Monday, July 28, 2025 marked an important milestone for the Kura Kura Bali Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Amid the natural beauty of Serangan Island, Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) Bali officially began its academic year 2025/2026.

Carrying nearly 140 years of educational legacy, ACS Bali comes not only to build academic excellence but also to shape leadership with character and social responsibility in the next generation.

First established in 1886 in Singapore, ACS has grown into one of Asia’s most prestigious educational institutions. It has produced leaders, entrepreneurs, and community changemakers spread across the globe.

ACS graduates have pursued further studies at leading universities such as Oxford and Cambridge in the UK, the Ivy League in the United States, as well as other world-class institutions in Asia and Australia.

The opening of ACS Bali’s inaugural academic year was warmly welcomed by the zone’s management.

“The start of ACS Bali’s school year marks the realization of a vision—to provide a space that serves as a center of learning within this area,” said Tuti Hadiputranto, President Director of PT Bali Turtle Island Development (BTID), in her official statement to SWA.co.id, Friday (Aug 1, 2025).

She added that BTID management believes ACS students will gain valuable lessons rooted in values of service, simplicity, and responsibility. These values are expected to nurture respect for others and a harmonious relationship with the surrounding environment.

“ACS Bali is the perfect place that offers every student the opportunity to grow academically and spiritually, while being inspired by the rich culture, nature, and community life of Bali,” she said.

The first phase of the ACS Bali campus occupies 3 hectares, equipped with core facilities such as classrooms, a library, sports hall, 12 laboratories, and a canteen with a capacity of nearly 300 people.

In its medium-term plan, the campus will expand to 4.8 hectares with the addition of a swimming pool, student dormitories, and new classrooms designed to integrate Balinese culture and natural beauty. Its location—only 20 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport—adds to its appeal for families from around the world.

For its inaugural year, ACS Bali opened Grades 1 to 5 and Grade 7. Each academic year, new grade levels will be added until Grade 12 is complete. The first cohort of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is expected to graduate in 2029.

The school adopts the Cambridge International curriculum for Grades 1–10, and the IB curriculum for Grades 11–12, combined with ACS’s signature approach that emphasizes character development, leadership, and social contribution.

Beyond academics, ACS Bali is committed to connecting with the local Serangan community. Students are scheduled to participate in cultural activities with local children, support livelihoods tied to the sea, and study coastal ecology.

“Parents who choose ACS do so not only for its academic quality,” said Rob Burrough, Executive Principal of ACS Bali. “They also value how the school develops resilient, strong, and character-driven young people—qualities that complement our academic excellence.”

Burrough, originally from New Zealand, is no stranger to the ACS community. He previously led ACS International in Singapore for eight years and has extensive educational leadership experience in Kenya and his home country.

At ACS Bali, he leads a multinational teaching team from Australia, the UK, Singapore, and Indonesia. Students too come from diverse countries—including Indonesia, Denmark, Russia, and Japan—making the school a vibrant space of cultural perspectives.

For many parents, the values carried by ACS are the deciding factor.

“Our family appreciates the uniqueness of an experience that integrates everyday life with learning while honoring Balinese culture. We believe this will help our children receive the best education and grow into good individuals,” said Prami, one of the ACS Bali parents.

She added, “I hope this school becomes a joyful place for children, a place where they can truly grow—with the right environment. More importantly for us, it’s when we see our children come home from school happy.”

The first days at ACS Bali were filled with introductions to teachers, student and family welcoming activities, and programs reflecting the ACS spirit: to respect, to serve, and to uphold tradition.

Kura Kura Bali SEZ supports this initiative by providing infrastructure and a secure environment, ensuring a safe and comfortable learning atmosphere—a strong foundation for a long-term educational journey on this meaningful island.

Source :

https://swa.co.id/read/462249/acs-bali-resmi-dibuka-di-kek-kura-kura-bali-membawa-pengalaman-dalam-pendidikan-holistik-ke-serangan