Towards 2023 and Beyond S T R AT E G I C P L A N
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S T RO NG F OUNDAT IO N S, A M A Z ING F U T URE S
Towards 2023 and Beyond The College Strategic Plan, ‘Towards 2023 and Beyond’, sets aspirational goals. Like our students, we want to aim high, to seek out new opportunities to look forward and to ensure that PLC remains at the forefront of education for girls in Australia. Presbyterian Ladies’ College has been nurturing, empowering and educating girls since 1875. As a passionate and internationally-minded community shaped by Christian values, we inspire our girls through a rich and authentic curriculum and an extensive co-curriculum. PLC is proud of the academic achievements of our students and the way that they use their education to make a difference in our world as strong, confident, capable young women with a heart for service. We are a school focused on the purposeful and curious pursuit of knowledge and understanding, guided by accomplished staff who wish to inspire girls at each stage of their learning. Our Strategic Plan Towards 2023 and Beyond, details our passion for learning excellence, our commitment to innovation and a remarkable energy for the future. Cheryl Penberthy Principal
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Our School PLC is a leading ELC to Year 12 Christian independent day and boarding school for girls situated in Melbourne, Australia with a focus on the development of the whole person that includes an outstanding academic tradition, an international outlook, and strong pastoral and co-curricular programs. We are a school that places the Christian gospel and its teachings at the heart of our multicultural learning community. We encourage a strong sense of loyalty and belonging, an understanding and appreciation of our environment and an understanding for the complex issues facing our world, including indigenous perspectives. Founded in 1875, PLC is a school with a distinguished history and a tradition of educating young women of the highest calibre who go on to make a significant contribution in their world. In many ways the educational foundations established in PLC’s earliest days are still the foundations of a PLC education today: a love of learning, a broad stimulating curriculum to cater for the diverse needs and interests of our students, a climate of encouragement, respect and self discipline, an encouragement to see the importance of using one’s education to make a difference and a strong Christian foundation. PLC has an excellent record of its graduates entering highly esteemed universities and tertiary institutions throughout the world, and for launching young women into worthwhile and rewarding vocations and careers. Many of our graduates go on to become leaders in their field and the communities in which they live and work. PLC strives to develop articulate and compassionate young women with a heartfelt commitment to service and with the strength of character, confidence, and will to make a difference in the lives of others. We offer a rich and rigorous education of the highest quality, seeking to encourage our students to become critical, independent and highly adaptive thinkers and learners. We provide an extensive co-curricular program, with a focus on music, the creative and performing arts, sport, outdoor education, social work and community action. We have a vision to be a truly 21st century future-focused learning community that is committed to nurturing talent and an international outlook by encouraging the pursuit of passions and excellence, and fostering leadership and service. Our teachers are professional, passionate and highly capable educators who demonstrate the character that they seek to cultivate in their students.
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Our Ethos Statement of Christian Ethos Since its founding in 1875 as one of Australia’s first Independent schools for girls, Presbyterian Ladies’ College (PLC) has been guided by its distinctively Christian ethos reflecting the highest values and ideals of humanity. This ethos lies at the heart of PLC’s culture, nurtured by members of its community living out its principles and values. This distinctive ethos is embedded in the College’s Constitution1 which states that one of the aims of the College is to provide for the education of students which is: “consistent with the teachings of Christianity, including religious instruction and education in the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments interpreted not inconsistently with the Westminster Confession of Faith, the 39 Articles of Religion of the Church of England and the Basis of Union of the Uniting Church in Australia” Consequently, the Bible (being the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments) is the College’s guiding authority regarding character and conduct within the College. At the heart of the Bible is the good news (or Gospel) of the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the divine Son of God, who humbled himself and by becoming a human, served us by dying sacrificially on the cross in our place. Those who put their faith in Jesus receive the gift of salvation through his death and resurrection. They then receive a restored relationship with God their loving Creator and are empowered to live a life of selfless service modelled on the example of Jesus. The College is established in connection with the Presbyterian Church of Victoria (PCV)2 and as such, continues to enjoy a strong and ongoing association and fellowship with the PCV. The Constitution stipulates the expression of Christian faith and public worship should be in accord with the practices of the PCV in form and substance3. Consequently, to the extent relevant to its purpose, mission and operations, the College references the doctrinal position of the PCV, and papers prepared by its standing committees4 as they seek to understand and apply the Bible to various current issues facing society.
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Constitution: section 3(1)(a) of the Memorandum of Association Constitution: section 2 of the Memorandum of Association 3 Constitution: sections 3(1)(c) and 5 of the Memorandum of Association 4 Full copies of these statements and papers are available at PCV website: www.pcv.org.au 2
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Our Motto ‘Lex dei vitae lampas’ (The law of God is the lamp of life)
Our Mission Presbyterian Ladies’ College aims to provide strength, breadth, balance and quality of education as a leading Christian independent girls’ school in its Australian and international contexts.
Our Purpose Our guiding purpose over the next five years is to enhance the potential of our students to take their place in the global community by renewing our framework for learning and wellbeing and providing our community with the support and infrastructure required to work together toward this end.
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Our Culture PLC’s Christian ethos and education mission are the foundation of its culture. It informs the shared values which shape the common life of our community and the behaviour of those who belong to it. At PLC, we work within a culture of truth seeking, character building, service to others and respect for all people as we strive to build a caring, learning community that encourages our students to embrace their futures with confidence and compassion. The four shared values of our culture which guide the school in its mission are: Truth and excellence Wisdom, a love of learning and the pursuit of academic excellence are fostered by a commitment to discover truth and understanding in all areas of knowledge. Character and integrity Success in life is measured not just by what we achieve, but who we are as people. Strength of character and virtue are developed through perseverance, courage and self-discipline. Service Satisfaction in life comes where we live for the wellbeing and benefit of others. Those who rise to leadership are called to use their position in the service of others. Care and respect Prosperity in community comes when we care for and respect one another and harness the different strengths, perspectives and ideas of individuals for the common good of the community.
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Our Education Premise The PLC Graduate Outcomes We have a steadfast belief in the capacity and capability of women, regardless of talent, ability or background. We encourage our girls to become involved and to give things a go, persevere, develop their strengths and capacities, and achieve their personal best through healthy, balanced and active lives.
Scholar: A confident and engaged person with an inquiring mind who takes responsibility for her learning.
We provide a challenging, stimulating and nurturing Christian environment that is dedicated to the learning and development of the whole person – academic, emotional, social, creative, physical, and spiritual. We nurture our girls to work with and for others, learn from their mistakes, grow in resilience, and develop strength and courage, enlightened by the law of God, the lamp of life.
Citizen: A thoughtful, kind, and open-minded person with an informed world view, a welldeveloped social conscience and a sense of justice that is grounded in the values of Christian faith.
We teach our girls to look beyond themselves and to develop a compassionate empathy towards the needs of others and of the problems and injustices in our world. We encourage them to lead and contribute on the global stage.
Leader: An articulate, capable and responsible person of integrity who works collaboratively, has a heart for service and uses her education to make the world a better place.
Thinker: A creative, reflective and adaptive person who uses their intelligence to serve for greater good.
Advocate: A passionate person with a strong sense of agency who affects society and those around her in positive ways.
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Our Vision PLC seeks to reinforce our traditional commitment to holistic learning based on an appreciation and pursuit of excellence in the character and competencies of a global citizen. PLC will use its strengths to articulate and realise outcomes for our graduates based on the character and competencies that they will need to thrive in their future. Board consultation with our community in 2018 has made clear to us the fundamental need to articulate a clear vision for the learning of our girls that is attuned to the contemporary expectations of a leading Christian independent girls’ school in its Australian and international context. Across the period of this Strategic Plan the College will embed a PLC Framework for Learning and Wellbeing that emphasises a rich and diverse education that enables each student to be future ready. We aim to grow the stated and understood character of the school community and its associated culture towards the future in a deliberate, targeted and intentional fashion. We will strive to enhance our relational culture, strengthening our competitive position through iterative research and development that involves the ongoing support of our community, while maintaining our operational soundness. The leadership and governance capabilities required for this will reconcile the traditional and innovative elements that have always existed within our culture, finding common ground to accommodate these within our ongoing vision of educational excellence. The goal for PLC is to express the balance between yesterday, today and tomorrow, providing for our girls a strong foundation and an amazing future.
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Our Strategic Goals Goal One Members of the PLC community are lifelong learners with a global perspective who are capable scholars, thinkers, citizens, advocates and leaders. Strategies Design and implement a student-centered academic and wellbeing framework which clearly demonstrates the learning journey across the College from ELC to Year 12 with explicit focus on College values and Christian ethos, student voice, graduate outcomes and capabilities, assessment and reporting, digital learning and articulation of the framework, human and physical resource use, and multiple ways of learning. Aspirational Outcomes The PLC Framework for Learning and Wellbeing will: •
Meet the needs of the school’s diverse community for girls’ success in learning and a life beyond school where they make a contribution to their world.
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Focus on the quality and consistency of learning and wellbeing where the PLC Graduate Outcomes and the framework are clearly aligned to 21st century standards for character and competency.
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Embed the PLC Graduate Outcomes as central to all educational, wellbeing and learning activities in the school.
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Align the co-curriculum with the learning and wellbeing framework of the College and encourage student voice and leadership.
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Our Strategic Goals Goal Two PLC is recognised as a leading Christian independent girls school with a focus on educating, developing and inspiring girls to thrive. Strategies •
Develop and implement a stakeholder engagement plan that communicates our educational identity to our community.
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Review and refresh the admissions plan, processes, trend analysis and reporting.
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Refresh and innovate the PLC brand and value proposition.
Aspirational Outcomes •
Deeper understanding of PLC’s wider community built through strong relationships with the key sectors of this community.
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School enhanced within its desired location and corresponding facilities.
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Broadened enrolment catchment areas.
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Renewed facilities and active enrolment approach.
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Clearly identified market position and narrative of excellence in holistic learning and wellbeing as a leading Christian independent girls’ school to its community.
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Strongly located in Australian and international contexts with amplified approaches to marketing and communication and alignment with the learning and wellbeing framework of the College.
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Long-term viability secured with a profile and reputation as a leading Christian independent girls’ school committed to excellence in the holistic learning and wellbeing of its girls and its staff.
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Enhanced position as a regional leader in the design of explicit programs that support excellence in the learning and wellbeing of its girls and staff.
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Relevant and purposeful engagement with parents, professional associations and organisations, other schools and tertiary providers.
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Well prepared for the 150th celebration in 2025.
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Strong commitment to providing dynamic, relevant and evidence based educational opportunities for girls across the academic and co-curricular programs.
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Fostered relationships and partnerships through community connections that extend beyond school to national and international settings with a focus on the education of girls.
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Our Strategic Goals Goal Three Maximise conditions for success through continuous improvement with explicit focus on operational excellence and assurance, and people, culture and strategy.
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Strategies •
Identify and improve business and operational planning, practices and processes.
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Develop and implement a College-wide digital strategy and supporting IT roadmap that fully enables all strategic initiatives.
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Establish an enterprise risk management framework supported by strong compliance controls and policies.
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Implement Council’s staged Master Plan that supports the needs and future development of the College.
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Develop and implement a College-wide workforce plan.
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Develop and implement a staged People Strategy with explicit focus on job design, alignment and accountability, staff selection and induction, professional and career development, recognition and retention, leadership and performance, talent and succession, values and behaviours, and change management.
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Create a culture of employee safety, wellbeing and respect.
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Develop and implement agreed PLC high impact teaching strategies to build common practice.
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Aspirational Outcomes •
Enhanced strategic efficacy and alignment with augmented approaches to planning, practice and culture across teaching, leadership and governance.
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Strategic intent captured and implementation documented.
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Articulated strategic framework that defines the ethos, mission, values, culture, vision, and strategic trajectory of the school as a 21st Century Christian learning community.
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Clearly documented learning and wellbeing frameworks that outline the College’s approach to education and its long-term vision for its future in embodying the strategic framework, especially in relation to our articulated Christian ethos.
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Deeply embedded educational framework that identifies the College’s graduate profile, clearly demonstrates how the profile is ingrained in all student learning and wellbeing approaches, how it is supported by staff and aligned to professional learning approaches, and supported by tools for anticipating, evaluating, and reporting on educational success.
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Documented people and culture plan that describes the organisational development and professional learning of the school under the strategic framework.
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Master facilities plan that describes the College’s intended approach to providing infrastructure, and facilities that locate the school’s strategic framework in physical and virtual spaces.
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Clearly articulated plan for growth, revenue and community engagement through enrolments, philanthropy, partnerships, and advancement.
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Implicit good practice transformed into explicit professional expertise through a robust professional learning strategy for all staff.
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Co-curriculum aligned with College Graduate Outcomes.
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Clear and refined approach to College risk management, compliance and policy development and implementation.
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Risk management planning underpins how the College identifies and mitigates risk in its community.
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ABN 16 005 650 386 CRICOS No. 00334M
141 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125 AUSTRALIA tel: (61 3) 9808 5811
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