American School in England

The American School in England (TASIS England)
Location
Thorpe, Surrey, England
Information
School type Boarding and Day
International school
Religious affiliation(s) No Religious Affiliation
Founded 1976
Founder Mary Crist Fleming (September 10, 1910 -- January 27, 2009)
Sister school The American School in Switzerland
Headmaster Dr. Mindy Hong
Faculty 100+
Grades Pre-K through Post-Graduate
Enrolment 750 (550 Day, 200 Boarding)
International students 56 Nationalities Represented
Average class size 15
Student to teacher ratio 1:8
Colour(s) Blue and White
Sports Basketball, Soccer, Lacrosse, Volleyball, Golf, Tennis, etc.
Mascot Lion
Affiliations

Council of International Schools (CIS)

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Website www.tasisengland.org

Coordinates: 51°24′29″N 0°31′34″W / 51.408°N 0.526°W / 51.408; -0.526

TASIS England, also known as "The American School in England," is one of five American schools located in and around London. TASIS England was founded in 1976. Its 46 acre campus is located in the village of Thorpe, Surrey, south west of London.

The school consists of an early years program called Frog Hollow, a Lower School (pre-kindergarten to 4th grade), a Middle School (5th-8th grade) and an Upper School (9th-12th grades). TASIS enrolls approximately 750 students from around the world and employs 100 full-time faculty. The Upper School has about 400 students, 200 of whom board.

The Lower and Middle Schools teach the American Core Knowledge curriculum. The Upper School, starting in 2005-2006, offers the International Baccalaureate together with the traditional American AP system, which it has offered since its founding.

History

TASIS stands for The American School in Switzerland. TASIS England was originally set up as a branch of that school based in Surrey, England. Its current official relationship to the original TASIS (other than sharing private ownership) is that of a sister school. TASIS England was founded in 1976 by Mary Crist Fleming for the purpose of expanding the TASIS family. TASIS England is the second oldest international school in the London area.

Campus

The 46 acre school campus was converted from a 17th-century manor. James Lander, a history teacher at the school, wrote an extensive history of the school and surrounding area in The Heart of Thorpe.[1]

The school is divided into North and South campuses, separated by Coldharbour Lane. The Lower and Middle Schools are completely located on the North side of campus. Several dorms, Thorpe House, Upper School cafeteria and Student Center (Starbucks) are located on the South side of campus.

The school is located near Staines. The school runs shuttles on the weekend allowing boarding students easier access to the town. TASIS England is also situated right next to a National Rail bus stop, Thorpe Village, which travels to Virginia Water station.[2]

The school is located 30 minutes away from Heathrow Airport and 45 minutes away from London by train. The nearest train stations are in Virginia Water and Egham.

Academics

TASIS England's teacher student ratio is 1:8. The Upper School is college preparatory and currently operates on a block schedule. The school is also a boarding school, with a boarding body of over 200 students.

Accreditation

The Council of International Schools, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and the International Baccalaureate Organisation have all accredited TASIS England. The school is also inspected by Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education of the UK government.

University Admissions

In 2007, 97% of TASIS graduates were either accepted into three or four-year universities, or chose to pursue a gap year before making university plans. While many TASIS graduates go to American universities, some go to the UK, Japan, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Canada.[3]

Athletics

TASIS England offers competitive soccer, volleyball, cross country, basketball, rugby, cheerleading, tennis and lacrosse at the varsity and junior varsity levels. Students travel throughout England and Europe for tournaments. TASIS is a member of the International Schools Sports Tournament (ISST) conference.[4]

Activities

There are over 30 student-run clubs and organizations open to Upper School students, ranging from Model United Nations to Global Issues Network.[5] Upper School students perform two productions (a play and a musical) every year.

The Fleming Theatre offers rehearsal and performance spaces. The Fleming Gallery has rotating displays that showcase student work. The Visual Arts is centered around the Fine Arts Center, with purpose-built Photography, Drawing & Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture and Printmaking spaces.[6]

TASIS offers is an Academic Travel Program. During October break, Upper School students travel, if they wish, to various countries throughout the world. Past destinations have included Austria, France, Poland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Italy, Greece and various Eastern European countries. Middle School students have the opportunity to travel to Greece during Spring break, as well.[7]

All divisions of TASIS include service programs that introduce students to the challenges and benefits of doing good for others. Students are showcased on a Service Learning Spotlight.[8]

Notable Alumni

See also

References

  1. ↑ Archived August 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ "Staines Station Onward Travel Information" (PDF).
  3. ↑ "TASIS England University Destinations".
  4. ↑ "ISST Member Schools".
  5. ↑ "TASIS England Clubs & Activities".
  6. ↑ "TASIS England Arts".
  7. ↑ "TASIS England Academic Travel Program".
  8. ↑ "TASIS England Spotlight on Service".

External links

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