American School In London

Michael Ehrhardt is the principal of the Middle School of the American School in London http://www.asl.org/. I had the privilege of learning from him a lot about his school and about the school as a whole.

ASL is a coeducational, independent school of more than 1,300 international students in Kindergarten through Grade 12. The Middle School is made up of about 460 children organised in single grade levels with no more than 20 students in each class. The school’s purpose is to “provide an American education of the highest quality in an international setting.” The School is owned by the American School in London Educational Trust and is registered as a charity in the UK and a non-profit in the US. It is governed by a board of trustees, made up of members of the School community and the head of school.

The issue of accreditation is important to ASL which is accredited by the Council of International Schools and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The school is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, the Council of International Schools, the Council for the Advancement of Education and the College Board.

ASL is a non profit school which basically means that any money the school makes is put back into the school. This is evident in the quality of the buildings/facilities, staffing and programmes in particular. School assemblies are carried out in a most impressive, tiered auditorium – no excuses for fiddling and inattention! One could not but be impressed with the physical and resources aspects of the school.

Entrance to the Middle School Library.











A Middle School classroom.

When I was in the school Michael had several classes away on school trips including such places as Italy and Hadrian’s wall as well as more local visits within London. Staff turnover is low (around 15%) and the school does not appear to have problems attracting applicants when they advertise vacancies. Neither is the availability of short or long term relievers a problem.

The school cafeteria.