Worldwide Excellence: The Importance of Amity's Cultural Diversity
Cultural diversity can often be seen as a challenge in the world of education. It is a factor that is at the core of children’s development and the paradigms through which they interact with their learning journeys. These paradigms sometimes clash with efforts made in education to standardize learning and assessment.
At Amity, as an IB World School, cultural diversity is not viewed as a challenge; it is instead a strength which we strive to support through inclusivity, which we embody in our diverse curricula, school policies and individualised student experiences. The international nature of our community, including students, their families, and staff, is our pride and provides a rich environment full of opportunities to spark curiosity and broaden one’s worldview.
Amity’s CFA, a pillar of our diverse community
Amity’s pride in its diverse range of families is embodied by our Community and Family Association (CFA). Parents and carers of all origins regularly come together, dedicating their time and energy to the creation of meaningful cultural events for our school with the support of staff. The result is a pillar which strengthens our commitment to welcoming all cultures into our campus. Whole-school events such as our end of year picnic have become staples of Amity’s tight-knit community.
The most memorable of these events, without a doubt, remains Global Village Day. Every year, our CFA invites parents and carers to participate in bringing a wealth of different cultures into Amity’s Atrium; together, they create enriching learning experiences for students to expose themselves to new outlooks on the world around them. In 2026, 18 different countries were represented by Amity families through stands offering delicious food, enlightening conversations, and engaging cultural activities such as writing in different scripts.
Student agency: how Amity supports students' diversity
Amity’s priority when it comes to upholding out commitment to diversity is its students. We firmly believe that an international school must be a place any child can call home and feel welcome in. Our uniform policy and student support programmes allow us to ensure that regardless of a student’s origin, they can step into our campus and immediately feel that they belong. Alongside strengthened inclusion, having an established uniform policy also makes theme days where students can come to school representing their own cultures special and exciting.
Further expanding our commitment towards giving a voice to our diverse student body, Amity recently hosted its first Whole School Talent Show. Students ranging from EY3 to MY4 took to the stage, with several of them proudly representing their cultures in artistic displays of talent. Creating opportunities for such expression allows students to feel visible and proud of their own cultural backgrounds.
Being an international school also means we have a keen understanding of how broad our students’ horizons can be; we at Amity want our students to be able to strive for excellent worldwide ventures once they leave the Diploma Programme. Providing the equally excellent pathways needed to be able to achieve these goals anywhere is one of our guiding principles. Our recent NEASC accreditation and the ongoing development of new MYP and DP curricula are the first of many results of our commitment to supporting diverse student growth and ambitions.
Cultural diversity is indeed a defining strength of Amity International School Amsterdam. Through meaningful events, traditions, and community engagement, we create an environment where students learn to appreciate the world beyond their own experiences. Our commitment to diversity is supported by our mission, our values, our principles, and our dedication to providing a rich, inclusive learning environment.