Interview with a representative of TASIS England - an American school outside of London

At the BBSW International Secondary Education Conference in London, I always try to meet new UK boarding schools to select the best schools to recommend to my clients.

I have long wanted to talk to the representative of TASIS - The American School of England - as American schools near London are increasing of interest to my clients, who definitely prepare their children for admission to American universities, but are not ready to send them to the United States until they come of age. The American School of England is one of three TASIS schools. We have been cooperating with a TASIS school in Switzerland for a long time, and now I had the opportunity to learn more about the school near London. The interview presents several key points why I want to recommend the school to my clients.

L: Where is TASIS England?

P: the School is located in the County of Surrey, in the beautiful English village of Thorpe. The area is very quiet, and safe for children. The school is located 50 minutes from Heathrow airport. The proximity to London – an advantage for frequent trips to the capital. At the same time, the school campus is situated in a quiet rural location is just what we need for students´ safety.

L: What kind of academic program is in high school?

P: TASIS is an American school. The school was founded in 1976 to educate the children of American ex-pats. Today we accept students from all over the world - we have 57 nationalities. In high school (grades 11 and 12) we offer 2 programs: International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement. 85% of students study on the IB program and all successfully complete it.

L: How many students at TASIS? What percentage of students live on campus?

P: There are 660 students in the school. School accommodation is available from grades 9 to 12. We have 380 students in high school, half of whom live on campus. We are a full-fledged boarding school and we only have a 7-day stay. We place students in double rooms, and to encourage communication in English, we place children of different nationalities together.

L: Tell us about the lives of your students on campus.

P: Student life for middle and high school students includes tremendous travel opportunities, both after school and on weekends. Students can take full advantage of the school's proximity to London, the capital of culture in the English-speaking world. We often organize trips to theater performances, concerts, sporting events, and shopping centers. In October and February, weekly travel options are available to cities such as Paris, Florence, Athens, and Moscow. We often say that the TASIS school campus extends beyond the school's 40 hectares and encompasses London, the UK, and all of Europe.

L: Where do TASIS graduates continue their studies?

P: Half of our graduates enter American universities (51%), 35% remain in the UK and continue their studies at British Universities, the rest go to Europe or to other continents.

L: Where else is TASIS England strong?

P: The school has a good course in art and design, as well as a large selection of sports sections: golf, basketball, volleyball, tennis, lacrosse, football, rugby.

L: What are the conditions of admission to the school?

P: We have a large window for application and admission, there is no specific deadline. We primarily consider the academic performance in the previous school and take the recommendations from the teachers seriously. The school does not have entrance examinations for applicants. The level of English also depends on the class in which the student enters. TASIS has very good English language support for international students in the form of courses that can be taken in parallel with academic studies. But you need to understand that for admission to the high school directly, we require a high level of English.

L: Is it possible to go to TASIS for a semester or camp on summer vacations?

P: Yes, we accept children for short-term programs - most often for 1 semester. We also have a 3-week camp program with the study of English and optional subjects (international business, art, and design, leadership) for schoolchildren 13-17 years old.

The combination of International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement programs at TASIS England opens up a wide range of higher education institutions for students - from the UK and Europe to the USA. Thanks to the good academic preparation of schoolchildren, TASIS England students can count on admission to top universities.

Additional English language support for international students will help them quickly adapt to learning in an English-speaking environment, and if possible, I would recommend sending your child to a summer camp or 1 semester to school to prepare your child for successful high school education.