Lifelong Learning Special
Amsterdam International Community School:
“Bringing the school out into the world
After years of development, the Amsterdam International Community School (AICS)
“Offering all flavours of the IB was only
is finally ‘home’ in their new building on Arent Janszoon Ernststraat. Transparency,
possible with a certain amount of growth,
natural light and wood accents flow throughout the entire space and create a warm,
and that’s why it is an amazing thing to be
safe and open feeling for everyone inhabiting and visiting the school. Head of
able to continue this journey and hopefully
Community Relations, Jessica Morriss, and Leader of Operations, Vincent Koerse,
help other international schools to get on
are enthusiastic about their pioneering role in raising the standard of international
board with us. The Dutch government sees
education in the Netherlands.
the need to offer affordable education for expats in Amsterdam and the
Flexibility and adaptability are an
the school on several levels. Firstly, for
important part of the four accredited
the school itself to attract students and
International Baccalaureate (IB)
parents from all over the world and thus
Community partnerships
programmes AICS offers. When families
develop a strong position in international
The big move to a new location and
relocate to another country, their
education. Secondly, it is very important
changes in the leadership team led up
children can seamlessly continue their
for our students to be able to complete
to the new role of Head of Community
education, because the IB programme
the full IB continuum. If you look at the
Relations. Jessica: “The purpose of
is internationally recognized. Another
IB programme, it’s not just about the
my role is to bring the school out into
valuable aspect, Jessica notes, is that
theoretical aspects of education but also
the world and to bring the world into
the school now offers the CP and DP for
very much about the holistic approach of
the school. We have a very active and
secondary school students. “The fully
the IB philosophy, all the way through from
supportive parent body – the AICS Parent
accredited IB is enormously important for
the ages of four to eighteen.’’ Vincent adds:
Society (APS) – through whom we hope
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Netherlands.”
