TASIS related help please!

We are moving to the UK and would like to hear reviews about TASIS school. If anyone has had an experience at the upper school, we would especially like to hear about that.  We also would like to know recommendations on where to live without being too remote or removed from easy access to London. 

Quick response is greatly appreciated! 

Thanks!

Sorry I can't give any info about the upper school.  My daughter (and hopefully son if space opens up) will be starting the lower school in the fall.
I did notice in the back of the packet called "Current Information" there is a list of families who are willing to be contacted as references for the school.  There is also a list of former families who are back in the US who are willing to share their experiences at TASIS.  Maybe if would help to contact one of them?
I also noticed that while most people tend to live close to the school (Virginia Water, Sunningdale, etc) there were a good number of families living in Walton-on-Thames and Weybridge, which I believe would be closer/easier access to London.

Hope that helps a little bit.
Jenny

I hope I don't sound uneducated here but, can someone please tell me what a TASIS school is? Also what the difference is between upper and lower schools? Thanks

I hope I don't sound uneducated here but, can someone please tell me what a TASIS school is? Also what the difference is between upper and lower schools? Thanks

TASIS is The American School in England: http://england.tasis.com/

From what I can see on the website:

Lower school: grades K-4
Middle and Upper schools: grades 5-12

TASIS is The American School in England: http://england.tasis.com/

From what I can see on the website:

Lower school: grades K-4
Middle and Upper schools: grades 5-12

Ahh I see. So it's a private school from what I gather.. That must cost a pretty penny

Ahh I see. So it's a private school from what I gather.. That must cost a pretty penny

It's for rich kids, most definitely. Fees:

Grade
 
Full Year Tuition Fees
K –3  £15,710
4 – 8 £17,620
9 – 13 £19,210


Fees include lunches, loan of textbooks, IT and laboratory fees, some classroom materials, and the cost of most curriculum-related activities and field trips.

Boarding Program Fees
Full Year*
£32,130

So you're looking at close to £50k a year......

It's for rich kids, most definitely. Fees:

Grade
 
Full Year Tuition Fees
K –3  £15,710
4 – 8 £17,620
9 – 13 £19,210


Fees include lunches, loan of textbooks, IT and laboratory fees, some classroom materials, and the cost of most curriculum-related activities and field trips.

Boarding Program Fees
Full Year*
£32,130

So you're looking at close to £50k a year......

HOLY S***! That's insane! Well I'm sure once I make the move I'll be able to find a good state school with a special needs class for my daughter or better yet I know there's autistic/special needs school out there that the local authority will fund in the event they don't have a state school to suit my daughter's needs

I had a friend over 20 years ago that went to one of these "American Schools," in Qatar. Not being bitter :p but the fees for such a school were a drop in the bucket for his family. Just guessing that he got a £50,000 Lexus for his 15th birthday!

They are all over the world and cater to diplomats' children and the such, who want to ensure their kids receive the same educationary process as they would in the states.

who want to ensure their kids receive the same educationary process as they would in the states.

Believe me I want that as well for my child, but can't afford to send her to such a school. However my daughter has autism so if the local state schools don't have a program to suit her needs, I know from doing research that the local authority will pay to send her to a special needs school (I know of autistic ones) which would be fabulous! So either way I figure it's a win win for us

I work at ASL (Which is The American School in London).  TASIS has a good reputation - decent academics, athletics and other basic private school stuff.  I'd be shocked if the school doesn't connect you to a current family this summer as that is the norm for international schools.

As for where to live, it partially depends on where you and/or your husband is working and that commute.

For those commenting on the price, it's not atypical of any private school and many businesses who have moved Americans over here for work will pay for the school fees (most people are CEOs or high ranking officials or in the US gov't).

I know this topic has not been commented on for a while, but I'd just like to say that
it is completely untrue that TASIS costs  50,000. This figure appears to have been arrived at by adding day fees to boarding fees, but no one pays both. Boarding fees include tuition. There seems to be a belief among some people that it is a very expensive school on the lines of Le Rosery, but I am not sure why. It is a relatively normal international school, with people from different backgrounds and quite a lot of companies paying fees, similar to ASL.

Sorry, should have said Le Rosey - not very familiar with the school, apart from the fact that
it is very expensive and exclusive. At TASIS, however, although some families may be well off, most would not be there if they hadn't been posted abroad, and it is usual to be getting some help with paying the fees.