Discover Upper School at ACS Hillingdon

Changing schools at any age can feel daunting, but the middle years can also be a very positive time to make a transition. We have students joining us from schools and education systems around the world, and our pastoral and academic teams work closely together to help each student feel known, supported and part of the community from the outset.

No. We do not have entrance exams at ACS. Our Admissions team considers each student individually, reviewing previous school records and other relevant information to understand their academic profile and ensure we can meet their needs. In some circumstances, we may arrange additional assessments or conversations, but these are designed to help us understand how best to support the student rather than to determine whether they have “passed” an entrance test.

Yes. As an international school, we understand that families relocate at different points throughout the year, and we regularly welcome students outside the initial August entry point, subject to availability and the individual circumstances of the student.

Every child is different. Some students feel at home very quickly, while others need more time to adjust to a new school, routines and friendships. Our Advisory programme, Heads of Year and wider pastoral team provide a strong network of support, while teachers keep a close eye on both academic and social transition.

There is never a guarantee about how quickly friendships will form, but being an international community means welcoming new students is very much part of our school culture. Students have opportunities to connect through their classes, Advisory, sports, clubs, trips and other activities, helping them build relationships across the school.

That is very common at ACS. Students join us from British, American and other national and international curricula. We look at what each student has studied previously rather than expecting an exact match, and support them in adjusting to our approach to learning and assessment. As students approach Grades 11-12, we also work with families to ensure they understand the different pathways and subject choices available.

Absolutely. There will be an opportunity to ask questions during the webinar, and we encourage families to raise anything they would like to understand better about joining ACS, transitioning between education systems, or the student experience.