Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill

In Brief

The headline. A bilingual (French/English) school for ages 3-18, opened in 2015 in the old Brent Town Hall. Five-acre site in Wembley Park, which is unusual for inner London. Two tracks: French Bac, or English-stream leading to the IB.

What people who actually use it say. Parents are mostly happy, especially with how international the community is. One parent said their daughter has friends "from France, Ukraine, Asia" and that it "really opened her eyes to other cultures." Communication with parents is a recurring positive — people say it beats other schools they've used.

Where it shines. The sixth form and IB years. That's the consistent signal. One parent said the relationships become more "adult-to-adult" and the kids grow up in response. IB results are well above world average and university destinations are strong (Oxford, UCL, LSE, Cambridge, McGill, Cornell).

Where to go in with eyes open. If your child doesn't speak French, the early years are a real adjustment — most parents say it's worth it, but it's a slog. The other thing humming in the background is staff side: teachers have flagged a top-down management culture, and the same theme came up in a parent aside — a parent friendly with staff said people who work there "don't have great things to say about the way it's run." Worth raising directly at an open day if it matters to you.

Practicalities. Wembley Park is on the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines — five minutes from the station. Fees: roughly £14.6k-£15.7k for the French track, £23k for the IB track. Non-selective in principle but there are language requirements at every level.

Bottom line for your friend. A genuinely international, bilingual school with a strong sixth form and warm parent community. Best fit if you actively want a French or bilingual education and you're committed for the long run. Sample the senior leadership at the open day — that's the one piece you can't read off a brochure.