Strategic planning is an important process for all schools and during August last year, King’s College had a full review of the existing plan and made some important changes. The College has detailed a vision and mission statement and has explicitly stated the important core values of the College as an integral part of the Strategic Plan.

In addition, we have written 18 major aims and we have formulated a five year plan, as well as the normal one year operating plan. This planning process involved the Senior Management team, the Board of Governors and the teaching staff. Part of the Plan is included below as it will, no doubt, be of interest to parents and Old Collegians alike.

Vision

The vision of King’s College is to provide the best all-round education it is possible to obtain (Graham Bruce, Headmaster, 1896)

Mission Statement

We aim to provide excellence in teaching and learning, within a well balanced educational context involving the academic, cultural, social, physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions of life.

Core Values

·         Pursuit of Learning

We value the spirit of enquiry and the intellectual growth of students, including their different learning needs, to become creative, engaged and open-minded learners.

·         Moral Courage

We value strength of character, guided by a strong moral code of behaviour.

·         Generosity of Spirit

We value a culture of service and of giving to others.

·         Tolerance

We value the acceptance of all people and encourage a sense of belonging in our community.

·         Honesty

We value trust and truthfulness in all human relationships.

·         Respect

We value the fair treatment of all people and the preservation of human dignity.

·         Gratitude

We value the opportunities available at the College and welcome life as a gift.

·         Spirituality

We affirm the significance of the Christian spiritual journey which gives personal meaning to life.

In stating these core values, the intention is to keep them alive in our community through the normal activities of the College, role modeling by staff, the preaching in the Chapel and, in 2004, through the new Religious and Values Education course being planned by the Assistant Chaplain, Rev. Murray Bean.

Reverend Bean has been working with Dr Felicity McCutcheon from the Australasian Dialogue Network for Schools to formulate a new course which dovetails religious education and the explicit teaching of values. We believe this will prove to be a significant part of the Junior School programme in the first instance, and will hopefully lead some students to study theology in the IGCSE and beyond. In Britain, theology has become one of the biggest growth subjects in Years 11 to 13, as students demand to make sense of the world they live in, and appreciate the academic rigour involved in the course.

Aims

The aims of the College have been written to provide a guide to the whole-school educational programme. Space does not permit the copying of all of the College aims here, but the following statements give an idea of the importance placed on distinctive educational elements such as endeavouring t

·         Pursue the Christian faith and ethic, centred on the Chapel and the College’s Anglican heritage;

·         Encourage best practice and innovation, whilst valuing the importance of traditions;

·         Maintain and enhance a fully integrated Senior School co-educational programme and a modern, flexible boarding dimension as significant components of the College;

·         Provide a quality academic programme which challenges students to pursue excellence and value achievement, regardless of individual abilities;

·         Provide an effective pastoral care system which assists students to reach their potential;

·         Develop a strong sense of citizenship through well developed leadership and community service programmes;

·         Encourage students, teachers and parents to work in partnership and to create a positive learning culture and environment;

·         Promote ethical policies, procedures and behaviour.

Of course the important link is between such statements and the specific policies, programmes and developments which will translate aims into action and enable priorities to be set. This is the intention behind the more detailed five-year and one-year operating plans.

Rest assured that we will continue to review and benchmark these plans in the following years, with the aim to provide a dynamic and quality education for all students who attend this fine College.