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RudolfSteinerEducationGroupBrisbane(RSEGB)

STRATEGICPLAN2017-2026

RevisionDate Version Author DescriptionofChange/Revision

13/9/2016 1.0 MichaelRyan Initialdraftofnew2017-2026StrategicPlan

21/9/2016 2.0 MichaelRyan AmendedDraftforBMandCoTfeedback

9/2/2017 2.1 JoanWeir AmendeddraftfollowingCoTfeedback

4/3/2017 2.2 KarenDunshea IncorporationofBoardapprovedchanges,COTfeedbackandDirectorinputontimelines–finalapprovedcopy

RUDOLFSTEINEREDUCATIONGROUPBRISBANEINC.

StrategicPlan2017-2026

i

TableofContents

1. Background................................................................................................................11.1. TheRSEGBPurpose....................................................................................................................11.2. VisionandMissionStatements..................................................................................................1

2. IntroductiontotheStrategicPlan...............................................................................2

3. TheBoardPillars........................................................................................................33.1 Financial.....................................................................................................................................33.2 Performance...............................................................................................................................43.3 Compliance.................................................................................................................................63.4 StakeholderManagement..........................................................................................................8

4. TheCoTStrategicAreas............................................................................................104.1 TheStudents.............................................................................................................................104.2 TheStaff...................................................................................................................................124.3 TheCommunityandEnvironment...........................................................................................14

GlossaryofTerms

ASBA/SomersetEducationfinancialsurvey

AsurveytheSVSSparticipatesintoassistincomparingfinancialperformancewithotherschoolsandsettingbenchmarksforfinancialhealth.

K-12 Summaryofkindergarten,pre-prep,primaryschoolandhighschoolgroups.

RSEGB RudolfSteinerEducationGroupBrisbane,theincorporatedassociationthatestablishedtheSamfordValleySteinerSchool.

SVSS SamfordValleySteinerSchool.



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1. Background

1.1. TheRSEGBPurposeThepurposeoftheRSEGBistoprovidetheopportunityofaSteiner/WaldorfinspirededucationtochildreninBrisbane/SEQ.Toadvancethispurpose,theRSEGBsupportstheSamfordValleySteinerSchool(SVSS)inprovidingap-12Steinereducationcurriculumofrecognisedexcellenceinafinanciallysustainableandlegallycompliantmanner.TomaximisethenumberofchildrenabletobenefitfromaSteinerinspirededucation,theRSEGBisalsofocusedonbuildingrelationshipswithkeystakeholders,bothinternalandexternal,andfacilitatingtheprovisionoftrainingandinformationontheSteinerphilosophywithinSEQ.

1.2. VisionandMissionStatementsTheBoardoftheRSEGBandtheCollegeofTeachers(CoT)ofSVSShasdevelopedthefollowingcombinedvisionstatementandindependentmissionstatements.

SharedVision:Advancingsocialandculturalrenewalthroughsoundanthroposophicalapplication.

CoTMission:ThatSVSSbealivingandcontemporaryembodimentofthespiritual,cultural,educationalimpulseofanthroposophythatcontributestowardssocietalrenewalintheworld.

BoardMission:Toprovidethewelcomingenvironmentandstableframework(encompassingtheBoard’sfourpillars)thatencouragesthemaximumnumberofchildrentoenjoyaneducationunderpinnedbytheprinciplesofAnthroposophyasgivenbyRudolfSteiner,whereby,ourhighestendeavoristodevelopfreehumanbeingswhoareableofthemselvestoimpartpurposeandmeaningtotheirlives.

ThefollowingdiagramillustrateshowtherelatedbutslightlydifferentMissionscombinetoachievetheSharedVision.

MissionoftheCollegeofTeachers

SharedVision:Culturalandsocialrenewal

MissionoftheBoardofRSEGB



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2. IntroductiontotheStrategicPlan

ThisStrategicPlanaccomplishesthreeimportanttasks:

1. ItclarifiesthekeyobjectivesthattheRSEGBBoardandCoTwishtoachievefortheSVSSoverthenext10years;

2. Itidentifiesthecriteriathatwillbeusedtoassessperformanceagainsteachobjective(thesehavebeentermedthe‘EndState’criteriaintheBoardsectionandas‘IndicatorsofAchievement’intheCoTsection);and

3. Itprovidesatimeframeoverwhichtheobjectivesareexpectedtobeachieved.

TheRSEGBBoardhasaccountabilitiesinfourstrategicareasorpillars,andhasgroupedtheobjectivesintothese:

• Financial;• Performance;• Compliance;and• StakeholderManagement.

TheCoThasaccountabilitiesin3strategicareas,andhasgroupedtheobjectivesintothese:

• TheChildren–Alivingandcontemporarycurriculumimbuedwithananthroposophicalunderstandingofthehumanbeing;

• TheStaff–Professionaldevelopment,mentoringandsuccessionplanningforstaff;and• TheCommunityandEnvironment–Ahealthyunitedandsustainablecommunity.

TheStrategicPlanmaintainsthefocusoftheRSEGBBoardandCoTonagreedactivitiesthatwillassistinachievingtherespectiveMissionsandSharedVision.



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3. TheBoardPillars

3.1 Financial

FinancialaccountabilitycannotbelegallydelegatedbytheBoardandindividualmemberscanbeprosecutediftheyarefoundtobedelinquentintheexecutionoftheirduties;ignoranceisnodefenseunderthelawinthiscase.GoodfinancialgovernancebytheBoardisalsoessentialtothelong-termsustainabilityofSVSS,andsoallBoardmembersneedtoensuretheyhavesufficientfinancialliteracytocarryoutthisaspectoftheirduties.

Objective EndStateQuarterlyReview Target

DateMonitoringFrequencyMar Jun Sep Dec

Befinanciallyresponsible

• SVSSisconsistentlypositionedinthetopquartileof(any)federalandstatenon-governmentschoolfinancialrankings,fromyeartoyear.

Oct Annually

• SVSSisconsistentlypositionedinthetopquartileofnon-governmentschoolsparticipatingintheannualASBA/SomersetEducationfinancialsurvey,fromyeartoyear.

Oct Annually

• Fourkeyfinancialresponsibilitiesofdirectorsareachieved:

o Maintenanceofproperfinancialrecordso Appropriatefinancialreporting,auditedwhennecessaryandtimelyo Financialpositionismonitoredo Insolventtradingisprevented.

Everyyear

Monthly

Facilitateadditionalincomesources

• Agatedapproachisusedtoevaluateadditionalincomegeneratingideas,ensuringthatideasmeetsetcriteriabeforefinalpresentationtotheBoardforapproval.

Foreachidea Asrequired

• Additionalincomesourcesareestablishedprogressively,commencing2018,withtheaimofSchoolnon-grantincomeachievingbenchmarksofgreaterthantheBoardapprovedbenchmark.

Ongoing Dec2017review



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3.2 Performance

TheBoardisresponsibleforthequalityofserviceandeducationprovidedbySVSS.Throughgoodgovernance,theBoardistoconfirmthattheSVSShasinplacetheprocessesandsystemstoensureallroleresponsibilitiesareclearlydefined,theincumbentsofthoserolesareheldaccountablefortheappropriateexecutionofthosedutiesandtheconsequenceforanyfailuretoperformareunderstood.



EnsurethatSVSShastheresourcestoprovideanuncompromisedSteinereducation,asdefinedbytheCoT,nowandinthefuture

• AdocumentedResourcePlanatfullcapacitybytheDirectorandSeniorLeadershipTeam(SLT)withtheresourcerequirementsatcurrentenrolmentandpredictedenrolmentforthenext2years(rolling),includingsecondcampusresourcing(keepinginmindresourcingatfullcapacitywithinthe10-yearframework).

Dec2017

Annually

• AfullyresourcedSchoolinlinewiththeResourcePlanandenrolmentfiguresatthattime.

Ongoing Quarterly

• AnnualreviewoftheResourcePlan—includingperformancetoit—bytheDirectortotheBoard.

Dec2018

Annually

Well-managedSteinereducationalfacility

• OperationalPlanisinplace,definingoutcomes,timelinesandresponsibilities.TheDirectorisresponsiblefordefiningthemetricsincludedinthisplanandreportingonthemtotheBoard.TheOpsPlanisdevelopedtosupporttheapprovedSchoolImprovementPlan(SIP)andisclearlylinkedtotheSchool’sStrategicPlanandtheBoard-approvedDirectorKPIs.

Jan/Feb Annually

• FormalDirectorPerformancereviewconductedannually,throughquarterlyreviews.

Everyyear

Annually



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AnnualBoardperformancereview

• TheBoardanditsmembersarequantitativelyassessedagainstBoard-standardmetricsasdefinedby:o TheGuidingStandardsforGoverningbyAustralianSchoolBoardsandset

upintheRSEGBSurveyMonkeysite

Dec Annually

o ReviewofmonthlyBoardmeetings Monthly Monthly

• AplanisestablishedtoaddressgapsidentifiedthroughthemetricsforboththeBoardandindividualmembers.

Jan

• TheBoardmaintainsaminimumbasicunderstandingoftheSchool’sunderlyingeducationphilosophythroughscheduledAnthroposophicaleducationasnotedintheBoardAnnualWorkPlan(BAWP).

May,June,July,

August

Annually

ToprovideaSteinereducationtothemaximumnumberofchildrenbyleveragingourstrengths

• KeySVSSstrengthshavebeenidentifiedandstrategiesinvestigatedforleveragingthosestrengthstomaximisethestudentpopulationandretainstudents.

Dec2017

Annually

• SVSShasestablishedadditionalcampus/eswithin15kmsoftheBrisbaneCBD.

Jul2017start

Monthly

• TheSteinerSeniorCurriculumisembeddedatSVSSandisrecognisedbyGovernmentbodiesandUniversitiesasarobustandqualityseniorstandardofschooling.

2018start

Monthlyuntil

embedded



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3.3 Compliance

Therearemanyareasoflegalcomplianceassociatedwithrunninganeducationalfacility.TheultimateresponsibilityforensuringtheSchoolisfullycompliantinallareasrestswiththeBoard.TheBoardmustensuretheSchoolhasthepoliciesandproceduresrequiredforcomplianceinplaceandtheyarebeingimplementedeffectively.Itmustthereforedemonstratethatithasamechanismforreviewingpoliciesandcomplianceregularlyandeffectively.TherequirementsforlegalcompliancedochangeovertimesotheBoardmustbeabletodemonstratethatitwasdiligentinkeepingallmembersabreastofchangestocompliancerequirements.



Fullydevelopedoperationsandgovernancepoliciesandpolicyreviewmechanism

• Governancepoliciesarereviewed,monitoredandamendedasrequiredaspertheGovernancePolicyMonitoringSchedule.

Within3months

ofreview

Annually

• OperationspoliciesofinteresttotheBoardarereviewedannuallyasperadefinedschedule.

Everyyear

Annually

• Operationalpoliciesaredefinedasappropriate,andconfirmedbytheBoard. Asneeded

Biennially

Boardmembersareindividuallyawareoftheirlegal,compliance,andfinancialobligationsasBoardmembers

• Boardrolesaredocumentedwithminimumrequirementsforeachroledefinedforlegal,complianceandfinancialobligations.

March2017

Annually

• EachBoardmembermeetstheminimumrequirementsfortheirrole,undertakingprofessionaldevelopmentasneeded.

Everyyear

Annually

Operationalriskmanagementframeworkinplace

• TheoperationalimplementationoftheRiskManagementScheduleandagreedreportingtimeframesaremonitoredforcurrencyandrelevance.

Ongoing Biennially



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EnsurerobustappropriateconstitutionalframeworkforGovernancewhichreflectsbothcurrentneedsandanticipatedfuturepossibilities

• TheConstitutioniscurrentandrelevant,acceptedbytheRSEGBmembers,andformalisedwiththerelevantgovernmentagency.o AformalreviewoftheConstitutionisundertakenevery5years.o TheConstitutionismonitoredbienniallyforcurrencyandrelevance.

Q4’17 Biennially



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3.4 StakeholderManagement

StakeholdersarethosewhohaveavestedinterestinSVSS,suchasthestaff,theCollegeofTeachers,andtheparentcommunity.TheBoardwillpaydueregardtotheinterestsofitsvariousstakeholders.ItisresponsibleforenhancingthepublicprofileandreputationoftheSchoolandwillthereforeensureithasaclearunderstandingofwhoitskeystakeholdersarebothinternallyandexternallyandhaveaclearpolicyofengagementwitheachgroup.



PositivereputationandrecognitionoftheBoard

• Thestrategyforconsistentinteractionwithstakeholdergroupsisdefinedandenacted.

? Annually

Influencelevelsoflocal,stateandnationalgovernmentondecisionsthataffectSVSS

• TheSteinercurriculumcontinuestobearecognisedcurriculuminQueensland.

Everyyear

Annually

• Strategiesareinplacetocontinuetodeliveranunrestrictedyear12-tertiarypathway.

Everyyear

Annually

Encourageastrongandconnectedcommunityofparents

• TheBoardmembersareactivelyinvolvedinSVSSevents. Everyyear

Quarterly

• CommunityofparentsareawareofwhotheBoardareanditsfunctioninSVSS.

Everyyear

Annually

CreateandmaintainstrongpositiverelationshipbetweenBoardandstaff

• StaffareawareofwhotheBoardareanditsfunctioninSVSS. Everyyear

Annually

• TheBoardhasanunderstandingofthefunctionoftheCollegeofTeachersfacilitatedthroughbi-annualBoard-Collegeevents.

May Sep Biannually



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Strongandcontinuingconnectionswithkeystakeholders

TheBoardmaintainsoversightofoperationalexternalstakeholdermanagement: Annually

• Continuingstrongconnectionswithalumniincludingaformalisedalumnicommunity

• Stronglinkswithuniversitiesinrelationtoadmissionarrangements,receivingstudentteachersandparticipationinTeacherEducationCourses

• Stronglinks,ofmutualrelevanceandbenefit,toAnthroposophicalsocieties



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4. TheCoTStrategicAreasTheCollegeStrategicPlanissupportedbyatwo-yearSchoolImprovementPlan,withspecificoutcomestrackedthroughalinkedoperationalplan.Theprogresspercentagesrecordedinthisdocumentreflect,atahighlevel,progressachievedandrecordedintheoperationalimprovementplan.

4.1 TheStudents

Oureducationalphilosophyviewsstudentsasyounghumanbeingsgraduallyunfoldinganddevelopingontheirjourneytoadulthood.Therefore,weplacesignificantfocusonnourishingthesocialandemotionaldevelopmentofthestudentsaswellasonacademicrigourandachievement.Thisisachievedthroughacarefullydesignedandimplementedcurriculumbasedonthedevelopmentalneedsofthestudentsatdifferentages.OurSchoolaimstoprovideaneducationalenvironmentthatservesthefreedomofthehumanspiritbyemphasisingthebalancedanddisciplineddevelopmentofthechildasawholehumanbeing.

Objective IndicatorsofAchievementProgress% Target

DateMonitoringFrequency25 50 75 100

Offeralivingandcontemporarycurriculumimbuedwithananthroposophicalunderstandingofthehumanbeing,thatsupportsthedevelopmentalandpedagogicalneedsofeachindividualstudent

• Robust,engagingmusicprogramwithensembles/orchestra/choirinthePrimaryandHighSchool.

* Dec2018

Annually

• AnestablishedPrimaryandHighSchoolBothmergymnasticsprogram. Dec2021

Annually

• AnestablishedWell-Beingprogramtosupportthepedagogical,socialandemotionalneedsofallstudents.

Dec2021

Annually

• Anestablishedagricultureandoutdoorclassroomcurriculum,includinganexcellentfarmgarden,RTO-approvedsubjectofferingsintheHighSchoolandafullyresourcedcampandsailingprogram.

Dec2026

Annually

• AnestablishedlanguageprogramthroughouttheSchoolofferingtwolanguageswhereappropriate.

Dec2021

Annually



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• Anextendedearlyyearsprogramcateringforchildrenfrombirth–7yearsisoffered.

Dec2019

Annually

• AfullK-12SteinerCurriculumisofferedthatincludesclearandrecognisedpathwaystotertiarystudy.

Dec2017

Asneeded

OffertheopportunityforasmanySouth-EastQldfamiliesaspossible,whoareseekingSteinerEducation,toaccessaqualityandauthenticSteinerexperience

• AsecondcampusofSVSSisestablishedintheinnersuburbsofBrisbaneCity. Dec2017

• AdistancemodeofdeliveryforPrepandPrimarySchoolisofferedtosupportfamiliesonourwaitinglistandinrural/remoteareaswhereSteinerEdisnotcurrentlyavailable.

Dec2021

Annually



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4.2 TheStaff

ThededicatedstaffofSVSSstrivetoofferaneducationthatistruetothespiritandintentionsoftheeducationalimpulsesandinsightsofferedbyRudolfSteiner.Staffacknowledgethattoachievethis,ongoingstudyintothenatureofthehumanbeingasbothaspiritualandphysicalbeingisrequired.TeachersworkwiththeAustralianSteinerCurriculumbutknowthatthisFrameworkmustbetransformedandenlivenedbyseekinganever-expandingunderstanding,throughpersonalandprofessionaldevelopmentactivities,oftheself,thechildrenbeforethem,ouruniquetimeandplaceandanunderstandingofthespiritualbasisofthecurriculumandourwork.Ourteachersworkwithanunderstandingofthehealth-givingandhealingnatureofthisuniqueeducationtonurturethesocial,emotional,academicandsoulneedsofthechild.

Objective IndicatorsofAchievementProgress% Target


EmbedprofessionaldevelopmentandmentoringprogramstoensurethatallstaffareworkingconsciouslywiththeunderlyingprinciplesandethosofSteinerEducation

• Awell-developedmentoringprocessisimplementedforallstaff. Dec2017

Annually

• TeachereducationprogramsareinplacethatencompassexistingstaffdevelopmentcomponentsenablingteacherstoactivelydeepentheirunderstandingoftheK-12curriculumandhumandevelopment.

Dec2017

Annually

• Awell-trainedClassTeacherandClassGuardianCommunitythatisabletocoverthepastoral/guidancecareofthestudentsacrosstheSchool,withthesupportoftheSchool’sWellbeingOfficer.

Dec2018

Annually

Embedsuccessionplanningforidentifiedteachingandkeyadministrativeroles

• AsuccessionplanisestablishedfortheDirectorandEducationAdministratorsandkeyspecialistteachingroles.

Dec2018

Annually

• TeachereducationprogramsandrecruitmentstrategiesareinplacetoensureanongoingsupplyofnewSteinertrainedteachers.

Dec2017

Annually



13

UtiliseanddeveloptheskillsandknowledgeofourexperiencedstafftocontributetobroadereducationaldialogueandthuspromotethebenefitsofSteinerEducation

• SVSSstaffcontinuetobesoughtaftertopresentatlocal,State,NationalandInternationalProfessionalDevelopmentforSteinerStaff.

Dec2021

Biennially

• SVSSstaffareactivelyengagedinundertakingandpublishingactionresearchprojects.

Dec2021

Biennially



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4.3 TheCommunityandEnvironment

“Thehealthysociallifeisfoundwheninthemirrorofeachhumansoulthewholecommunityfindsitsreflection,andinthecommunitythevirtueofeachoneisliving.”RudolfSteiner

TheSamfordValleySteinerSchoolcommunity,likeoureducation,isbaseduponthefosteringofhealthyrelationships.Weseektoactivelyengageourcommunityinourmissiontocontributetowardssocialrenewal.AtSVSSweviewourselvesasacommunityoflearners–teachers,parents,andstudents–strivingtoachieveindividual,communalandglobalgrowthandunderstanding.

Weseektoembraceallmembersofourcommunity;students,formerandpresentparents,alumniandfriendsoftheSchool,andensurethatthevoiceofeachhasopportunitytobeheardandthecontributionofeachisvalued.Westrivetocommunicateandinteractwithourcommunityinawaythatfosterseverstrengtheningrelationships,trustandmeaningfulconnection.

Ashumanbeings,wehavearoleandresponsibilityasstewardsofournaturalworldandenvironment.AtSVSSweseektoengagestudentswiththeirlivingenvironmentinsuchawaythattheydevelopastrongappreciationforandmeaningfulconnectiontothenaturalworldandassuchwillenteradultlifewithacommitmenttoethicalstewardshipoftheworld.

Objective IndicatorofAchievementProgress% Target


FosterahealthyunitedcommunitythatreflectsthespiritualculturalimpulseofAnthroposophy

• Aprerequisiteparentorientationprogrampriortoenrolmentisestablished. Dec2018

Annually

• Acomprehensiveframeworkisinplaceforaparenteducationpathwayfrompre-Kindergarten–Class12.

Dec2018

Annually

• Collegevisiblymodelshealthysocialpracticesandidentifiesandengagesinactiontowardssocialrenewal.

Ongoing Annually

EmbedSchool-basedsustainablepractices

• OurSchool,studentsandcommunityareactive,positiveandawarecontributorstoglobalsustainability.

Dec2021

Annually

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