The American School in London is a private, independent school in St John's Wood, London, England for students from kindergarten through high school. The school's mission statement is: "The American School in London empowers each student to thrive as a lifelong learner and courageous global citizen by fostering intellect, creativity, inclusivity and character." Many students have at least one parent with a U.S. passport, but the school's admissions policy stresses that the school tries to admit a diverse student body. The school takes children aged four through 18 and provides an education based in American pedagogy with an international perspective. The kindergarten classes are inspired by the Reggio Emilia method. The school has been rated "outstanding" by Ofsted, and has a strong track record for Ivy League and Association of American Universities collegiate placements.
History
The school was established in 1951 by journalist Stephen Eckard. It was first situated in Eckard's home, and was a school primarily for 13 students. The school's colors, orange and black, are inspired by Eckard's alma mater, Princeton University. Prior to that, the school's official colors were red and black. In 1964, the newly formed Board of Trustees made the landmark decision to raise funds for a $7 million building to house the whole school. They broke ground in 1968 with the help of David K.E. Bruce. The cornerstone was laid two years later by Ambassador Walter Annenberg. The Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher, MP, then Secretary of State for Education and Science, spoke at the building's dedication in 1971. In September 2000, the School opened a new High School wing, which included an additional 24,000 square feet of space, a new gym, art studios, high-tech computer labs and a renovated library. In June 2006, the School broke ground on the School Center for Education and the Arts, to create a 450-seat theater and new flexible teaching and performance space. The Center was completed in the winter of 2007 and officially opened in March 2008. In 2011, the School marked its 60th anniversary by celebrating Founder's Day on 21 April, the date on which founding headmaster Stephen L. Eckard opened the doors of his Knightsbridge flat to begin the American School in London in 1951. In May 2014, the School broke ground, once again, on the construction of a Community Arts Building ; an underground Aquatic & Fitness Center with a 6-lane, 25-meter swimming pool, fitness center and multipurpose instruction space ; and the renovation of a middle school science labs. These new facilities provide an additional 26,000 square feet of teaching and learning spaces. Visitors to the school have included U.S. Presidents Harry Truman, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama during their visits to London. At a visit to The American School In London, President Obama made a short speech in which he talked about the US-UK relationship and the importance of children as the future. According to the Good Schools Guide, 80% of the 1,350 students hold US passports, and half of those are multi-passport holders from dual national families. A 2018 Ofsted inspection report rated ASL as "outstanding" in all fields inspected. On the April 1st, 2020 episode of CNN 10, the ASL was given a "shout out".
