ACS International Schools has a legacy of over 50 years and continues to grow within and beyond our family of four unique but interconnected schools.
Becoming a charity in 2018 secured our legacy and prompted us to look to the future: to consider our place in the world and how we can best fulfil our charitable aim of advancing education. We have taken this opportunity to refresh our company values. The world has changed. ACS must reflect and lead that change.
Over the last 12 months, staff from across ACS have been revisiting our values and what we stand for as an organisation. Following Board approval this Summer, the following five values were agreed:
Imagine Better
We look for innovative solutions and explore new ideas. We aren’t afraid to take smart risks and learn from our mistakes. We’re passionate about driving positive change and pushing boundaries. We value curiosity, empower people to try new things, and support a culture of continuous improvement. We seek opportunities to make the world a better place.
Welcome everyone
We believe every person has unique contributions to make to each other and to the world. We value diversity and seek multiple perspectives, listening to others with an open mind. We respect and include people with different backgrounds, life experiences, world views and expertise because it’s right, and because it makes us stronger. We are a global family, joining together to build a community in which everyone belongs.
Aim high and make it happen
We have high standards and expect each other to meet and exceed them. We deliver results and value high quality work. We want to be the very best in whatever we decide to do. We want to work with people who are passionate, tenacious and resilient. We expect each other to be reliable and accountable for delivering our shared objectives.
Work together
We collaborate eagerly, with each other, with our partners, and with our local and global communities. We value connections, building honest relationships and productive teams that make a difference. We value generosity. We want to contribute meaningfully and sustainably to the places we work and live, and to the wider world.
Act with kindness
We act with kindness, transparency and compassion. We expect each other to show up with a positive attitude. We treat people how they want to be treated. We start with empathy and believe in one another’s best intentions. We have each other’s back, especially when the going gets tough. We are kind to ourselves and take care of our wellbeing. We balance challenge with support.
Along with our purpose: To inspire the world's next global thinkers and doers.
We have developed some vibrant graphics to illustrate our new values, which you can expect to start seeing around our schools and Head Office.
These new values provide ACS staff with a clear and evolved blueprint for how we live our lives at work everyday and work with each other, firmly rooted in our legacy and history.
We will be sharing these values more and more and how they shape both ACS and the individuals that make us who we are in the future.
