SCOTS PGC College Strategic Plan 2019-2021

Strategic Plan 2019—2021 + spirit + tenacity + authenticity + excellence + respect A UNITING CHURCH SCHOOL

+ spirit + tenacity + authenticity + excellence + respect

At SCOTS PGC, there is space to grow, values to guide.

We are a co-educational day and boarding school in a beautiful rural setting on the outskirts of the city of Warwick, just two hours from Brisbane. With students from Prep to Year 12, we offer a uniquely personalised education where depth and breadth are features of our program.

We place a strong emphasis on character development and challenge every student to reach their full potential. For this reason, we’ve become known as the school where country values inspire excellence.

In our centenary years, we honour our past and look to the future; to the faces of our boys and girls today.

Our strategic plan outlines a way forward. It shares the strategies we will use and the actions we will take to achieve our vision – to become the College of first choice for families seeking a truly values based education.

Like parents, we aspire for our young men and women to go forth confident in their ability and in ours too. Confident they can forge their own path knowing the College has given them the skills and strength of character needed to create a successful future.

At SCOTS PGC, we’re always aiming higher.

It’s the motto we live by every day.

Our values chart the course in all we seek to achieve and represent the essential qualities we strive to instil in our boys and girls.

Spirit Our spirit connects and unites us. It reminds us of the passion we hold and the pride we must take in everything we do.

Tenacity Challenge is inevitable. The way we rise defines our true character. Tenacity speaks to our commitment to sustained effort and hard work - our ‘never give up’ attitude.

Authenticity We’re true to who we are and what we stand for.

Our actions are inspired by a strong sense of purpose and driven by a genuine desire to make a difference.

Excellence Excellence is a daily choice, a way of being and 0ur guiding principle for success.

Respect Respect sits at the heart of our relationships and how we think, act and communicate.

Our Vision To inspire students to be their best.

Our Mission To be a Christian, co-educational boarding and day school of the highest standard.

Target Enrolment Our enrolment goal within the life of this strategic plan is 480 students, a third of whom will be boarders, with 600 students representing our ultimate target.

Our Goals We have created this document as a statement of intent, an aspiration and a set of desired outcomes for those who make SCOTS PGC College great - our boys and girls, our people and our wider school community.

We know we may encounter challenges along the way.

However, we will be unflinching in our commitment to reach these goals. Our strategy will be achieved through our focus on four priorities:

01 Our boys and girls 02 Our people 03 Our relationships 04 Our operations

To bring our plan to life we’ve set some pretty specific goals and targets. These will be used to track our progress.

Success in short, found under each pillar, speaks to how these measures work together to create our ideal future.

+ spirit + tenacity + authenticity + excellence + respect

Our boys and girls We seek to develop socially responsible young people whose ethics derive from Gospel teachings. Our students, by their words and actions, exemplify our five values.

Strategic Plan 2019 -2021

01

Our boys and girls | 7

Aims

We will Give unrelenting focus to shaping the character and potential of our boys and girls.

Foster spiritual essence and a deeper understanding of the Christian message.

Create pathways for all students that enable them to pursue academic and vocational excellence.

Provide a safe, healthy and nurturing environment for all.

Enable our students to engage in cultural, sporting and service activities that enhance their wellbeing and those with whom they interact.

Means

By Building a strong sense of community among our day and boarding students.

Encouraging students to explore, examine and experience the Christian faith and contribute to a faith community.

Affirming the success of our boys and girls.

Celebrating difference and diversity.

Challenging our students to fulfil their potential.

Understanding the needs of each individual.

Closely tracking student performance and implementing strategies to support improvement.

Using data to continually improve practices and outcomes.

+ spirit + tenacity + authenticity + excellence + respect

Our curriculum reflects best practice and is informed by a dedicated teaching and learning framework. Our boys and girls are inspired to continuously improve and discover their passions through experiences that excite, engage and ready them for the world that awaits. We are a community of learners and this is reflected in our academic performance.

In fact, we’ve become known as a day and boarding school of excellence.

Yet in all our endeavours relationships come first. We know strong characters emerge with strong support. Our students are proud of SCOTS PGC, proud of their achievements and proud to contribute to every area of College life.

Strategic Plan 2019 - 2021

Success in short

+ spirit + tenacity + authenticity + excellence + respect

02

Our people At the heart of a great school is its people.

We are committed to attracting, developing and retaining people of great character and capability.

By making our workplace great we enable our people to do great work.

For this reason, we’re considered an employer of choice both internally and externally.

Our people are the living embodiment of our values and are actively involved in many areas of College life. Strong alignment exists across our organisation. Everyone is willing to work together to go ‘above and beyond’ in the spirit of helping our boys and girls to achieve their potential. Our teachers and non-teaching staff are empowered and inspired, and as a result, so too are our learners.

Strategic Plan 2019 - 2021

Success in short

Our people | 11

Aims

We will Promote an inclusive and collaborative culture that values the unique contribution each person brings to the collective.

Provide a safe, supportive and positive place to work and learn.

Enable our people to engage in meaningful work and professionally rewarding experiences.

Support all our people to apply best practice methodology in their respective fields.

Ensure our people are well trained and appropriately resourced.

Means

By Developing initiatives that enhance understanding of the College’s values and empower our people to embed these in all areas of College life.

Ensuring our people engage in professional development initiatives that: • • •

connect them to a wider network of expertise promote innovative thinking and provide opportunities for renewal enhance the learning experience for our boys and girls.

Equipping our people with skills and strategies that increase their capacity to support the wellbeing of our entire community and help to create happy, healthy and safe learning environments.

Collaborating with leaders in all fields to ensure our approach is in line with best practice frameworks.

Promoting collaboration between teaching and non-teaching staff, knowing students receive the best experience when all functions of the College work together in unity.

+ spirit + tenacity + authenticity + excellence + respect

Our relationships Our College consists of many people and is built on strong relationships. Shared purpose, passion and values - as well as a commitment to working together - is what moves us forward as one community.

Success in short We see strong relationships as the essential foundation for producing strong outcomes. Through our relationships we inspire and instil a spirit of camaraderie among our community and affirm the vital role they have to play in building the College’s future. We provide opportunities for people to connect with the College in meaningful ways. Our purpose is clear and our shared purpose, well understood. We value diversity of thought and this allows us to foster a strong, inclusive and vibrant school community.

03 Aims

We will Engage the enthusiasm of those whose affiliation is familial our parents and families.

Embrace our members with experiential association of the College our alumni and past staff.

Build the engagement of those who have a professional connection our people.

Connect with people who have a civic or business relationship with the College - community leaders and business operators.

Foster a feeling of connectedness among all members of our community.

Means

By Clearly communicating our vision, plans and progress with our community.

Enabling our Parents and Friends Association to participate with purpose and actively contribute to College life as well as our plans for the future.

Ensuring our Past Students Association is of relevance to and seeks to meaningfully connect our alumni with each other and the College.

Build strong and mutually beneficial partnerships with organisations to enhance the learning experience for our boys and girls, as well as the vitality of the College and our wider community.

Engaging our local church, civic leaders, service clubs and workplaces to enable the College to be an integral contributor to the life of Warwick and surrounding areas.

Strategic Plan 2019 - 2021

Working closely with our Foundation to advance master planning needs and foster a culture of philanthropy.

+ spirit + tenacity + authenticity + excellence + respect

04

Our operations Our operations seek to strengthen our strategic plans. By using our values as a framework for decision making, our operations also seek to

Success in short Our actions move us towards our vision. Our values are evidenced in our operations and we’re able to clearly communicate the why behind every decision made. By aligning our operations to our strategic plan, we ensure our College remains sustainable and strong. Effective processes and systems, coupled with a commitment to open communications, allows us to create an environment where ideas are shared, collective intelligence is captured and all functions of the school are supported to work together.

Strategic Plan 2019 - 2021

cultivate a progressive and collaborative culture.

Our operations | 15

Aims

We will Ensure our decision making is fair and transparent at all times.

Allow ideas to flow freely across our organisation through open communications.

Foster close working relationships with the school’s ancillary bodies; together we share the goal of growing our College.

Maintain a strong position through increasing enrolments and astute financial management.

Means

By Cultivating a high performing team committed to and capable of delivering our strategic plans.

Maintaining a strict adherence to process that supports prudent and measurable decision making.

Ensuring our administration supports the seamless sharing of knowledge across the College.

Maximise the interaction of the executive team with Councillors as they share skills and experience in subcommittees, which report back to the College Council.

Embedding our values into our internal and external relationships.

Regularly reviewing our approach to ensure strong alignment with industry best practice and relevant benchmarks including Somerset data.

+ spirit + tenacity + authenticity + excellence + respect

We’ve determined targets and goals for each pillar so we can measure our success.

01 Our boys and girls Teaching and learning

Co-curricular activities

A dedicated and evidence based teaching and learning framework is implemented across the College.

All students are involved in co-curricular activities.

SCOTS PGC is the top school in Warwick, and one of the top schools in Queensland in Year 12 ATAR outcomes.

All Year 12 students are in their pathway of choice.

SCOTS PGC is the top school in Warwick, and one of the top 20 schools in Queensland for NAPLAN. Early literacy and numeracy results are well above average.

All dimensions of the co-curricular program - performing and visual arts, sports and games, service and outdoor activities are given equal status by the College.

Systems are in place to ensure all students are involved in at least one cultural, sporting and outdoor pursuit annually.

Pastoral care Dedicated pastoral care lessons are held across all year levels.

A comprehensive academic music program has been developed across the College and is recognised as an area of excellence at SCOTS PGC.

The student wellbeing survey, ACER Six Stars, is conducted annually.

Subjects reflect the changing world and respond to the needs of our boys and girls.

Character strengths are celebrated and positive behaviour is modelled and lived.

Technology is integrated in our teaching and learning approach.

All Year 12 students have an opportunity to lead.

A Mentor program provides a formal channel for older students to care for our younger boys and girls.

Spiritual life All students in their senior year contribute to the leadership of Chapel worship at least once in the year.

Chapel services are held weekly for all year levels, with worship activities relating to students’ everyday lives.

Music is an integral part of Chapel life.

Boarding life Our annual boarding parent survey indicates high levels of overall satisfaction with boarding.

A program for orienting new boarders and their families is developed and implemented.

Success measures | 17

02

Our people Highly qualified and experienced people seek employment at SCOTS PGC College.

There is a high level of satisfaction among staff and turnover is low.

There is strong staff attendance at College events and involvement in co-curricular programs.

Our College community comments upon the professionalism of and care shown by all staff.

Our people feel engaged and sufficiently valued to go above and beyond and work collaboratively to continuously improve the College.

+ spirit + tenacity + authenticity + excellence + respect

03

Our relationships Parents and carers

Past students

Annual sample surveys with parents and carers indicate high levels of satisfaction with communication at the College.

All graduates elect to join our Past Students Association (PSA).

We assist the Parents and Friends Association to: •

•

Build effective leadership to ensure a range of calendared events occur annually where the focus is on inclusiveness, teamwork, social interaction and raising funds to support the College’s priorities.

Provide effective communication between parents, friends and the College’s administration.

College Foundation Engage the Foundation to raise sufficient funds to enable the successful conversion of School House and De Conlay House and other strategically identified projects.

The PSA is supported to set targets for increasing membership and engagement with alumni.

The PSA conducts events on a regular basis that are of relevance and appeal to past students.

The College facilitates opportunities for past students to develop and strengthen their business networks.

Community partnerships Foster, and review annually, service and work experience opportunities for students, staff and families.

Engage in task groups to address challenges faced by children and young adolescents. Build partnerships with other schools to strengthen student wellbeing in the wider community.

Provide opportunities for students to engage with the wider community including elderly residents, indigenous leaders and local businesses.

SCOTS PGC actively supports the community through sponsorship, including the provision of gifts in kind.

Success measures | 19

04

Our operations

Governance

Risk management and compliance

Council subcommittees meet regularly with discussions effectively captured and shared with College Council.

Our risk management policies, processes and procedures are regularly reviewed and remain in line with industry best practice.

All ancillary bodies are actively focused on providing support for the College.

Council operates at a strategic level and a clear delineation between operational and strategic matters is maintained.

A strong succession plan is in place. Councillors actively seek their replacements and have clearly documented processes and procedures for incoming members.

Admissions Our student population will sit at 480 students, a third of whom will be boarders.

The College is seen as a school of first choice in the region.

An annual plan guides our marketing initiatives and helps us to measure our impact in the marketplace.

Financial A strong financial position is maintained through increasing enrolments and astute financial management. Surplus funds are available to support future plans.

Our campus Our physical master plan ensures our campus caters for contemporary curriculum and co-curricular activities and our residential facilities are modern and welcoming.

A capital plan ensures infrastructure is fit-for-purpose and supports the College’s strategic objectives. The capital plan is reviewed annually.

Human resources Our people’s career pathways are reviewed annually and opportunities for further education and extension explored.

Where country values inspire excellence 60 Oxenham Street Warwick Queensland 4370 p +61 7 4666 9811 Prep to Year 12

SCOTSpgc.com.au

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