Quick Answer for Busy Parents
ACS Cobham accepts applications year-round, so relocating families don’t have to wait for a fall deadline. Your child can start at any point in the school year if their grade has space and they have the right to study in the UK. There’s no entrance exam. Instead, the school reviews records, references, a questionnaire, and test scores, then offers a place or a waitlist spot.
How Rolling Admissions Work at ACS Cobham
Job transfers rarely line up with school calendars, and ACS Cobham is built for that reality. Applications are accepted all year, and students may join at any point in the academic year, subject to availability. Once your online application is complete, the Admissions team reviews it and contacts you if anything is missing. Successful applicants receive an offer and secure the place with an enrollment deposit.
What “Subject to Availability” Really Means
Admission can vary grade by grade. If your child is admitted but their grade is already at capacity, they join a waitlist and the school contacts you when a place opens. That’s why applying as soon as your move is confirmed matters, even without a deadline.
Short-Term Stays
If your assignment is brief, ACS Cobham will consider short-term immersion enrollment on a case-by-case basis. Contact Admissions before applying.
Finding the Right Grade: U.S. and UK Equivalents
ACS Cobham uses an American-style grade system. Here’s how its Senior School grades line up with ages and UK year groups, based on the school’s own published structure.
| Age | ACS Cobham / U.S. Grade | UK Year Group | Division |
| 10–11 | Grade 5 | Year 6 | Middle School |
| 11–12 | Grade 6 | Year 7 | Middle School |
| 12–13 | Grade 7 | Year 8 | Middle School |
| 13–14 | Grade 8 | Year 9 | Middle School |
| 14–15 | Grade 9 | Year 10 | Upper School |
| 15–16 | Grade 10 | Year 11 | Upper School |
| 16–17 | Grade 11 | Year 12 | High School |
| 17–18 | Grade 12 | Year 13 | High School |
Coming from the U.S., your child will usually continue in the same grade. Coming from the British system, use the chart and the school’s grade equivalents document to confirm placement.
Relocating Soon?
We help families time applications, confirm grade placement, and assemble records from schools abroad.
How ACS Cobham Helps New Families Settle In
ACS Cobham has long experience welcoming overseas families, and its transition support covers both students and parents. New Family Orientation Days before school starts let families meet staff and learn routines. A buddy system pairs new students with current ones, and every Middle and High School student has an advisor, backed by on-campus counselors and a pastoral care team. Parents can plug into an active Parent Student Organisation through welcome coffee mornings, local area tours, and WhatsApp groups.
Language support is part of the welcome, too. English as an Additional Language support runs from early childhood through Grade 8, with Transitional English in Grades 9 and 10, and Home Language Enrichment helps students in Grades 6–10 keep their first language. A school bus network connects families across Surrey and London, so you have real flexibility when choosing where to live.
Boarding and Visas for International Students
For families whose child will study in England while parents live elsewhere, ACS Cobham offers five-day and seven-day boarding from age 13. Boarders live in two modern houses with en-suite rooms, study zones, cinema rooms, and 24/7 medical care, supported by 27 residential staff. The school sponsors boarding students who need a Child Student visa, and its Welcome stage covers visa compliance before the first day. Raise visa questions early, since they can affect your timeline.
Making a Mid-Year Move Work for Your Child
A mid-year move is hard on any child, but rolling admissions take one pressure off: you aren’t racing a deadline. The real work is choosing the right grade, assembling a complete file quickly, and preparing your child emotionally for a new school. That’s where we come in.
Let’s Plan Your Move to ACS Cobham
From the first enquiry to your child’s first day, we’ll help you build a smooth, well-timed application.