Message from the Headmaster

‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord’

Colossians 3:23

Dear Parents and Carers,

How Do Parents and Students Rate Shore?

The recent School vacation gave me uninterrupted time to wade through the 300 pages of statistics and report from the MMG survey undertaken by Year 9 and 12 students and parents late in May. The results are immensely encouraging, affirming and empowering for staff. Benchmarks which were reached or exceeded in terms of parent ratings were: Shore provides a balanced education (97 percent), quality of facilities and resources, academic standards and the School’s leadership (all 96 percent), class sizes, the size of the School and co-curricular activities (all 95 percent), the emphasis on character and values, sport and the School’s traditions (all 94 percent), pastoral care (90 percent) and a Christian School (89 percent). These ratings were above the benchmarks for similar schools and nearly all in the top quadrant of the axes indicating importance and excellence. I realise this may not be the view of every parent, and we will not ignore that, but overall our School parents are very satisfied with Shore. The bottom of the range, but still in the good category were the range of subject choice at 84 percent, diversity (social and cultural) at 86 percent and the School’s reputation, presumably due to previous struggles through the media, at 85 percent. Parent commentary pointed out the essential problem for parents of communication: too many emails, systems too diffuse and not centered on “a single source of truth”. It is for this reason the School is trying to centre communications on Lampada. Parents have called for earlier notification if their son is struggling academically or pastorally, including more parent teacher contacts and/or longer length of interviews.

To students, the best aspects of the School in order were seen to be friends, sport, academic curriculum and standards, the School community, Shore’s culture and values, opportunities, School pride, their learning and the quality of the staff and their teaching, all rated very highly. Students reported that bullying is a minor, not a major issue, is basically verbal or exclusion, not cyber, and is mostly at recess or lunch and mostly not reported to staff. Boarders are even happier than day students, who are, in the main, very happy. The rating for the quality of Educational Services, led by Mrs Deb Oates, was 100 percent, the first such statistic I have ever seen in schools. Not surprisingly, Year 9 students complained of too much homework. Over all the descripters, Year 12 were even happier with Shore than Year 9, who were very happy. The encouragement in this is that Year 12 students have a longer and deeper experience of the School.

I am not suggesting for a moment that Shore should rest on its laurels. The only helpful attitude is one of striving for continuous improvement. This accords with the biblical principle of Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord”. Feedback from parents and students will lead to deep consideration.

It is always a pleasure to report student and former student successes. We have recently been advised that Monte Cairns of Year 10 has been selected for the U16 Australian AFL team. Congratulations Monte! Also, 2018 graduate Daniel Lo Surdo has generously contacted his English teacher from the time, Ms Carmen to advise that he has been a finalist in Best Young Author, a global awards program for independent authors and publishers. This honour is based on his recent first book, Growing Up in Sydney. Naturally, Ms Carmen is delighted to receive an accolade as a seminal influence on his literary abilities. We share her joy at this tribute.

Regards

Dr John Collier
Headmaster