ACS Cobham - catchment

[goinggetstough]

Property prices are very high near ACS Cobham, how far out do students live from the school. Does anybody have any others comments about the school - both positive and negative comments welcome.

A friend's child went there until 5 ish,a few years back, and they lived just outside Guildford. Not sure catchment applies as such, but the bus routes should give you an idea hwo far they cover.

I live near it and have several friends with children there. Not sure why you would chose it unless you have a specific desire for your children to be educated in the US school system - its VERY american (all my friends are from the states) and the educational approach isn't always that easily transferable to UK education system eg University - a few of my friends children have experienced difficulties with this.

Also full of v.wealthy expats, lots of whom have education paid for as part of their expat package. If you can't afford to live nearby (and there are some more affordable areas within a decent commute from the school), then I'd imagine that you would be amongst the less privileged group there, and local reports suggest that those less privileged children are not treated in the most welcoming way.

ACS teaches the IB program - Early Years, Middle Years and the Diploma.

The US High School diploma is only for a handful of students transferring in late.

I know lots of families who use ACS Egham and they like it. The students are from all countries and it is not dominated by US students, but the culture is quite American (American sports, terminology for school things such as 'recess' instead of break).

I live in that general area and have a friend who teaches there.

Facilities are undoubtedly superb.

I think it's moved towards being international, rather than exclusively American, but does have a strong American twang.

Have heard the same as TheBossofMe, that children from more "normal"/less well off background can be made to feel out of place. So tread cautiously if you can't afford the property prices in the vicinity (which are, indeed, eye-watering and are the reason we don't live in the neighbouring town, even though DH's office is there!)

CertainAge - ACS Egham offers early and middle years IB, but Cobham doesn't - it follows a US-type grade programme, modelled on the US grade-school and junior high system. Egham and Cobham schools are very different, according to one friend who has had children at both (interestingly transferred from Cobham to Egham since she thought it was better for her daughter who wanted to go to Uni in UK rather than US).

I come from that area originally and I would be very wary of living too far away from the ACS as the traffic is absolute hell in the mornings. I would say any more than a 3 or 4 mile radius would be too much.

Oooh yes - the traffic is a bitch. Mainly due to the huge volumes of traffic going to the school from a very short distance away - ACS pupils don't really walk!

Hadn't thought of that aspect. Yes, DH travels to Esher from Oxshott direction every morning and it's nose to tail all the way. Very, very tedious.

The vast majority of parents live either in Cobham or the wider Elmbridge borough (i.e. Esher, Oxshott, Weybridge, Walton-On-Thames). If you live further away, it may impact your child's ability to join in the social scene after school, ex. a journey from Kingston can take 40minutes in traffic.
Regarding property prices; yes, they are high, but the school fees are among the highest in the UK for a day school, so the assumption is if you can afford the school fees you can afford property close to the school.
The reality is that many/most parents will live in private roads in Elmbridge in detached 5-bedroom homes, which cost several million pounds. Some parents will have this included in their expat package but virtually all are very high up in their respective industries - with their children then also going on luxury vacations, wearing designer clothes etc. As they get older, it is also common for the 'popular' children to go to luxury restaurants, shops and clubs in London, spending for example £500 in an evening. In short, there is definitely a 'super rich' factor to this school; so if you struggle to earn enough for a house close to the school or pay the fees, it may be difficult for dc to fit into the environment.

Given that OP posted over 10 years again I'm not sure it's relevant any more!