welcoming everyone
At ACS, our commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where all individuals feel valued and welcomed stands as one of our five core values.
We are dedicated to constructing a global family founded on core values, diversity, and inclusion. Acknowledging past challenges, we aspire to foster an inclusive community through ongoing dialogue, reflection, and awareness.
Since 2020, our DEIB Council and Staff Networks have worked to ingrain diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout our organisation, resulting in achievements we are proud of, and a strengthened commitment to continued growth.
There are infinite ways to exist and all of them deserve dignity.
A sense of community
In 2023, we broadened our focus to encompass Belonging, with the goal of creating a sense of community where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Our efforts, encapsulated in the DEIB programme, include various initiatives such as the DEIB Council, Staff Networks and more, all which provide opportunities for voices to be heard and relationships to be built throughout our community.
DEIB Council
Established in 2020, the DEIB Council, open to all interested ACS members and High School students, aims to drive positive change across the organisation.
Led by Lauren Kelley, the Council meets monthly to advance its agenda:
- to raise awareness of and seek solutions for challenges in the organisation;
- provide information and recommendations on best practices;
- create initiatives to help ACS achieve its commitments outlined in the DEIB Charter.
DEIB in action across ACS Schools
ACS is dedicated to DEIB, focusing on celebrating diversity, educating against biases and discrimination, taking action against injustice and promoting inclusion.
Further school community initiatives include:
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Empowering our students to drive positive change by creating opportunities to share their experiences with members of staff, including a range of Student Voice groups and panel events.
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Creating opportunities for all community members to develop a sense of belonging by ensuring they feel seen, heard, and have opportunities to build trust/
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Implementing initiatives ensure that our community is an inclusive and safe space for all, including our "Welcoming Gender Diversity" guidance, Inclusive Language guidance, raising awareness of Identity Harm as a Safeguarding issue, and installing NameCoach name pronunciation software in order to celebrate the link between our names and our identities.
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Ensuring DEIB-related concepts remain at the front of our minds by offering a wide range of ongoing educational opportunities for staff, students and families.
DEIB PARTNERS AND ACTIVITIES
As we move forward with our strategy, we look for potential partners, training and event opportunities to further our development.
AIELOC Partnership
ACS Egham partners with AIELOC, tapping into their global network of DEIB experts. Founded in 2017, AIELOC collaborates with international educators and schools worldwide on integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. As ACS strives for a culture where every community member feels secure being themselves, we welcome AIELOC's guidance and support in this journey.
Events & Training
From Student-Led Campaigns to Expert Keynotes and Inclusive Workshops, our ever-evolving DEIB calendar features a wide range of events, often with a focus on learning from the power of storytelling. Highlights include an 'Autism by Experience' webinar; ECIS anti-bias and inclusive language workshops for students, staff and parents; as well as a wide range of celebrations for events such as International Women's Day, Black History Month, Neurodiversity Awareness, Pride Month, and beyond.
