ACS Hillingdon Information Booklet Download /Sites/Default/Files/2021
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INFORMATION BOOKLET 2021-22 READY F R THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. We have created this brochure to answer common questions about life at ACS Hillingdon – everything from “what curriculum options do you offer?” to “where are you located?” Of course, no brochure could possibly say everything about such a vibrant, inclusive school environment. To find out more, including how our distinctive approach to education ensures our students are ready for the rest of their lives, we encourage you to visit us – either for an individual tour or as part of one of our regular Open Days. To arrange your visit, just email our admissions department at [email protected] or call us on +44(0) 1895 818402. 02 ACS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HILLINGDON 03 ABOUT OUR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS ACS Hillingdon is a co-educational day school Application procedure for around 570 students aged 4–18 from over We operate a rolling admissions process that 50 countries, supported and taught by around enables students to join us in any Grade and 150 expert staff and teachers. We offer world- at any time of the academic year, subject to renowned programmes of study – including the acceptance and availability. International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP), IB Career-related Programme (IBCP), AP Capstone Our online application process takes a holistic Diploma and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. approach, assessing each candidate individually by reviewing previous school records, references, Our campus boasts a stunning mansion house questionnaire answers and standardised test scores. and a modern extension that is home to our This helps us understand the complete student, three libraries, science and IT labs, art studios, giving us a real insight into who they are today and cafeteria, gym, auditorium and a dedicated how we can make them ready for tomorrow. music and technology centre, affectionately known as Harmony House. Our delightful Offer and acceptance of place grounds feature an all-weather playing field, We ask that each application is accompanied tennis and basketball courts and adventure by a non-refundable application fee, paid online. play areas, supported by 14 acres of off-site If your application is successful, we will then facilities for football, rugby, swimming and contact you with an offer of a place for your child. track and field. To secure the place, we require a non-refundable enrolment deposit, which we set against the second semester tuition fees. For more details of application fees, deposits and tuition costs, see the School Fees section of our website. Practicalities for international families We have many years’ experience of helping international families with the practicalities of moving to a new country. Our Welcome Guide provides useful information on settling in the UK, while our Welcome Committee (part of our exceptionally active parents’ association) are always there to help your family settle in quickly and easily. 04 ACS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HILLINGDON BURSARIES ACS Schools is a registered charity with the Calculating the bursary award mission of advancing education for all. To help Our financial awards are for up to seven years and us achieve our philanthropic goals, we offer range from 10% to 100% of the full tuition fees. financially assisted programmes in the form of In exceptional circumstances, these awards can bursaries and scholarships. also include additional school-related expenditure, so students can participate in every aspect of school Our bursary programme enables us to offer life. We calculate the size of each bursary based on places to talented students who would benefit an assessment of parental income and other financial from our world-class education, but whose family assets, so we ask for appropriate documentation circumstances make it difficult to meet our usual fees. as part of each application. We review bursary awards on an annual basis to ensure they reflect These financial awards range from 10% to 100% any changes in parents’ financial circumstances. of our full fees. All bursaries are means-tested, with Our next in-take of bursary students will be in each award dependent on the student’s individual August 2022, and we welcome applications from circumstances. In line with our values, we look for June to November 2021. students with enquiring minds, an international perspective and a strong desire to make a difference. We offer Upper School bursaries for students aged 11, 13 or 16 (Grades 6, 8 or 11). Students applying for the International Baccalaureate (IBDP) bursary should display the ability to benefit from an academically-rigorous programme. Our criteria for awarding bursaries We welcome applications from parents who believe their child will benefit from our international curriculum and who will make a real contribution to life at ACS Hillingdon. We ask only that candidate pupils are resident in the UK and have the right to remain. Following an application, we assess the student information and financial data provided, and reach a decision in the March prior to the academic year of entry. 05 SCHOOL STRUCTURE Divisions Grade placement ACS Hillingdon is organised into two divisions: Lower Children come to our school from a wide range School for our youngest students aged 4–10, and of countries and schools. This table shows Upper School for those aged 10–18. (This covers the equivalent class age and curriculum for middle school for those aged 10 to 14, and high different education systems. school for students aged 14 to 18). Each division is led by a highly experienced Principal, ably assisted by superb teaching staff and support specialists. EDUCATION AGE US / ACS HILLINGDON GRADES UK YEARS PROGRAMMES 4 Pre-Kindergarten Early childhood Reception – 5 Kindergarten Early childhood Year 1 – 6 1st Grade Lower school Year 2 – 7 2nd Grade Lower school Year 3 – 8 3rd Grade Lower school Year 4 – 9 4th Grade Lower school Year 5 – 10 5th Grade Middle school Year 6 – 11 6th Grade Middle school Year 7 – 12 7th Grade Middle school Year 8 – 13 8th Grade Middle school Year 9 – 14 9th Grade (Freshman) High school Year 10 – 15 10th Grade (Sophomore) High school Year 11 Advanced Placement 16 11th Grade (Junior) High school Lower 6th / IB Diploma Year 1 College IBCP Advanced Placement 17 12th Grade (Senior) High school Upper 6th / IB Diploma Year 2 College IBCP Advanced Placement Key Lower School Upper School 06 ACS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HILLINGDON WHAT STUDENTS LEARN AT ACS Our academic programmes are based on world-class educational standards and qualifications, including those of the International Baccalaureate and the Advanced Placement programmes. These are complemented by a Personal Development Programme (PDP), which focuses on students’ personal, social and emotional learning, and culminates in the Global Citizen Diploma. Together, these enable us to create resilient, balanced, high-achieving individuals who are ready for whatever the future has in store for them. CUR ELOP EMIC RICU L DEV MEN AD LU NA T P C M O RO A S G ER R P A ) M P INCLUDES D M P E ( PSHE • Service Learning Character Education • Digital Citizenship Fundamental Values • BASED ON Co-curricular and Extra-curricular Activities SUBJECT • Global Citizen Diploma DISCIPLINES TAUGHT THROUGH ANCHORED IN Advisory Programme • Assemblies STANDARDS Field Trips • After-school Activities Clubs • Sports Programme Some aspects taught within academic curriculum EFFECTIVE LEARNERS • CONFIDENT INDIVIDUALS • CARING CONTRIBUTORS 07 08 ACS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HILLINGDON ACADEMIC OVERVIEW Global perspective Developed independently of national standards, All ACS International Schools offer a unique the IB incorporates best practice drawn from educational experience for students aged 4 to 18, research and a global community of more than characterised by a bold international approach that 4,000 top-performing schools, encouraging proudly asserts our common global citizenship. students of all ages to think critically, challenge At the heart of this experience is a commitment to assumptions and adopt a global perspective – providing exactly the right support for each student, with some students choosing multilingual learning. so they thrive within our culture of high expectations. As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, Our other premier academic programme is the we support a wide range of student interests and College Board’s Advanced Placement Programme abilities, including the language requirements (AP), leading to the AP Capstone Diploma. This of globally-mobile students and their families. is designed to help motivated students pursue US university-level studies while still in High Another distinctive feature of ACS culture is our School, giving them the opportunity to dig deep attitude to assessment, which is based on identifying into subjects that interest them, developing their what each individual student needs to do to improve skills and analytical potential in the process. This and excel. We use high-quality data and feedback is significant for students likely to study further regarding each student’s achievement to adjust our in the USA, as many US colleges and universities teaching strategies, improve individual performance offer credit or placement based on successful AP and celebrate learning. examination results. AP results are also widely accepted in UK universities. The result is a flexible system that works for each student, regardless of their previous achievement. Well-respected national and At the heart of this is our rigorous academic international standards programme, designed to help highly-ambitious The curriculum at ACS Hillingdon is informed learners excel in widely-respected international by well-established, professional standards that qualifications that support strong applications to provide students with clear milestones to guide the world’s top universities. At the same time, we their academic development. Our standards encourage all our students to pursue individual are research and evidence-based, helping to passions and explore personal interests – with a prepare students for the demands of university, particular emphasis on sport, visual and performing career and civic life.