Strategic Plan 2020–2022

The Board of Management approved the school’s new three-year plan at its meeting on 24 February. The new plan is grouped into eight new Guiding Statements or Goals, each with specific objectives, implementation plans and milestones / outcomes. A condensed summary of the eight Guiding Statements and their main objectives and implementation strategies follows:

Christian Character To nurture the development of Christian belief and values, outworking our school IGNITE values and creating an environment for all members of the community to grow spiritually.

Strategies: Specific teaching in assemblies, tutor groups and Chapel on applying IGNITE values to everyday life; Encouraging Christian students and developing Christian Fellowship CCA; Foyer area redeveloped to reflect our Methodist roots; Continued promotion of servant leadership and service opportunities to outwork the Gospel; Continued expansion of our relationship with Holland Village Methodist Church.

Learning and Academic Achievement To promote a genuine love of learning and encourage creative, critical and reflective thinking for every student to attain the best academic achievement within each student’s capabilities.

Strategies: Continued enhancement of a strong staff professional development programme to improve classroom practice through continued development of existing initiatives: Approaches to Teaching and Learning (ATL), MTVR (Making Thinking Visible), Inquiry based learning, Restorative Practice, IT – e.g. Firefly/ManageBac/Google classroom, Ongoing updating of schemes of work and unit planners; Entrench PEAKS psychometric profiling to support student learning; Continued use and development of data analysis practice to promote ongoing academic improvement from year to year; Restructure the Year 1 and 2 academic programme with reference to subjects offered and time allocation in order to better prepare the students for IGCSE and IBDP; Expand the development of Critical Thinking and Research skills in IGCSE to better prepare students for IBDP; Refine and enhance the High Achievers Programme.

Internationalism To enhance the international mindedness of all members of the school community by promoting awareness of intercultural understanding and interconnectedness between the local and global community.

Strategies: Use ACS community events, celebrations and assemblies to increase knowledge, skills and attitudes (intercultural understanding) and internationalism; Use different cultural contexts in various subject areas eg TOK, IIE, Religious Studies, History etc; Promote cross faculty collaboration; Use a range of outside speakers from different cultural backgrounds;  Raise awareness of global and local issues of international importance through CCAs – e.g. Interact, Envoy/MUN, Debate, Sustainability.

Student Development To encourage the holistic development of our students in Christian character, leadership, service and personal skills based on the IB Learner Profile and school IGNITE values.

Strategies: Continue to promote service throughout the school – including House Charity projects, CAS Projects and Service Trips, Junior Camps, Interact Club, Sustainability CCA, “Go Green” Campaigns, Custodian appreciation Days, MUN Impact Goals; Show respect for the environment, school custodians and other users through promoting a culture of clearing up after themselves after lunch; Introduce Codes of Conduct for students, staff, parents, coaches, visitors, homestay providers, homestay staff and third party vendors; Continue the current leadership model of a “One Prefectorial Board” with subcommittees, House and CCA leadership roles; Promote the IB Profile with special reference to leadership traits.

Well-Being To provide a safe, welcoming and affirming environment reflecting the school’s child protection and safeguarding guidelines, to develop students socially, physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.

Strategies: Implement internationally recognised student safeguarding and well-being practices and standards when recruiting new staff; Reinforce the Form Tutor and House system as the cornerstone and foundation of the pastoral care network; Provide annual reminders to students of the dangers and legalities of smoking, vaping, use of drugs, and other risky and illegal behaviours in order to keep students safe from self-harm.

Staff Community To provide a safe, welcoming and affirming environment promoting staff well-being; recruiting and retaining a balanced, diverse mix of well qualified international and local staff who offer a blend of academic rigour and internationalism in our unique Singapore international school environment through provision of professional development to model and enhance a continuous love of learning and effective performance.

Strategies: Undertake background checks for all existing and new staff in line with international safeguarding and child protection standards; Implement an online induction programme for staff prior to arrival at ACS; Upgrade staff manual; implement staff Code of Conduct; Ensure to continuation of a relevant and highly effective CPD programme to develop staff in line with their individual needs, and the needs of the school’s wider goals; Continue to refine and enhance the staff welfare activities, plus reward and recognition programmes to support a strong staff morale.

Home and Community To develop strong partnerships with all stakeholders to ensure the safety, well-being and holistic development of all students, including those in Boarding and Homestay arrangements.

Strategies: Continue to promote the school through the school website, parent and student portals; FaceBook; Instagram; Twitter, Schools Buddy,  plus via PSP and regional office activities (e.g. PTM, marketing seminars, Coffee mornings, regular meetings, Open House, Echo etc); Codes of Conduct are developed for all members of the school community as above; Enhance the quality of care provided to our international students in homestay through annual approval visits and termly meetings of senior staff with the boarding hostels.

Physical Environment To provide a safe and secure learning and working environment that meets the needs of all students and staff, and is conducive to high quality learning.

Strategies: Improve the aesthetic appearance of the school entrance way through a redevelopment of the foyer area to better reflect our Methodist and ACS roots; Complete the construction of covered stands and lightning warning system adjacent to astro turf; Increase the covered ways at key areas of the school campus to improve access during wet weather and reduce congestion; Investigate opening up a pedestrian access way at front entrance of school to separate pedestrian and vehicle entrance; Review the allocation of classrooms to faculties’ to ensure that faculties are co-located as much as possible, and that the classrooms are allocated fairly across faculties; Investigate the feasibility of increasing the number of separate staff and student toilets and changing facilities around the school; Complete the Fire Safety Officer review of the school to ensure compliance and safety; Investigate the feasibility of matching the MOE’s plans for the Enhancement to Schools’ Physical Education, Sports and Outdoor Education Facilities which ensures every school has three covered play courts by 2024; Investigate the possibility of school expansion either by further construction on current site, or through the lease of extra facilities off site.