RadfoRd College Strategic Plan 2011–2015

Think. Connect. Transform.

Think. Connect. Transform.

Radford College Strategic Plan 2011–2015

Radford College is an anglican coeducational day school, located in Bruce aCT. It was named after the Rt Revd lewis Bostock Radford, the fourth Bishop of Canberra and goulburn.

The College opened on 11 february 1984 with 240 students and a staff of 21, with Mr Jock Mackinnon ao as the founding Principal. In 2011 the College will grow to over 1600 students from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12.

from the Chairman of the Radford College Board

Radford College has enjoyed a superb foundation and has an enviable reputation in scholarship, cocurricular experiences and community service. It is time to build on this and to develop a vision to contribute to the future of this nation and its people.

The Radford College Strategic Plan 2011–2015 focuses on the success of our students as they develop academically, and as responsible global citizens. for this phase of Radford’s history, we want to put operational plans in place which will give the members of our community the confidence and resilience to make a difference.

The Radford College Board upholds the College motto Truth, Compassion, Wisdom, and believes that through our commitment to our “learner dispositions”, Think, Connect, Transform and to our “Values in action” Imagine, Listen, Respect, the College will continue to thrive and succeed.

Ian Morison Chairman

from the Principal of Radford College

This Strategic Plan, entitled Think, Connect, Transform, sets out our intention for the life of Radford College for the next five years. The Plan has been informed by the feedback of staff, students and parents, through surveys, focus groups and conversations for more than a year. The many past accomplishments of Radford College over a quarter of a century provide us with a strong foundation upon which we seek to build a future that will be both national and global.

Radford College is a coeducational anglican school that is committed to outstanding academic achievement, to the development of the whole person through the provision of wide-ranging experiences, and to fostering a diverse and inclusive community with an outward-looking focus. We will pursue this commitment in the context of a compassionate and resilient approach to life, with a sense of service to god and to all people as contributing global citizens.

We remain dedicated to our “Values in action”: Imagine, Listen, Respect. These values inform the way in which we will approach all aspects of College life and to which we are accountable.

This Plan remains authentic to the College foundational aims, as set down in 1983. Yet we approach the future with open hearts and open minds, seeking to shape our own future with optimism, mindful of the many changes occurring around us. This plan covers six domains: Spirituality, learning and Teaching, Students, Staff, Community, governance and Planning. from time to time we intend to report progress against each of the action items captured within the domains.

We look forward to the future with enthusiasm and passion. The strength of any plan, however, is not to be found in its catchy words. Rather, we need to capture the enormous capacity of the Radford College community, as together we seek to nurture the children and young people in our care. I invite the entire community to join with us to accomplish our intent:

Think, Connect, Transform.

Phillip Heath Principal

Spirituality

To promote a deeper understanding of human experience and the Christian story, as expressed within the anglican tradition by:

encouraging community ❙❙

members to develop deeper knowledge of self and to have the courage to seek justice in our community and beyond.

further embedding ❙❙

Radford’s values and ethos, and creating the impetus and opportunity to work for a sustainable community.

developing Religious and ❙❙

Values education across the College.

deepening patterns of ❙❙

wellbeing, care and spiritual formation for all members of the Radford community.

Celebrating milestones ❙❙

and occasions that mark a meaningful passage through the College.

extending and nurturing ❙❙

our relationship with the anglican diocese and other anglican schools.

learning and Teaching

To encourage learning that is innovative and intellectually challenging by:

Maintaining our expectation ❙❙

of high academic standards, while supporting the needs of the individual.

articulating and embedding ❙❙

Think, Connect,Transform.

applying current educational ❙❙

research to the development and delivery of learning and teaching programs.

Shaping physical and ❙❙

organisational structures to support educational innovation.

Seeking to understand and ❙❙

acknowledge indigenous and international perspectives.

Creating links that will ❙❙

build on the international awareness of our students and staff, and provide authentic opportunities for them to engage as sensitive and responsible global citizens.

Contributing to the broader ❙❙

educational agenda, regionally, nationally and internationally.

Students

To provide a challenging and engaging educational experience that promotes wellbeing and connectedness by:

Maintaining high academic ❙❙

expectations and a positive learning environment.

Upholding a culture of ❙❙

respect and compassion.

developing our students ❙❙

as outward-looking, service-focused leaders who have the courage and skills to transform.

Providing opportunities for ❙❙

each student to develop a sense of connectedness and to play a meaningful role within the College community.

Supporting our students ❙❙

to become knowledgeable and ethical citizens, capable of exercising judgment and wisdom in a variety of contexts.

encouraging respect for the ❙❙

environment, a commitment to sustainable practice and global citizenship.

Staff

To create a collegial and fulfilling professional environment by:

encouraging a culture ❙❙

where teachers inspire a love of learning in their students, are passionate about their teaching, and all staff are recognized for their contribution.

Continuing to use flexible ❙❙

and innovative approaches in the recruitment, retention and promotion of quality staff.

encouraging sustainable ❙❙

work practices and work- life balance.

developing staff through ❙❙

rich, contemporary and relevant professional learning experiences.

Promoting a culture of ❙❙

professional excellence, respect and shared professional practice.

Keenly encouraging events ❙❙

and occasions to bring our community together, and building a “whole College” culture that thrives on learning from each other.

drawing on community ❙❙

advice, expertise and efforts to provide creative solutions and ideas.

Recognising and facilitating ❙❙

the contribution of the Radford Collegians association and the Parents and friends association.

Community

To build a just, inclusive, diverse and sustainable College community of students, staff and families by:

encouraging diversity within ❙❙

the student population.

Strengthening the ❙❙

engagement of parents and the wider community with the learning and development of our students.

Continuing to offer a diverse ❙❙

and appropriately-resourced cocurricular program, with an emphasis on participation and leadership development.

Providing opportunities for ❙❙

the College community to work together for a just, inclusive, diverse and sustainable world.

Improving channels of ❙❙

communication with clear and relevant messages.

governance and Planning

To ensure far-sighted planning, financial responsibility and a sound approach to governance by:

ensuring financial ❙❙

management that demonstrates a commitment to viability, transparency and due diligence.

Planning for facilities and ICT ❙❙

initiatives which support the transformation of educational outcomes and reflect mindfulness of environmental impact, financial benchmarks and value to the community.

Continuing to make ❙❙

effective use of the Building and Maintenance fund and promoting its importance to the College’s future development.

Maintaining the flexibility to ❙❙

enable a strategic response to political and economic change and opportunity.

developing communication ❙❙

initiatives that are informative, engaging and appropriate.

Reviewing and reporting ❙❙

against strategic goals.

Line drawing Richard Browning

Photographs audrey Brown Jennifer Hillman lindi Holly Photography george Huitker alan lee

Print and Publication Management QoTe

Printed by Bluestar group

Cover Stock 300gsm Tudor PR is Mixed Sources Certified, 70% Recycled

Text Stock 140gsm Tudor PR is fSC Recycled Certified, 100% Recycled

ISo 14001 environmental Certification

Certified Carbon Neutral

Sales of Tudor RP supports landcare australia

Printed using Vegetable based inks and under ISo 14001 environmental Certification.

Line drawing Richard Browning

Photographs Audrey Brown Jennifer Hillman Lindi Holly Photography George Huitker Alan Lee

Print and Publication Management QOTE

Printed by Bluestar Group

Cover Stock 300gsm Tudor PR is Mixed Sources Certified, 70% Recycled

Text Stock 140gsm Tudor PR is FSC Recycled Certified, 100% Recycled

ISO 14001 Environmental Certification

Certified Carbon Neutral

Sales of Tudor RP supports Landcare Australia

Printed using Vegetable based inks and under ISO 14001 Environmental Certification.

Cert no. SGS-COC-003917

RADFORD COLLEGECollege Street Bruce aCT 2617

www.radford.act.edu.au

T 02 6162 6200f 02 6162 6263