Preamble

Technology, globalisation and changing family structures have all affected our world and the way we live our lives. Carey’s internationally accredited educational programs reflect these developments. At the same time, the School’s programs support and promote the principles and practice of Australia’s liberal democracy, including a commitment to representative government, democratic elections, the rule of law, equal rights for all before the law, freedom of religion, freedom of speech and association and the values of openness and tolerance. The Carey learning experience is based on three key pillars: curricular, co-curricular and pastoral; and we work in partnership with parents to develop young people of character who will contribute to local, national and global communities.

The School Board is committed to strategic research and futures’ thinking that will ensure Carey is creative and innovative in approach and practice and able to optimise the learning capacity of its students. To this end, the Board regularly conducts a strategic review of all aspects of the School, particularly at Board and School Management Team levels.

The following Strategic Intentions reflect Carey’s approach to its role as an educator, innovator, employer and community member.

Strategic Intention 1: The Carey Community

To nurture at all times the special spirit of Carey. A spirit embodied in a partnership between parents, students and staff and manifest in a caring and co-operative culture that embraces individual differences in ability, interests, faith and culture and celebrates the enrichment such differences bring: to be a community that reaches beyond its boundaries to serve and to learn.

Goal
To maintain the ethos of Carey which is characterised by care for others in a co-operative and welcoming environment and delivered through a pastoral structure that is fundamental to the spiritual and intellectual life of the School. This ethos should shape the actions and attitudes of each individual so that they will endeavour to become responsible global citizens.  To encourage the celebration of diversity of culture, including indigenous culture, thought and practice and to develop opportunities for interaction with schools in other countries and other cultures.

Strategic Intention 2: Educational Programs

To place learning at the heart of the Carey community; to provide opportunities and support for each student to achieve the highest possible standard of education through a broad range of curricular, co-curricular and pastoral offerings.

Goal
To provide Carey students with educational experiences that meet their individual needs, build on past learning, meet external assessment requirements, prepare them for life in a changing society and equip them to become life-long learners.  To promote awareness and understanding of global issues and the environment among Carey students and to provide the skills and motivation necessary for work in an internationally oriented enterprise or overseas.

Strategic Intention 3: The Christian Dimension

To model the Christian dimension of Carey in formal and informal structures and practices, in the culture and climate of the School, and by embracing the importance of spiritual understanding for all students and members of the Carey community.

Goal
To foster an understanding based on Baptist traditions of what is meant by the term ‘a Christian school’ and how key Christian values influence the life of the School. This involves students embracing their spirituality through the formal religious programs and the broader curricular, co-curricular and pastoral School offerings.

Strategic Intention 4: Co-education

To educate boys and girls, young men and women, in a balanced, co-educational environment; an environment that will enhance their learning, personal development and interpersonal relationships.

Goal
To implement Carey’s philosophy of equal opportunity and to maximize the advantages of co-education through the establishment and maintenance of a balanced gender ratio across all year levels.

Strategic Intention 5: Communication

To ensure that communication between the School, parents, students and the broad community remains open, reciprocal and effective.

Goal
To maintain and nurture an environment where all members of the Carey community communicate effectively with one another and where information is shared appropriately; to allow all members of the Carey community to feel they have a voice in the School and that their voice will be heard.

Strategic Intention 6: Human Resources

To attract and retain teaching, management and support staff of the highest quality to ensure excellence in all areas of the School’s operations.

Goal
To ensure that Carey’s teaching and support staff are highly qualified, strongly committed and caring; to provide opportunities for current staff to reach their maximum potential; to provide an environment that will attract high quality staff to the School.

Strategic Intention 7: Management

To ensure that the management and organisational aspects of Carey implement and sustain excellence in all areas of the School’s operations, including finances, facilities and ICT.

Goal
To provide an organisation and management infrastructure that reflects the ethos of the School and supports the aspirations of the Carey Community. This infrastructure must facilitate good communication, clear vision, accountability, sustainability and sound decision-making and allow all members of the community to understand how and why decisions are made.

Strategic Intention 8: Governance

To ensure high standards of corporate governance in all aspects of operation, from strategic planning to daily activities.

Goal
To provide clear direction on strategic matters and strong leadership from the School Board in a way that reflects the Christian values of the School and upholds formal and informal community expectations of governing bodies.