General information
Our core structure strengthens ACS at both individual school and group level. This is reinforced by the collective experience, talent and knowledge of ACS staff who collaborate across the group and are supported by the professional expertise of Head Office colleagues in education, partnerships, marketing, development, finance, HR, IT and property.
For many years ACS has operated on a not-for-profit basis, reinvesting annual surpluses into development and expansion. Recognising this, ACS became a fully registered UK charity in September 2018, which has formalised its not-for-profit nature. Charitable status enables ACS to provide financial assistance, through bursaries and scholarships, to many more students whose families cannot afford to fully fund their education. It also allows ACS to partner with local schools and community organisations – through mentoring, exchange programmes, joint activities or sharing facilities – to the benefit of ACS and our partners, staff and students.
ACS educational programmes are based on international research, learning standards, principles and practices, and on a commitment to maintaining high standards of scholarship, citizenship and student-centred learning. With a broadly selective admissions policy ensuring the acceptance of students with a wide range of interests and abilities, the schools achieve top-tier academic results. ACS graduates enter many of the most esteemed universities in the UK and worldwide.
HISTORY
Over 50 years ago the founders of ACS, Mr Manos Poularas and Mr Gordon Speed, made a reality of their vision to create an inspirational learning environment for London’s expanding global community, opening their first school in 1967 and subsequently a further five schools in quick succession in the London area.
ACS rapidly became well known and well established and, by investing in new facilities and always searching for best practice, has since maintained and built upon its reputation as a leading international school group committed to excellence.
By 1975, the existing schools were unable to increase capacity to meet the needs of the growing expatriate community, so two further properties were purchased and developed, the first in Cobham and the second in Hillingdon. Once these two schools were developed and operational, the other schools moved from the smaller central London sites.
In 1995, responding to the ever-increasing demand, ACS opened a third school in Egham, Surrey, which has now grown to about 600 students. From the start it was intended that ACS Egham should become an IB World School, and it is justly proud of its offerings from early childhood to IBDP and CP.
STRATEGIC VISION AND VALUES
As well as updating its brand identity ACS has recently reviewed and restated its strategic vision and values, building on and enhancing the founders’ legacy of 50 years of community, positive change, excellence and internationalism. Becoming a charity in 2018 secured this legacy and prompted ACS to look to the future. Its purpose is simply to inspire the world’s next global thinkers and doers. ACS has five core values by which we commit to live and work, ensuring we deliver the aims and ambitions we hold for each other and for our students.
ACS APPROACH TO LEARNING
ACS Schools offer a unique educational experience, characterised by a bold international approach that nurtures independent learners. At the heart of this experience is a commitment to providing the right support for each student, so they thrive and stand out within our culture of high expectations.
The breadth and flexibility of our international curriculum gives us the freedom to find the best fit for every student, giving them the opportunity to tailor their course selection to reflect their aspirations and challenging them academically.
Another distinctive feature of the ACS culture is our balanced approach to assessment. Our students achieve excellent results, but we focus on assessment for learning, rather than simply preparing students for high-stakes external exams. We use a wide range of contemporary assessment strategies to provide high-quality data and feedback that students and teachers use to improve individual performance.
The result is a flexible system that works for every student across a wide range of aptitudes and abilities. Our rigorous academic programmes include the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and Advanced Placement (AP), designed to help highly ambitious learners excel and go on to leading universities in the UK, the US and the rest of the world. We encourage all our students to pursue individual passions and explore personal interests through flexible curriculum pathways. In its international context, ACS has a strong American heritage, and awards an accredited US High School Diploma.
ACS Schools deliver transformational learning: we help students help themselves, by teaching them how to learn and how to manage their own learning. We help them to become effective learners, confident individuals and caring contributors, preparing them to be the world’s next global thinkers and doers.
Charitable status has given ACS an exciting opportunity to participate in building a culture of philanthropy and engaging parents and staff in fundraising – to support wider investment in teaching programmes and capital development projects – and also to participate in engagement events with 26,000 ACS alumni and friends of 100 different nationalities.
