· updated monthly
The five schools United kingdom parents researched most this year, chosen from the 75 international schools in the country. Ranked by how many families opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026, then the full picture on curricula, class sizes and fees.
The 2026 ranking
Ranked purely by parent interest — the number of families who opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026.
Lycee Français de Charles de Gaulle de Londres is a French international school, governed by AEFE and owned by the French government. It teaches ages 2 to 18 across curricula: French, British and bespoke. The French-section aligns with the French Ministry of Education and offers a British Section plus two tracks: the Plurilingual Section and the International Section. The plurilingual track enables study of languages such as German, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Arabic, with the option of IGCSE English Language at the end of Seconde for English learners. The International Section strengthens English language and culture; continuing in Seconde yields two IGCSE exams (English Language and English Literature), and continuing to Première and Terminale leads to the Baccalauréat Français International. British Section follows the English curriculum up to GCSE and A-Levels, with compulsory French. Pupils receive at least three reports yearly. Founded in 1915, it blends roots with international education.
Rikkyo School in England is a co-educational, full-time boarding school for ages 10–18 with Elementary, Middle and High divisions. It sits on a historic campus in West Sussex and is affiliated with Japan; recognised by the Japanese Ministry of Education as an overseas private educational facility equivalent to domestic schools. The blended curriculum comprises: (1) Academic/core curriculum aligned to the Japanese MEXT requirements; (2) a Support curriculum including PSHEE, SMSC, RSE, British Values, Cultural Capital and extensive activities; (3) Outside-the-classroom learning through engagement with social, cultural, spiritual, academic and sporting organisations. Core subjects include Japanese, geography, history, mathematics, sciences, health and physical education, Visual Art, Music, English, ICT and home economics. English reading is developed through a three-year program with assessments across Knowledge & Skills, Critical Thinking & Communication, and Learning Attitude & Independence. Upper Secondary offers university guidance, including visits to UCL and a UK entrance program developed with UCL and the University of Surrey. Facilities include dormitories, dining hall, theatre, library, science laboratories, music facilities, gym, 400m track and playing fields.
Instituto Español Vicente Cañada Blanch is a public international school in London affiliated with Spain and governed by the Embassy Educational Attache. It serves students aged 3 to 18, offering a Bespoke Curriculum alongside the British Curriculum and the Early Years Foundation Stage. A distinctive feature is the Linguistic Project, a cross‑curricular framework that develops communicative competence and plurilingualism across all subjects and levels, guiding didactic-methodological and organizational practice as part of the Centre Project. The campus at 317 Portobello Road provides classrooms, a dedicated library, a laboratory, eight desdoble classrooms, and two ICT rooms that house desktops, laptops and tablets. On-site spaces include a staff room, reception, and offices for the director and head of studies, plus a dining hall with external catering and a packed-lunch option. Morning care is available, and a broad programme of after-school activities and language clubs complements academic study, supported by AMPA involvement throughout.
Located in Battersea, L'Ecole de Battersea offers a bilingual French-English education for children aged 3 to 11. The school delivers a bilingual curriculum with parallel teaching from the French national curriculum and the English National Curriculum, immersing pupils in both languages and cultures across class, playground, canteen, arts and sports, and outings. It is homologuée by the French Ministère de l'Éducation Nationale, a partner of AEFE, and registered with the English Department for Education; Ofsted inspects the school. All teachers hold English or French degrees and teach in both languages daily. The school serves Pre-Prep (3-6) and Prep (6-11); it opened in 2005 with 85 pupils and now educates up to 265. Facilities include two mezzanine floors housing an IT suite and library, interactive whiteboards, a gym, a large indoor sports hall, and a canteen. From Year 4 onward, students undertake residential trips to France and Great Britain each year.
The American School in London (ASL) is an independent day school serving students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, ages 4 to 18. It follows an American-style, standards-based curriculum and offers Advanced Placement courses across a broad range of subjects; more than 20 AP courses are available, and the program draws students from across London and beyond who pursue college-ready coursework outside the United States. In the Lower and High School, students study English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and World Language in a structure aligned with US standards. The campus blends advanced facilities with riverside access: the MILL makerspace, two libraries, athletic facilities including a 25-meter pool, and the Boathouse for rowing on the River Thames. Notable campus spaces host assemblies and performing arts productions in the School Center for Education and the Arts. ASL also runs vibrant after-school programs, a diverse array of clubs, and a Summer Program.
What’s on offer
The mix of programmes and teaching languages across all 75 schools. Many offer more than one curriculum, so totals run higher than the school count.
Number of schools teaching each curriculum.
Number of schools teaching in each language.
Size & classes
School size and class size shape day-to-day experience as much as curriculum does.
Schools grouped by total enrolment.
Average school size is 602 students · based on the 66 schools that report enrolment.
Schools grouped by typical class size.
Average class size is 15.7 students · based on the 63 schools that report it.
What it costs
Fees shown are one year for a 12-year-old (or the closest age available), excluding one-time enrolment costs.
Across the 62 schools that publish a price for a 12-year-old. All figures in GBP.
How many schools sit in each annual-fee range.
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