Ages 
A friendly, happy, small school devoted to delivering the IB in the best possible way. Pupils are listened to and supported to strive and thrive, learning at their own pace, with no slipping through the net.
Why read our school review?
Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.
Unlock to access
Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 155 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 48 ·
- Religion
- None
- Fees
- £32,598 - £34,080 pa
- Local authority
- Westminster City Council
Headteacher
Director
Mr Jeff Lippman
Since September 2025, Jeff Lippman, whose 30 years in education has taken him to international schools in Brazil, Spain, France and the US. He started out teaching history, later moving into leadership roles, most recently as founding head of the
Entrance
The IB Diploma is an exacting programme, and the schools wants as many as possible to complete it, so entry is selective, but thoughtfully so. ‘We take the whole person into account.’ As well as considering school reports, teacher references and a
- Open days
- September, October, November, December
Exit
Results are impressive and leavers’ destinations reflect this. Warwick, Imperial, St Andrews and KCL popular in the UK, with occasional students to Oxbridge. Others to leading universities in the US – most recently to Dartmouth College, NYU, Tufts,
Latest results
In 2025, IB results averaged 35 points.
A levels or equivalent - Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
Halcyon is one of the few schools in London to offer the IB middle years programme (MYP), which it does for the first five years. Most teachers have an IB background and are skilled in the delivery of its demanding curriculum. ‘Unlike GCSEs, which
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- IB
Learning support & SEN
Halcyon only accepts those they feel they can support effectively but are excellent at identifying and addressing mild learning difficulties. ‘When we lived abroad, my son’s dyslexia and dyscalculia were interpreted as lack of effort,’ said one
Arts & extracurricular
The IB middle years programme requires all students to study an art form. ‘One of the elements I am happiest about is that the programme allows you to continue with the core academic disciplines, while still enjoying the applied arts,’ said a father,
Sport
No outside space and no dedicated gym or other games facilities, so perhaps not the ideal location for future Olympians. (A search for ‘sport’ on the school website brings up zero results). Swimming, football, volleyball and basketball, however, take
Ethos & heritage
Set up by four parents, whose children originally attended another international school, the school launched in 2013 with just 34 pupils and still occupies its original premises sharing its teaching space (and tight security) with a central London
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Each student has a learning mentor, who stays with them throughout, and holds small-group mentoring sessions weekly. Mentoring groups contain one or two pupils from each grade, so the school becomes integrated across the age groups. ‘My kids have
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review The school allows students to carry their mobile phones with the following shared understandings: The school promotes active digital citizenship, including teaching students how to manage mobile devices. The school allows a student to carry their mobile phone with the agreement that they will use their device responsibly. If the school or a teacher limits or prohibits the use of phones at any time or place during the school day, then students will follow that instruction. Failure to follow a teacher’s instructions will be a breach of this agreement, and will be managed through our behaviour and discipline policy).
Pupils & parents
There are 34 nationalities represented, but the pandemic and politics shifted the mix. ‘Brexit reduced our traditional clientele.’ Numbers, which dipped during Covid, have returned to about 180, but with an increasing proportion of locals or
Money matters
Not London’s cheapest option, particularly given its restricted space and facilities, but fees are in line with other internationals schools and, as a not-for-profit, invested back into the school. Generous bursaries available for ‘deserving,
- Fee information
- £32,598 - £34,080 pa
The last word
A friendly, happy, small school devoted to delivering the IB in the best possible way. Pupils are listened to and supported to strive and thrive, learning at their own pace, with no slipping through the net.
