2021-2025 Strategic Plan

STRATEGIC PLAN 2021–2025 HONOURING OUR PAST, CLAIMING OUR FUTURE

OUR VISION

OUR MOTTO

EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE

LABORE ET HONORE

We will challenge ourselves and our boys to be exceptional performers.

By hard work and honourable conduct

EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE We will challenge ourselves and our boys to be exceptional performers. This is a statement of intent, an aspiration, and a call to action. We understand we may falter at times but we are compelled to commit to this standard. In doing so, we will generate the energy and purpose that are fundamental to great schools.

RESILIENCE We tackle tasks with determination and perseverance.

HONOUR We conduct ourselves with dignity and respect.

BELONGING We are proud of who we are, what we believe and the experiences we share.

> RESILIEN C E

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HONOUR >

IN G > G N O OU L E B

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O L O VAL H C S U R

THE IPSWICH GRAMMAR SCHOOL JOURNEY Every Prep boy joins his mates on the Ipswich Grammar School journey, marking his beginning by ringing the old bell that hangs high in the Great Hall Tower.

Years later, as a young man on his final school day, he will embrace his mates. Together, they will cross the Ipswich Grammar School 1863 plaque and sound the bell for the last time, transforming them from schoolboys to Old Boys, united through their shared experiences and the promise of an exciting future.

OUR STORY We are Queensland’s first Grammar School and a dedicated and nurturing community. Our school is founded on and lives by the belief that education unlocks opportunities in life.

Boys learn that perseverance, respect and service are critical to their life success.

We approach challenges calmly through a measured approach, work hard to improve and accept success with humility.

Ipswich Grammar School has embraced inclusiveness, diversity and teamwork since its inauguration, when men and women from a variety of backgrounds sought to provide access to education for all.

More than 150 years later, pride in our history and heritage has shaped our traditions to form a unique legacy of brotherhood and scholarship. Today, the ‘School on the Hill’ welcomes students from around the globe and serves Ipswich and the surrounding regions with a commitment to help fulfil each boy’s potential.

OUR STRATEGIC INTENT After five years of reframing the Ipswich Grammar School experience, we stand ready to take this great school to the next level.

Our school population, marked by its diversity, thrives in an inclusive environment rich in history, culture and traditions.

Today’s Ipswich Grammar School community unites under the goal of achieving something great together.

OUR STRATEGIC CONTEXT In setting this Strategic Plan, we identified key elements that will have the greatest potential impact upon Ipswich Grammar School during the next five years and beyond.

Next step development: Following on from five years of growth and development, we strive for further positive progress.

Changed definitions of character growth: The complexity of developing from boyhood to manhood will continue, impacting the overall health of our boys and compelling our school to deliver a high-quality nurturing environment.

Harnessing the talent pipeline: The role of teachers, like education itself, is becoming increasingly complex and specialised. We must ensure the next generation of great teachers seeks us out as an employer and receives the support and development they require.

Preparing beyond ATAR: The shift to ATAR is only the beginning. In the near future, we believe learning, curriculum and assessment design will enter a period of challenge.

Shaping future change: The ever-evolving future of work will continue to drive demand for dynamic and proactive programs and curriculum. Our school must build its capacity to swiftly change, pivot and respond to give our boys their best possible future.

Increasing expectations: We expect to experience ever-increasing parental and community expectations of our school to provide exceptional education.

Partnering for success: Active collaboration with other educators and corporate entities will be vital to create deep and diverse value.

Competing in an active marketplace: Future enrolment growth will belong to schools that can maintain a strong competitive edge in educational programs, services for their students, and facilities.

The dynamic context described above, our history and traditions, and the emerging and future needs of our boys, has shaped our strategic response for the years 2021–2025.

OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES LEARNING We are leaders in curriculum development, teaching practice and maximising student outcomes.

We acknowledge the uniqueness of each boy as well as his potential. Our primary learning goal, therefore, is to cultivate this potential and inspire determination and confidence in each individual.

Explicit teaching remains our strong foundational base for the fundamental skills of literacy and numeracy.

We will: • further refine explicit teaching and learning, with a focus on literacy and numeracy in Prep–Year 9 • introduce best practice STEM integration throughout the P–12 curriculum • use data in innovative ways to continuously improve practices and outcomes • implement best practice approaches to the key elements of the ATAR system for Years 10–12 • build staff capacity through quality professional development • provide high-level individualised course and career advice to each boy.

ACHIEVEMENT MEASURES • All boys in the early years (Prep to Year 4) exceed national literacy benchmarks.

• Ipswich Grammar School is in Queensland’s top 10 schools for all NAPLAN years.

• We rank first for ATAR outcomes in the local and surrounding areas.

• Every boy has a proud pathway for successful achievement.

• We enjoy high-level teacher engagement with significant professional development opportunities.

THRIVING Every day, every boy receives encouragement, opportunities, and challenges to grow. We instil in each boy the quality of selflessness that will help to create assured young men who are ready to lead and to serve.

Our boys belong to a day and boarding community of learners, artists and sportsmen. Our classrooms have real-world relevance and differentiate for individual needs and wellbeing.

We educate the whole person in an inclusive environment inside and outside the classroom, and life for our boys is abundant with choice.

The pressures on teenagers are growing even greater: from their own expectations and those of staff, parents and peers through to grades, careers, self-image, social media and sensitivity to world problems.

To thrive, our boys need our support. We will learn from schools that are developing great programs of wellbeing and support as we reinforce and develop our own approaches.

We will: • enact a highly individualised support process for each boy • implement wellbeing programs that will develop each boy towards modern manhood • enrich sporting, cultural and wellbeing programs that engage, nurture, and extend our boys • action advanced tracking and monitoring of each boy’s social, emotional and academic progress • develop refined approaches to our support services for our boarders • introduce effective Round Square and Adventure programs • further refine our student leadership program from Prep–Year 12.

ACHIEVEMENT MEASURES • Every Year 12 IGS student leaver is very satisfied with their IGS experience.

• From Years 5–12, there is increased participation in GPS sport and activities.

• Increasing numbers of our boys are engaged in the Arts, including AMEB exams, performance competitions and significant events.

• We achieve the benchmarks we set for Round Square participation.

• Across boarders and boarding parents alike, there are strong satisfaction levels.

CONNECTING Since our school began, our community has united with a common purpose and a shared commitment to building a better future.

By continuing to foster an engaged community, we extend each boy’s journey from school, to university, to work, to family life and back to the school, creating ties that bind.

Our community extends to parents, community partners and staff. Together, we are greater than the sum of our parts. When this community moves as one, it is a powerful force.

We will: • engage the multiple generations of Old Boys • participate actively in the life of Ipswich, Springfield and the western suburbs of Brisbane • develop effective formal and informal parent and staff feedback opportunities • communicate the direction and achievements of the school with the broader community • grow and foster a culture of philanthropy • diversify our international markets • continuously refine our marketing and engagement strategies.

ACHIEVEMENT MEASURES • Our Old Boy network is thriving, with engagement across multiple generations.

• Ipswich Grammar School actively participates in community life in Ipswich, Springfield and Brisbane’s western suburbs.

• We will have established strong corporate and educational partnerships.

• We consistently record very high levels of parent satisfaction with our school.

• Year on year, we achieve consistent enrolment growth.

BUILDING Inspired by strong leadership and innovative human resource programs, our staff capabilities enable educational innovation and change.

Our increasing focus on environmental sustainability reduces our school’s carbon footprint and ensures responsible development of our facilities and grounds.

United under a strong, sustainable futures strategy and good governance, we manage our human, financial, physical and technical resources to lay strong foundations for a prosperous future.

We will: • attract and retain a diverse team of high-quality professionals • create best practice staff recruitment • invest in financial growth strategies • embody an entrepreneurial spirit in our management approaches • implement major projects of strategic importance to improve our infrastructure and the physical environment • develop innovative responses to our business fundamentals, including transport and contracts • promote a responsible environmental approach throughout our daily operations • design staff training to ensure we have a very strong customer service focus.

ACHIEVEMENT MEASURES • We recruit and retain high-quality staff.

• Our staff strongly align to our IGS vision, values, and strategic direction.

• Our resource base has strengthened, providing the capacity to reinvest into our school.

• We have a targeted environmental footprint.

• Our school celebrates a number of major project completions.

• We deliver exceptional customer service to all.