTRE

The Woodlee Sports Centre opens at ACS Egham, with facilities including basketball courts, indoor climbing wall, dance studio and fitness suite.

FIRST SCHOOL TO OFFER ALL IB PROGRAMMES

ACS Egham became the first school in the UK to offer all four IB programmes.

E J POULARAS PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

The E J Poularas Performing Arts Centre opens at ACS Cobham, featuring a 509-seat theatre at its heart.

NEW BOARDING HOUSE

Boarding at ACS Cobham doubles in size with the addition of Woodlands House.

A KEY MILESTONE

5th July marked our 50th anniversary.

SCIENCE MATTERS

New Science Centre opens at ACS Hillingdon with 7 state-of-the-art laboratories.

PROUD TO BECOME A CHARITY

ACS International Schools became a UK-registered charity and ACS International Schools In America Inc. a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation, was established in the US.

ORGANISATION REBRAND

ACS logo and colours changed to better represent the different ACS International Schools and groups.

OUR LANDMARK CAMPUS FOR DOHA

We opened a new state-of-the-art campus in August 2020.

ACS PURPOSE AND VALUES

New ACS purpose and values unveiled, holding close the original intentions and vision of our founders, with fresh eyes for future generations.

ARTEMIS EDUCATION

Artemis Education takeover of ACS Doha.

REFURBISHMENT OF HEYWOOD HOUSE

Heywood House is completely renovated to house the new Lower School classes.

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