From the Principal

Launch of the 2025-2027 Strategic Plan

Throughout 2024, MLC School staff, Executive and Council collaborated to consider our strategy for the coming years.

The 2025 and beyond Strategic Plan builds on our legacy of almost 140 years of providing outstanding education for young women, underpinned by the values and ethos of the Methodist (and now Uniting) Church. In developing the plan, we considered staff, parent and student feedback from whole school surveys, Year 12 exit surveys, parent forums and discussion groups as well as input and professional expertise of our staff. I know our community will recognise where their input has been incorporated.   

It was clear from the feedback that our School community has clearly indicated that while they value academic growth and achievement, they do not want us to pursue high academic results at all costs. Rather, the development of the whole girl is paramount, this is very much in line with our founding ethos. As a consequence, ensuring we remain focused on the attributes we believe are important for our graduates is central to this new plan.

We firmly believe every girl deserves to thrive, to be a confident learner, and to feel a sense of belonging. MLC School aims to create an environment where girls can become their best selves, free from the world’s often limiting messages about women’s roles. To achieve her full potential, a young woman needs a supportive environment that encourages boldness, safely supports risk-taking, and builds resilience; where she knows she belongs, no matter the challenges that she faces.

To ensure we offer the best and most current education, we will renew our focus on the academic success of our students and seek to further our contribution to girls’ education, working with tertiary institutions and professional organisations to ensure a strong evidence base for our approaches and where appropriate, publishing and presenting on matters related to girls’ education.

Throughout our history, MLC School graduates have made significant contributions to society because they know their worth and their responsibilities. This plan continues that inspiring legacy, paving the way for future graduates to make an equally profound impact on the society they will enter.

I invite you to read through the 2025 – 2027 Strategic Plan which is available here to gain an understanding of the key drivers and focus areas for the School over the next three years.

Visit from Her Majesty Queen Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho of Tonga

Today we were honoured by a visit from Her Majesty Queen Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho of Tonga, as recognition of the significance of the partnership between MLC School and Queen Salote College.

Her Majesty enjoyed a morning of celebration attended by dignitaries from Australia and Tonga and representatives of the Uniting Church. The day started with a welcome assembly with Year 6 and Year 7 students in the audience. There was a Chapel Service and visits to classrooms including a Senior Science class. Year 2 and Year 3 students waved the Tonga flags, as the Queen processed into the Senior Centre to the rhythms of the Taiko. Her Majesty stopped to speak with our Middle Leaders and was exceptionally interested in our students. I was so proud of our musicians who were exemplary throughout the day, and our Indigenous dancers who impressed the Queen with their storytelling through dance. 

The collaboration between MLC School and in Tonga aims to enhance educational opportunities, foster cultural exchange, and strengthen the bonds between the two institutions.

From the time that I started at MLC School, one question that parents and students regularly asked me was whether we could have a sister school partnership with Queen Salote College in Tonga. As many of you will be aware, Newington College has a long and most successful relationship with the boys’ school Tupou College, and several of our families have been enriched through meeting and working with the Tongan members of the Newington community.

I am so pleased that through the support of Her Majesty, the Queen Salote College Council and ex-students association, the MLC School Council and the staff and students at both schools we have been able to reinvigorate the friendship that began all those years ago.

I had the great honour of visiting Tonga and spending time at Queen Salote College last year and I knew from our first welcome that we would indeed be able to build a very special and mutually rewarding partnership.

Although our schools are geographically some distance from each other, it has become most apparent that we are more similar than we are different and have so many things in common:

• our shared Methodist foundations and beliefs,
• the central part that music plays in both schools,

Both schools also share a commitment to the education of young women in an environment where they can:

• reach their full academic potential
• express and develop their faith
• grow up knowing that they can achieve whatever they put their minds and effort to
• be supported to become the leaders of tomorrow
• and now, also experience the joy of being part of a community that extends beyond geographic boundaries

In recent days we have also been honoured to host the Principal and leaders from Queen Salote College at MLC School. Discussions were around how we might provide opportunities for the students and staff of Queen Salote College and MLC School to learn from each other, how we can support the International stream at Queen Salote College and the opportunities to progress our special relationship.

I look forward to what the future holds for our schools and our communities- I believe that together we can build a wonderful program of mutual learning.

Congratulations to our Tildesley Tennis team

The IGSA Tildesley Tennis competition is a prestigious annual event that is eagerly anticipated by all IGSA schools. The Tildesley Shield Tennis competition was first held in 1918, and many competitors have gone on to become professional sportspeople. Making the Tildesley team is an achievement in itself and many of our Old Girls recall doing so as one of their greatest achievements while at school.

This year MLC School were awarded the Spender Trophy for being the Most Improved School, ranking 5 places higher than they did in 2024.

Congratulations to all players and their coaches.

Click on gallery to view images

– Lisa Moloney
Principal