Left to Right: Robin Fletcher (CEO of the Boarding Schools Association), Tony Eysele (Head of School, ACS Cobham) and Rachael Lake (Mayoress)

ACS Cobham opens state-of-the-art new boarding school

The £15m boarding house will house 113 pupils, and boasts six common rooms and two quiet rooms

Posted by Hannah Vickers | September 04, 2017 | Facilities & buildings

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ACS Cobham International School recently hosted a summer garden party to celebrate the opening of its brand new £15m boarding house. Guests included the Mayor of Elmbridge, the Chief Executive of the Boarding Schools’ Association and members of the school community, as well as past boarding students and staff. 

The new Woodlands house will provide a world-class school residency for an additional 113 boys and girls, with single en-suite rooms for all senior students.

The celebration saw speeches from Tony Eysele (Head of School) with the Mayor of Elmbridge cutting the ribbon and officially opening the new boarding house ready for the upcoming school year.

As part of an initiative launched by the Boarding Schools’ Association to create an international orchard across the UK, an olive tree was planted outside the new house. Joining more than 110 British boarding schools, the planting symbolises the ‘tree of knowledge’ and demonstrates each school’s commitment to growth and caring for the environment and sustainability. The olive tree is also a potent ACS symbol, as a similar tree was chosen to commemorate the school’s founder, EJ Poularas, in the walled garden.

“The official opening today was a wonderful celebration of our stunning new boarding house, which we are very proud to present to our guests and students,” commented Mark Venn-Dunn, Head of Boarding.

We believe our new boarding house provides a modern, family-style space to relax, study and live, just like at home - Mark Venn-Dunn, Head of Boarding at ACS Cobham International School

He added: 

“To develop the building, we asked ourselves ‘how should boarding be?’ and ‘how can we create the ideal situation for today’s children?’ With light, airy rooms, an array of social hubs and state-of-the-art facilities, we believe our new boarding house provides a modern, family-style space to relax, study and live, just like at home.”

The new house has six common rooms and two quiet areas for socialising, studying and eating, including a cinema-style room, games room and work areas with flexible furniture and technology for group projects. A triple height atrium extending over three floors maximises natural light and space, giving boarders commanding views across the campus and woodlands.

As well as accommodation for boarding house staff, the development includes extensive landscaped areas and a communal BBQ area. The boarding house sits within the school’s 128-acre campus allowing boarders ‘out of hours’ access to the sports, academic, technology and performing arts facilities, including six tennis courts, a 25-metre pool and six-hole golf course. 

A multi-million pound refurbishment of the existing boarding house Fields is now under way and this will include a new walk-in medical centre with a fully-trained medical team.

Tony Eysele added: 

“It’s been fantastic to celebrate the opening of this outstanding new facility for international and local students who find a home from home at ACS Cobham. I’m sure our boarders will thrive in their new dynamic, modern environment and that they will make the most of the fantastic facilities that support a world class education.”