Who We Are
Vision
Empowering Relevant, High-quality, Holistic Education in Member, Non-profit Independent Schools.
Core Values
Our core values serve as the compass that guides us on our journey, shaping who we are and how we engage with others:
Intergrity
ATS members exemplify doing the right things right and consciously seek not to engage in any underhand activity with any stakeholder.
They do not approach parents or students of another member directly and do not poach pupils or staff from other member schools.
They are honest, transparent and able to openly stand up for all decisions. They are champions against cheating and plagiarism.
Accountability
As a self-regulating association, ATS members are genuinely accountable for their standards and actions and those of the institutions under their stewardship.
They are champions of ATS Codes of Conduct and policies agreed as best practices and do not seek to circumvent their letter or spirit.
They promote and build a culture of accountability amongst themselves, their students, parents and staff.
Ethical Governance
ATS governing bodies consistently apply best practices in governance ensuring strategic oversight, ethical conduct, and respect for operational boundaries.
They treat all stakeholders fairly, uphold ATS policies, and maintain integrity across successive leadership teams without undermining fellow member schools.
They are considerate of and fair to Heads, staff, parents, and students.
Professionalism
Members ensure that their institutions are run by professionally qualified Heads and staff and in accordance with the best educational practices. Member schools’ curricula are modern, updated, open to change and go beyond only the academic elements of education. Our members’ faculty and staff go above and beyond and are thorough, committed, positive in outlook, engaged and helpful. They are not just focused on academic results, but also on producing well-rounded dynamic students.
Spiritual and Moral
Development Irrespective of the faith, belief system or philosophy of each member, all ATS Schools uphold a set of spiritual and moral principles. Our member schools do not simply teach such principles, but operate by them, handling all situations and decisions with the well-being of the student in mind. ATS member schools ensure that the moral dimension of school life is honored by all at the school – pupils, staff and parents. They are committed to raising principled, not programmed, children by example as much as by word.
Service
ATS member schools exemplify service by governing body members serving on their Boards for free and by parents freely helping within school activities and functions. They foster a spirit of service in students through responsibility for the environment, engagement with the community and assisting schools and students less resourced and privileged than themselves.
Holistic Education
Our members practice ‘learner-centred’, active education with high levels of student and teacher engagement.
They foster the development of the whole child (mind, body and spirit) through the inclusion of a wide array of academic, sporting, cultural and service activities and opportunities within their schools.
Mission
To ascertain, promote and review best practice in educational and school governance standards so as to foster and develop excellence within ATS schools.
ATS, in partnership with CHISZ, will achieve this mission by:
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Establishing and adopting membership criteria, standards, policies, and Codes of Conduct reflective of best practice for independent non-profit schools;
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Ensuring ethical governance and leadership in the governing bodies of member schools through training, mentorship, and support;
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Promoting relevant, high-quality learning programmes for the development of the mind, body and spirit by requiring a sound balance between a well-planned academic curriculum and cocurricular sports and activities;
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Defending the Constitutional right of members to establish independent schools and of parents to choose these schools for their children;
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Defending the Constitutional right of members to establish independent schools and of parents to choose these schools for their children
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Supporting parents in their role of educating their child;
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Co-operating with government and other stakeholders for the betterment of both independent and public education in Zimbabwe;
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Encouraging co-operation and shared experience among members through professional development forums;
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Providing services and support to members in areas of common interest and expertise and advocating for members when necessary;
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Respecting the right of ATS members to follow their own distinctive mission within these standards and criteria
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The Head of an ATS school becomes a member of CHISZ (Conference of Heads of Independent Schools in Zimbabwe)
ATS will carry out this strategy:
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Through a compliance process to ensure member schools are aligned with the ATS mission and values
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Through purposeful and broad marketing and promoting of the ATS vision and values amd strengthening its brand of education in Zimbabwe
