ACS Bali has officially opened its doors with the inauguration of the Kura Kura Bali Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in South Denpasar, continuing a nearly 140-year tradition of nurturing young minds to excel not just academically, but as leaders grounded in character and community spirit.
Founded in 1886 in Singapore, ACS (Anglo-Chinese Schools) has grown to become one of Asia’s most respected education brands. Its alumni include generations of leaders, entrepreneurs, and community builders who have gone on to top universities worldwide — from Oxford and Cambridge in England, to Ivy League institutions in the United States, to leading institutions across Asia and Australia.
“The inauguration of ACS Bali marks the realization of a vision — to establish a center of learning in Bali at Turtle Island,” said Tuti Hadiputranto, President Director of PT Bali Turtle Island Development (BTID), the master developer of Kura Kura Bali SEZ, on Serangan Island. The management of BTID believes that students of ACS Bali will learn invaluable lessons in service, humility, and stewardship – living with traditional values of serving others and our surroundings. “ACS Bali is a perfect place that gives the chance for every child to flourish academically, grow in faith, and be inspired by the living lessons of this island — its culture, nature, and its people,” she continued.
The first stage of ACS Bali’s campus now occupies an initial 3-hectare site in Kura Kura Bali, featuring classrooms, a library, a sports hall, 12 labs, and a 300-seat canteen, with space available to expand to nearly 4.8 hectares in the coming years. Plans include a swimming pool, student dormitories, and new learning spaces designed to blend Bali’s cultural heritage and natural beauty with modern education needs.
The SEZ is just a 20-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport, making it easily accessible for families across the region.
Initially, this first academic year, the school offers Grades 1–5 and 7. It will be adding more grade levels annually until Grade 12, with its first International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) cohorts graduating in 2029. The curriculum combines the globally recognized Cambridge International and International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes with the distinctive “ACS brand” of character development, leadership, and service learning.
ACS Bali also plans to develop close ties with the neighboring community of Desa Serangan. Students will participate in cultural activities with local children, support ocean-based livelihoods through service projects, and learn about coastal ecology alongside counterparts in Serangan. These efforts are part of the school’s integrated approach to learning and community engagement.
“Parents don’t choose ACS just for strong academics,” said Rob Burrough, Executive Principal of ACS Bali. “They also choose it because it shapes young people to be grounded, resilient, and with strong character — qualities that complement its academic focus.”
Rob Burrough is a New Zealander with deep ties to the ACS Community. He previously led ACS (International) Singapore for eight years and has extensive leadership experience in schools in Singapore, Kenya, and New Zealand.
Families enrolling in ACS Bali’s first intake hail from Indonesia and around the world, including Denmark, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom. The teaching team also reflects this international variety, with educators from Australia, the UK, Singapore, and Indonesia.
Parents in Bali say ACS’s balanced approach sets it apart. “By the time the children have finished their time at the school, we know that they are going to come out very well-educated, rounded individuals,” said Prami, an Indonesian parent whose children joined ACS Bali for its first semester. She hopes that they will have fun and learn together at school with other students from diverse backgrounds and cultures. “I mean learning, developing, when they are also supported with a good system, good education, or academic support, that’s good. We are delighted for them to come home and be happy.”
Opening-day activities for the new school included a warm welcome for students and their families, teacher introductions, and community-building activities that reflected the ACS ethos of respect, service, and faith. The wider SEZ supports the school with smart infrastructure, including security to ensure a safe environment.
Kura Kura Bali SEZ, designated by the Government of Indonesia in 2023 as a prototype for Bali’s transition from mass tourism to quality tourism, is anchored in knowledge, sustainability, and community. Over the coming five years, the SEZ will introduce an international marina, retail and hospitality developments, resort villas, and other investments focused on education, wellness, and the creative industries.
The directors of Kura Kura Bali are excited to support the growth of ACS Bali as part of a world-class education ecosystem within the zone – a school of vision, hope, and purpose. Here, young minds will be prepared not only for today’s world but also for the future, guided by tradition and inspired to make a difference.
About ACS Bali
Founded in 1886, ACS is one of Asia’s most trusted school networks, renowned for nurturing well-rounded students who go on to excel at leading universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, and the top institutions in Asia and Australia. ACS Bali offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Curriculum within an Asian context, rooted in Christian values, and welcomes students of all backgrounds.
The new campus is designed to blend sustainability, community, and modern learning spaces within Kura Kura Bali’s master-planned special economic zone (SEZ). Prospective families can apply through an online assessment and an informal interview with the Principal.
About Kura Kura Bali
Kura Kura Bali is a 498-hectare Special Economic Zone on Serangan Island, developed by PT Bali Turtle Island Development (BTID). The Indonesian government established the SEZ in April 2023 to help Bali pivot from mass tourism toward a more resilient, knowledge-based economy that balances people, nature, and spiritual values.
For more information, visit www.kurakurabali.com.
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