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Presbyterian Ladies’ CollegeM e l b o u r n eABN 16 005 650 386 CRICOS No. 00334M

141 Burwood Highway Burwood, Victoria 3125 AUSTRALIAtel: (61 3) 9808 5811fax: (61 3) 9808 5998www.plc.vic.edu.au

S T R AT E G I C P L A N2 0 14 – 2 0 18

Presbyterian Ladies’ College M e l b o u r n e

Towards 2018

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Towards 2018PLC is well recognised as one of Australia’s finest schools for girls. It is an exciting

and dynamic learning community, where staff and girls are engaged in their learning

and in life itself. It is a nurturing community where girls and young women are given

every opportunity to grow and develop, to explore their interests, pursue their

passions and develop their talents in a stimulating and supportive environment.

Teaching and learning at PLC is marked by innovation, rigour, contemporary practice

and the pursuit of excellence.

It is a pleasure to present this Strategic Plan: ‘Towards 2018’ to the PLC Community.

Our commitment is to ensuring that the girls of PLC, both today and in the future,

are given every opportunity and are challenged and supported to achieve their best,

both personally and academically, across all fields of endeavour, empowering them to

live meaningful and fulfilled lives as responsible global citizens. PLC is a school at the

forefront of educational thinking and practice for girls.

There are many tenets that are foundational to a PLC education

• the traditions laid down in PLC’s earliest days

• a commitment to and belief in the capacity and strength of women

• the development of the whole person

• the pursuit of personal and academic excellence

• a belief that education transforms lives and brings with it a responsibility to use one’s education to make a difference

• a commitment to equipping young women to be leaders in their world

• an international outlook and the promotion of respect, encouragement, understanding, justice and compassion

• a strong focus on looking beyond oneself and to the service of others in need

• a clear Christian foundation promoting Christian values and faith, and encouraging a sense of responsibility for oneself, for one another and for the world.

PLC is a vibrant learning community. It is a school of excellence with an exciting future.

Elaine Collin Mr Russell Walley

Principal Chairman of Council

Updated December 2013

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Our SchoolPLC is a leading ELC to Year 12 Christian independent day and boarding school for girls with an outstanding academic tradition, an international outlook, and strong pastoral and co-curricular programs with a focus on leadership, service and the development of the whole person.

Our School Mission encapsulates the many facets of a PLC education.

Founded in 1875, PLC is a school with a distinguished history and a tradition of producing young women of the highest calibre who go on to make a significant contribution in their world. In many ways the educational foundations established in PLC’s earliest days are still the foundations of a PLC education today - a love of learning, a broad stimulating curriculum to cater for the needs and interests of all students, a climate of encouragement, respect and self discipline, an encouragement to see the importance of using one’s education to make a difference, and a strong Christian foundation. PLC has an excellent record of placing graduates in highly selective universities and tertiary institutions throughout the world, and for launching young women into worthwhile and rewarding vocations and careers. Many of our graduates go on to become leaders in their field.

PLC provides a broad and rigorous liberal education of the highest quality, seeking to encourage our students to become critical, independent and highly adaptive thinkers and learners. We also seek to develop articulate and compassionate young women with fine personal qualities, a heartfelt commitment to service and with the confidence and will to make a difference in the lives of others. We offer a rich and extensive co-curricular program, with a focus on music, the creative and performing arts, sport, outdoor education, social work and community action. Embedded in all our programs is a commitment to nurturing talent, encouraging the pursuit of passions and excellence, and a focus on fostering leadership and service.

Today, as a 21st Century future focused school, we have a well-developed international outlook which prepares our students to be responsible global citizens, with an understanding and appreciation of the complex issues facing our world, a respect for other people and other cultures and an informed world-view.

PLC offers two exciting pathways for girls in Years 11 and 12, who can choose to study for the International Baccalaureate Diploma or the Victorian Certificate of Education. Both programs of study offer challenges, stimulation and abundant opportunities for growth, extension, personal development and fulfilment. As an IB World School, PLC embraces and promotes the IB Learner Profile for all our students. Our values and philosophy of learning are also informed by the UNESCO Pillars of Learning and by PLC’s Foundation Statements, which form the basis of our accreditation with the Council of International Schools.

It is our hope that the young women who graduate from PLC will leave with a world view grounded in Christian faith and values, a strong sense of how fortunate they are, a passion to use their education and abilities to make a difference, and with the confidence and will to stand against injustice and take their place as leaders with integrity in any situation.

Our MissionAs a Christian independent girls’ school, Presbyterian Ladies’ College aims to provide breadth, strength, balance and quality of education in both the national and the international context, for the purpose of encouraging leadership, service and life-long personal development and learning.

Our Motto‘Lex dei vitae lampas’ – The law of God is the lamp of life.

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Our Values and EthosAt PLC we seek to provide a stimulating, nurturing and challenging

Christian environment where

• girls, staff and parents feel respected, valued, listened to, encouraged and affirmed

• a strong sense of loyalty and belonging pervades the community

• each girl, regardless of talent, ability or background, is fully challenged to develop her strengths and capacities and to achieve her academic and personal best

• we recognise and celebrate excellence and the achievement of personal best across all fields of endeavour

• girls are given the encouragement and freedom to get involved and give things a go

• girls grow in resilience as they learn from their mistakes and develop the strength and courage to cope with disappointment and move forward

• girls are encouraged to look beyond themselves, to have a compassionate awareness of the needs of others and of the injustices in our world, and to have a proactive mindset to make a difference

• we have a steadfast belief in the capacity and capability of women

• the Christian gospel and teachings are central to the life of the school

• our focus is on the development of the whole person – academic, emotional, social, creative, physical and spiritual

• we promote the importance of living a healthy, balanced and active lifestyle

• we encourage an awareness of the environmental issues facing our world and a commitment to living environmentally sustainable lives

• we respect and value our indigenous people and foster an understanding and appreciation of indigenous perspectives

• we embrace and celebrate our multicultural community

• girls have a strong understanding of themselves as global citizens and the capacity to lead and contribute on the global stage

• our staff are professional, passionate and highly capable educators who demonstrate a love of learning, a genuine interest in their students and encourage a pursuit of excellence

At PLC we want our students and graduates to be

• articulate and compassionate young women of integrity

• positive, optimistic, self aware and resilient

• respectful, thoughtful, kind, open minded and gracious

• good communicators who relate positively and warmly to others

• competent, confident and engaged learners with a healthy self esteem

• independent learners with a love of learning and an enquiring mind who take responsibility for their own learning and actions

• creative, critical, reflective and highly adaptive thinkers and learners

• good problem solvers who are confident users of new technologies

• well equipped with the competencies and personal qualities for life and work in the 21st Century

• aware of the needs of others and to have a practical and empathic response to them

• confident leaders with strong Christian values and a well-developed social conscience and sense of justice

• responsible, informed world citizens with an international mindset and a commitment to using their education to make their world a better place for all

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Strategic DirectionsDuring the next five years PLC will, as a priority, pursue the following strategic directions

Christian Foundation and Focus

PLC is a Christian school that is committed to maintaining and building upon its strong Christian heritage and foundation, through actively promoting and nurturing the Christian faith within the school community in a winsome and intelligent way.

We celebrate the Christian message through relevant and contemporary worship experiences, prayer, Biblical teachings, endeavouring to exemplify Gospel values in all that we do and through promoting the links between faith and service. We will continue to promote the Gospel as foundational to life, to provide opportunities for girls to explore the Christian faith, to develop our chaplaincy and ministry programs and to support and encourage Christian growth and fellowship within the student

body and the wider PLC Community.

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Student Wellbeing and Development

• Ensure that the teachings of the Christian gospel underpin our pastoral programs, encouraging a care and respect for oneself and for others, and a commitment to serve and empower those less fortunate

• Develop programs and activities designed to actively shape our girls’ character development and provide opportunities for them to develop and exercise compassion, kindness, wisdom and a sense of justice

• Provide a diversity of opportunities for girls to develop enduring and ethical leadership skills and hearts for service and social justice

• Provide positive role models for the girls so that they can broaden their sights, set goals for themselves and have a strong belief in their capacity to contribute and make a difference

• Encourage and assist girls to meaningfully engage in community service in a practical and empathic way

• Develop strategies to support students in achieving balance across academic, co-curricular, social, family and community commitments

• Provide a learning environment that encourages and develops confidence and a culture where girls embrace a ‘can do’ attitude

• Further develop and implement programs tailored to produce resilient young women with good problem solving skills and who can make wise and discerning life choices

• Implement programs designed to build and develop the girls’ emotional intelligence

• Develop focused programs tailored to girls in the Middle School to enhance engagement and secure friendships and build a strong sense of self-worth

• Provide opportunities for girls in Years 7 and 8 to establish meaningful links with the wider community, including volunteering and engaging in community-based events

• Further develop and enhance the Middle School Outlook.9 program to provide a unified personal development and leadership program for Year 9, focusing on the increasing independence and responsibility of the girls and encouraging them to look outside themselves and to broaden their view of life

• Ensure that our Personal Development and Life Skills Programs for Years 10-12 are responsive to the needs of our girls so that they are well prepared for the challenges and opportunities of 21st Century life and work

• Develop appropriate traditions and ways of recognising and celebrating different stages of learning and growth, milestones, accomplishments and rites of passage

• Continue to provide expert counselling services to support the girls in all areas of development

• Ensure that we continue to provide the highest level of career counselling in an international context, enabling the girls to make informed choices for the future

• Promote in our girls a strong sense of optimism, resilience and contentment

Strategic Directions

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Boarding

Boarding is an integral and much valued part of PLC’s culture and tradition, enriching the wider school community through the broad and diverse backgrounds of our boarders. We are committed to providing a contemporary boarding house that welcomes and cohesively integrates students from country Victoria and rural or regional settings throughout Australia, indigenous students and overseas, expatriate

or international students from a range of countries.

• Continue to provide a safe, nurturing and fulfilling boarding experience for girls from a diverse range of backgrounds

• Promote a spirit of harmony, respect, care and wellbeing within the boarding house

• Employ supportive, caring staff with a commitment to the welfare of boarders who can create a welcoming and inclusive Christian ‘home away from home’ for our boarders

• Promote a seamless transition for our boarders into the day school, enabling them to integrate fully with day girls and to develop friendships with both day and boarding students

• Provide boarders with opportunities for leadership and personal growth and development

• Be responsive to the social, personal and academic needs of boarders, providing appropriate programs and experiences for them that cater for the needs and interests of students from a range of backgrounds and at different stages of development

• Assist boarders to become confident, compassionate and considerate young women

• Assist boarders to develop independence and equip them with the skills needed to pursue their education and careers within Australia or abroad

• Provide boarding facilities of the highest quality that cater for the different social and learning needs of girls from Years 7 to 12

• Continue to have a commitment to support families and students from rural backgrounds within Australia by offering choice of educational opportunities and also through the provision of boarding scholarships and bursaries

• Be responsive to the needs of boarders whose families live overseas and facilitate open communication between the school, parents and guardians

Strategic Directions

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Curriculum and Learning

• Ensure that PLC retains its outstanding reputation as a leading academic school for girls

• Ensure that our teaching and learning programs and practices are informed by, and keep abreast of, the latest research on learning and on using technology to enhance learning

• Provide a 21st Century broad-based curriculum that is contemporary, rigorous and globally focused, and is tailored to the needs of the girls of today and the young women of tomorrow

• Ensure our compliance with the various national and state curriculum requirements

• Develop purposeful links between the ELC, Junior School and Senior School in areas of professional development, pedagogy, curriculum development and scope and sequence of the curriculum

• Implement developmentally appropriate programs and strategies for each stage of learning, ELC, Junior School, Middle School and Senior School, and facilitate the smooth transition of students through these different stages

• Seek to map the curriculum across the school and develop an integrated pedagogical approach across all subject areas

• Continue to promote and support the pursuit of excellence in academic endeavours whilst encouraging students to have a balanced perspective

• Actively involve students in their learning, encouraging and assisting them to reflect on their learning needs and to take responsibility for their own learning

• Continue to build a collaborative learning culture that promotes visible thinking techniques and positive language, and fosters academic resilience, perseverance and independent learning

• Ensure that the Department of Individual Differences continues to actively support and encourage all students who require assistance with their learning and to assist staff to differentiate the curriculum to cater for students at different stages of learning

• Provide a diverse and stimulating range of Gifted and Extension programs to challenge and extend our most able students

• Provide a sequential and stimulating literacy program from Prep to Year 6 including the use of the WRAP method for spelling and grammar

• Enthuse learning at Years 7 and 8 with innovative technology and teaching programs utilising a range of pedagogical approaches

• Provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences that promote depth of understanding and foster curiosity, creativity and innovative thinking

• Continue to develop and implement cross-curricular programs and integrated projects at different year levels

• Review our assessment and reporting processes to ensure that they are contemporary and meaningful, and provide helpful and constructive feedback facilitating open communication between the school, parents and students

Strategic Directions

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Information and Communication Technology

PLC’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Learning program aims to prepare students to be competent, discerning users of today’s technology, confident to adapt to the changes of the future. This future focused program has a strong

emphasis on skill development, creativity, collaboration and good digital citizenship.

• Provide an innovative technology enriched environment where technology is used to engage learners and enhance learning, and is fully integrated across all teaching and learning environments

• Continue to ensure that essential ICT skills for 21st Century living are embedded into the curriculum

• Further develop the effective use of mobile technologies and ebooks for learning by building upon the College’s Prep to Year 2 and Year 7 iPad program

• Continue to enhance learning, communication and collaboration through PLC’s Google portal and further develop efficient electronic communication with PLC families

• Harness the speed and connectivity PLC has through the Australian Academic Research Network (AARNet) by further developing video conferencing with tertiary institutions, museums and other schools across the globe

• Further develop programs from Prep to Year 12 for on-line research and Internet safety and awareness, to empower students to use technologies confidently and discerningly

• Continue to provide professional learning for teachers so that their ICT skills are up to date and relevant to their specific subject areas

• Model and promote the most ethical and effective use of technology

• Regularly review responsible use policies for students and staff for all forms of technology

Co-curricular Activities

• Review and further develop our co-curricular program to ensure that there is a commitment to nurturing and developing talent and that there are opportunities for all girls to explore their interests, pursue their passions, broaden their horizons and experience success, enjoyment and fulfilment beyond the classroom

• Ensure that our co-curricular activities are relevant, stimulating and engaging and contribute to the character, skills and leadership development of the girls

• Encourage all girls to participate in a broad range of co-curricular activities

• Encourage participation in and appreciation of activities that promote wellbeing, enjoyment, fitness, life balance, service, community and commitment

• Review and continue to develop our outdoor education and challenge programs, and our service and community programs, to ensure that they provide girls with opportunities for independence and interdependence, leadership, personal challenge and to work co-operatively with others

• Further develop opportunities for overseas exchanges and expeditions that will provide authentic experiences for service and greater understanding of the issues facing our world

Strategic Directions

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Staffing and Professional Learning

• Affirm the current staff of the school through encouragement, celebration, recognition and professional opportunities in curriculum and leadership

• Seek to provide a professional culture that enhances the professional learning and wellbeing of the staff, promotes quality teaching and excellence in professional practice, readily embraces innovation and best practice, and makes PLC a school of choice

• Encourage amongst the staff ongoing reflection on their professional practice aligned with global research and a collaborative collegial approach with a focus on quality teaching and quality learning outcomes.

• Continue to place a strong emphasis and high priority on appointing highly qualified and committed staff who are excellent practitioners of their subject, who can intellectually broaden, extend and inspire their students, who are enthusiastic people of integrity genuinely concerned for the girls in their care and who support

the Christian teachings and ethos of the College

Facilities

• Seek to provide the very best facilities in all areas to fully support PLC’s delivery of a challenging and enriching academic education

• Undertake the construction of a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Centre in the Senior School, incorporating PLC’s extensive Music School, a Drama and Dance Studio and a 500-seat Auditorium

• Facilitate and expedite the implementation of the next stages of the College’s Building Master Plan, focusing on the further development of all classrooms and specialised teaching facilities in the Senior School, including Middle School classrooms, Science laboratories and Art Studios.

• Ensure that all College facilities are in good repair and comply with building codes and other safety regulations

• Continually seek to enhance PLC’s beautiful outdoor environment and to provide excellent sporting and fitness facilities

Strategic Directions

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Community Relations

• Continue to develop strong community relationships amongst past and present staff, parents and girls

• Continue to build an inclusive and welcoming culture at the school whereby new parents and girls are encouraged to become active and engaged members of the school community

• Encourage meaningful involvement of all parents in the school community

• Seek to strengthen links amongst old collegians and between old collegians and current students, through reunions, social gatherings, mentoring, guest speakers, careers networks and other interest or support groups

• Foster a culture of giving and philanthropy, encouraging each generation of parents and old collegians to see the responsibility that they have to contribute to the physical development of the College for current and future generations of students

• Develop and implement fundraising strategies to support the future capital development of the College

Enrolments and Marketing

• Explore and develop innovative ways to market and promote the College and to enhance the excellent reputation of the College

• Further enhance communication of the College’s Mission and our values and ethos to our own community and to the wider community

• Continually review and update the school’s website and all marketing publications and materials, making effective use of new technologies and ways of communicating with our different stakeholders

• Maintain the current enrolment of the Early Learning Centre, catering for 200 children from Infants to Pre-Prep with a full time equivalent enrolment of 141 children

• Fully utilise the potential of our state-of-the-art Junior School, by continuing to provide entry points into the Junior School at both Prep and Year 5, resulting in an optimum sized Junior School with three streams for Prep -Year 4 and four streams for Years 5-6

• Maintain the current size of the Senior School with an enrolment of approximately 940 students, including 100 boarders

• Continue to affirm and promote PLC’s entry policy as a non selective school

• Continue to provide the opportunity for girls from different backgrounds and those requiring some financial assistance to attend PLC by offering a range of scholarships and bursaries

Strategic Directions

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Finance and Governance

The Council of PLC will, in conjunction with the Principal and the Business Manager,

• Review on a regular basis the short and long term planning for the College

• Ensure that PLC remains a financially viable institution in an ever changing economic world

• Continually review and mitigate the risks associated with the operation and activities of the College

• Ensure that the College has policies and practices in place to meet all its compliance obligations

• Ensure that we have a current Business Plan that underpins and monitors the implementation of the Strategic Plan and the Building Master Plan

• Continually seek to ensure that PLC has the very best resources, both physical and human, to facilitate the delivery of a world class 21st Century curriculum and to retain its well-deserved reputation as one of Australia’s leading independent schools for girls at the forefront of educational thinking and practice

Strategic Directions