ACS International Schools releases statement on curriculum reform.
Following Sir Keir Starmer’s election as Prime Minister in July 2024 and his pledge to “introduce a curriculum for the digital age” to modernise the UK National Curriculum, ACS International Schools in the UK have released a statement including expert commentary from their heads of school.
Speaking about a curriculum reform, Mark Wilson, Head of School at ACS International School Egham, who has been a teacher for 28 years, said: “To get the best of our children’s education, we need a systematic reshaping of how we view success in education. We need to implement a culture that puts wellbeing to the fore in our education system, and ensure that our children learn in an environment that acts as an aid for their success, not a hinderance.”
ACS International Schools: Government must take a holistic approach
Robert Crowther, a teacher with over 30 years of experience across the world and head of school at ACS International School Cobham, said: “The current national curriculum hasn’t kept up with how we understand learning. The finality and pressure that GCSE exams introduce into students’ lives teaches them that failure is permanent, and in a world that is quickly evolving with new industries, this has never been further from the truth. Government must take a holistic approach to education to ensure that students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to be lifelong learners.”
About ACS International Schools
Founded in 1967 to serve the needs of global and local families, ACS International Schools educate over 3,300 students, aged 2 to 18, day and boarding, from more than 100 countries. Its schools in Greater London are all non-sectarian and co-educational.
At the heart of its approach is the idea of readiness. ACS International Schools says, “we empower our students with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a world that is changing fast. Our world-renowned curriculum includes all International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes, and top US programmes including Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the AP Capstone and International Diplomas.
“Our students leave ACS as well-rounded global citizens with the academic and emotional intelligence to empathise and engage with tomorrow’s big issues, turning compassion into action as they stand ready for a future full of opportunity.”
ACS is a registered UK charity (1179820). ACS undertakes a wide number of programmes to further its charitable aim to advance education, including partnerships with other organisations and offering financially assisted places to students who otherwise would be unable to attend ACS schools.
