Planning: The Present, The Past and The Future

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper  you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

(Jeremiah 29:11) 

Dear Students, Parents and Carers, 

• “To statesmen and soldiers men trust their lives and fortunes, but to schools they entrust their precarious hold on humanity itself.”
  (Broudy, 1965)
• “The strength of an organisation comes from its stories and traditions, but the future of an organisation rests in its relevance and innovation.”
  (Ashley Fell, from McCrindle and Associates) 
• “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)   
• “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” 
  (Gustav Mahler) 
• “What is the cocktail of successful schools and their leaders? They are restless. There is a paradox at their core: they are very secure in their systems, values and successes, yet simultaneously seeking to change and improve. These schools look inwards to secure wise development; they look outwards to seize innovation which they can
  hew to their own ends and, importantly,
  make a difference to the children and students they serve.”
  (Roy Blatchford, The Restless School) 
• “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.”
  (Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland – paraphrased) 
• “Failing to plan, is planning to fail.”
  (maxim in the public domain) 

These quotations, from figures as diverse as musical brilliance to fiction, provide commentary on our newly released Strategic Directions. What we do in schools affects young people’s lives and, hence, is vitally important. At best, students gain at school fundamental building blocks for their future. We need to find the best balance between tradition and evidence-informed innovation in a dynamic balance where initiatives are sparked by the best of our traditions, which provide an ongoing bedrock. We need to be purposeful, deliberate and aim at continuous improvement. To stand still is to fall back. We want our education, in the words of the Apostle Paul, to be transformative. We wish to open up a marvellous vista of possibilities for our students and equip them to be ready for the world beyond school. May this world be their oyster! 

The published document has evolved from extensive consultation over the last nine months, a worthy gestation period for human development. The published version is approximately iteration 35, after adjustments for feedback. The School Council and Executive Leadership Team have worked diligently through this time, as have the staff and key stakeholder bodies within our community, including the SPA executive, the large OBU executive, our Foundation and our Prefects. All plans are best when they are ‘owned’, reflecting the significant participation of those charged with implementing the major ideas expressed within. What will follow shortly is an adjunct document that attempts to express the key distinctions, the very essence of Shore. We hope that it will resonate with everyone’s experience of Shore and articulate that which is either unique or deliberate in its emphasis at our School.   

As society and education are changing so quickly, the plan has a short shelf life of currency – just three years. However, it acts as a signpost beyond that time so that the next Strategic Directions document can build upon the present. In that respect, Shore aims at the best interface between the ingredients of past and present success and the agility required to prepare our students for a future that will undoubtedly feature rapid change.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) 

We want to see our students prosper in every way! 

Shore’s Strategic Direction 2023-2025 has been emailed to all parents and may be found on the School website: www.shore.nsw.edu.au/about/strategic-direction

Dr John Collier 
Headmaster