Planning ahead: our short and long term goals

It is now well documented that over the next six months the College will undergo a strategic planning process that will set out our intention for the life of Radford College over the next five years. The Plan will be informed by the feedback of staff, students, parents, Collegians, Board members and community members through surveys, focus groups and conversations. The current plan, entitled Think. Connect. Transform. expires at the end of this year and on reflection of that document, it is encouraging to note that many of the goals delineated in the 2011?15 Plan have now been realised. Our challenge over the next three terms will be to remain authentic to the College?s Foundational Aims, whilst planning for a future that will see a successful and vibrant College which nurtures and develops the young people in its care.

There is no doubt that one of the fundamental aspects of good strategic planning and implementation is clear and regular communication to all stakeholders. Although a great deal of forward planning will take place throughout the year, there are a number of major goals that must take priority during 2015. Without clear goals there is no accountability or follow through. At the start of each year, I would like to communicate our major goals for the year to you to keep you informed. Please be aware that we always seek continuous improvement across current programs and so the goals relate to new initiatives or significant reviews. The goals for 2015 are summarised around eight headings:

Planning for the future

  • In Term 3 of this year, Radford will be inspected by a panel, appointed by the Minister for Education and Training as part of its application for Registration renewal. This process takes place every five years in Non-Government Schools. Registration renewal will require the College to review all policies, procedures, facilities, equipment, curriculum documents and compliance requirements to ensure we comply with all relevant Acts of Parliament. These Commonwealth and Territory Acts form either conditions of registration or are other legislated requirements or registration expectations.
  • As detailed above, the College will undertake a Strategic Planning process during 2015. It is hoped that the new Strategic Plan will be ready for release by the beginning of Term 4.

Academic excellence

  • Following on from the College?s outstanding Year 12 results in 2014, thorough analysis of benchmark testing (NAPLAN, PISA, InCAS, AST, ICAS etc) and internal assessments will be conducted to determine individuals, cohorts or subject areas requiring personalised plans or additional resourcing.
  • The implementation of the Australian Curriculum will continue this year with emphasis on Stage 2 and 3 subjects from Kindergarten to Year 10 and a range of subjects in the senior years. For further information, please refer to Radford College Australian Curriculum implementation to date.
  • The results of the LOTE review, which was instigated in 2014, will be released and recommendations will be deliberated.
  • Exploration of additional pathways for our senior students will continue this year, with a special emphasis on the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and additional accredited subject offerings under the Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS).

Effective pastoral care

  • The new pastoral care model in the secondary school will be constantly reviewed throughout the year.
  • The new Director of Development, Ms Claire Melloy, will develop a pastoral care program for secondary students that aims to be proactive rather than reactive. The program will focus on issues affecting adolescents and will include learning opportunities for teachers and parents as well as students.

  • In the Junior School, the teaching staff will be investigating ways to teach the Primary Years Programme (PYP) Attitudes and Learner Profile, both inside and outside of classrooms.

Co-curricular involvement

  • A whole of school review of co-curricular activities has been initiated this year. The review will be led by Mr Paul Southwell (Head of Junior School), Mr Phillip O?Regan (Head of Secondary School), and Mr Dylan Mordike (Director of Co-Curricular). The review will examine aspects of the sporting program including the number of sporting offerings (particularly for girls in the summer season), the level of expertise of coaches and competitions, the age at which co-curricular sport is first offered in the College and the facilities required to support a first rate sporting program. It will also look at additional offerings in the performing arts, particularly with respect to dance and drama and will review the scheduling of all co-curricular activities, rehearsals, practices and fixtures.

Community engagement

  • Further refinement of the new website and Bulletin will take place this year. Publications will be reviewed as will all other forms of communication.
  • The College will this year be seeking to establish a Radford Foundation. The aim of the Foundation will be to provide community members an opportunity to support and assist the College?s Board through bequests or gifts, which will in turn help to preserve, improve and develop the educational program, property and facilities of the College and provide for the long-term sustainability of Radford.

Facilities and grounds

  • It is envisaged that by the beginning of Term 2, the new Haydon Drive entry will be in use, resulting in safer and more expedient entry and exit from the College for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
  • Offices for the Deputy Principal/Head of Secondary School and Director of Development will be constructed during Term 1 providing an official entry in to the Secondary School.
  • A new Masterplan will be developed during 2015 and will be released alongside the new Strategic Plan.

Professional engagement

  • A formalised appraisal process for all staff will be initiated this year, allowing staff to reflect on their practices and plan for future professional development.
  • Teacher quality is arguably the most critical factor in effective schools and improved teaching standards depend on clarity and understanding of effective pedagogical practice. The Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) standards articulate expectations for staff across the areas of professional knowledge, practice and engagement. In 2015, staff professional learning will concentrate on the areas of ICT instruction, critical and creative thinking, assessment and course design, pastoral care, special needs and differentiation in the classroom.

Information technology

  • After bring your own device (BYOD) and iPad trials for the past two years, 2015 is the first year of the 1-to-1 program. In these initial stages, there will be a great deal of review, monitoring and assessment of the program. We will be regularly seeking feedback from staff, students and parents on the success or otherwise of the program throughout the year.
  • We are trialling a move to electronic texts in Years 7 and 9 in core subjects through LearningField.
  • Radford OnLine will continue to be developed and promoted as the College?s Learning Management System and repository for all information.
  • A new whole of College information system will be sourced and implemented by the end of 2015.

As is evident from the list above, we have an incredibly busy year ahead. I will, however, endeavor to keep the community updated on progress throughout the year.

Regards

Fiona Godfrey

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