STRATEGIC PLAN ST CATHERINE’S SCHOOL 2025-2026
Courage to Lead, Heart to Serve
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COURAGE TO LEAD, HEART TO SERVE We are excited to share with you our vision for the next two years taking St Catherine’s through 2026.
In developing our vision, we commit to maintaining the key fundamentals of our school. The school will continue to be non-selective and deliver a broad and high-quality education to girls from Kindergarten to Year 12 in an Anglican setting. We pride ourselves on delivering the strengths and advantages that an all- girls’ education creates. We appreciate the energy and value the staff contribute to our students and vibrant community. As we deliver our vision, the well-being of both students and staff is essential in all aspects of the learning environment and beyond. We remain committed to providing fit-for-purpose facilities across the entire school. We will continue to invest wisely in improvements, identifying opportunities for sustainable growth and development. Our vision calls out areas of specific focus for the next two years. In education, we will strengthen and develop STEM, performing arts and educational research. In staff professional development, a key focus will be offering increased opportunities for growth and advancement, ensuring excellence in teaching and learning in the future.
We are strongly committed to, and will maintain, the inclusive and down-to-earth nature of our community. Our values of integrity and service are outward expressions of love, respect, compassion and humility that are anchored in our Anglican faith. We are very excited about the next two years for St Catherine’s. We commend our pathway at St Catherine’s future as we look together towards 2026 – with Courage to Lead and Heart to Serve.
Danusia Cameron Chair of School Council
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In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3
OUR IDENTITY
We are an Anglican school educating young women for life.
OUR PURPOSE
To develop young women of character and intellect dedicated to making a meaningful contribution to the world.
WE VALUE
Integrity Integrity is acting honestly on sound ethical principles without the expectation of recognition. Acting with integrity makes us accountable for our actions and their impact on those around us. We respect others and learn from them with humility while upholding our own beliefs with conviction. Courage Courage enables us to make difficult decisions, embrace challenge and persevere in demanding circumstances. It gives us the strength to stand up for our beliefs in the face of opposition. With courage, we rebound from adversity and lead others with hope for the future. Relationships Relationships bond us to others – our families, our friends, our peers, our neighbours and our Lord. They are at the heart of an inclusive and fulfilled life in a diverse society. We are both the creators and recipients of meaningful and valuable connections with those around us. Service Service is love in action, as shown to us in the person of Jesus Christ. We are called to consider the needs of others, with an attitude of compassion and generosity. True service enriches those we serve, develops character and strengthens communities. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
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THE FUTURE ST CATH’S GIRL
The future for a St Catherine’s girl is exciting.
Her schooling experience has been a place where she both
learned from and gave to her community. A St Catherine’s girl
will have the humility to support and learn from others.
She will see opportunity in the face of challenge; she will
be courageous where others retreat and she will value the
integrity of her relationships. Through Christ and compassion
she will find meaning in a world we cannot yet know.
Her values will be her guide.
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Continuity and consistency — We will strive to maintain our high standards within the warm and welcoming culture of a balanced and inclusive all-girls’ school that is uniquely placed to contribute to its local community. OUR JOURNEY
EXCELLENCE IN LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND TEACHING
CHRISTIAN CHARACTER AND PURPOSE
A FLOURISHING SCHOOL
Academic performance and pathways
Christian character and service
Organisational management and growth
Excellent teaching creates excellent learning opportunities for our students. St Catherine’s is dedicated to academic rigour in a supportive, inclusive environment. We hold high expectations for our students, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to engage with the world using state- of-the-art facilities. Our teaching staff are professionally engaged in the science of learning and are committed to best practice in the classroom, while our students are empowered to be academically resilient.
As an Anglican school we are committed to the teachings of Christ. Our Biblical Studies classes provide an opportunity to share the gospel and Christian worldview while allowing girls to make their own decisions about their personal faith. Our service work provides a tangible way to live out our Christian values of love and compassion. Chapel offers an opportunity to worship together in song, prayer and biblical reflection.
The high quality staff who are recruited and developed at the school enable excellence in teaching. Robust governance, sound fiscal and risk management have provide quality physical capital. Effective governance and oversight form the basis for the school to meet the challenges of expanding operations, emerging issues such as data governance and set the baseline for sustainable growth.
Enrolments into the future and continued growth in boarding
Pastoral care for day and boarding students
Co-curricular
St Catherine’s is currently a school of choice for girls in the eastern suburbs. We will continue to share the wonderful opportunities of learning in our Junior School as we rebalance our enrolments across K-12. We will continue to balance our boarding house with international, Indigenous and growing numbers of country boarders into the future.
Sport and Beyond the Curriculum (BTC) are important components in our co-curricular offerings at St Catherine’s. Over the past few years we have built outstanding programs in rowing, swimming, water polo, tennis and dance. Our Cadet program continues to grow, offering leadership opportunities in a co-ed environment. We will aim high in providing programs and facilities for girls of all abilities.
At St Catherine’s, we are proud of the pastoral and academic care programs for both day and boarding girls. Our activities are designed to build confidence, resilience and self-efficacy in girls from Kindy to Year 12. We encourage girls to find their voice and have the courage and awareness to use it appropriately. Continuous review of student involvement in the school community will ensure ongoing improvement and effectiveness, supporting students to thrive.
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THE NEXT STEP FORWARD
Students lie at the very heart of all that we work
towards, and the future looks bright for St Catherine’s School.
As we forge forward towards 2026, the Strategic Plan 2025-26
will build on the learning, culture, environment and community
that all St Catherine’s families hold dear.
Our future success will be underpinned by strengthening
our educational programs with a focus on quality of learning
experiences and opportunities to connect with others within
and beyond school.
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EXCELLENCE IN LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND TEACHING Excellence in teaching and learning involves a multifaceted approach that emphasises academic rigour, personal development, and a supportive, inclusive environment, supported by state-of-the-art facilities, technology integration, and an expert staff of faculty and professionals.
1. STEM STEM learning equips girls with practical skills such as problem solving. Students use multidisciplinary knowledge to inform how they think as innovators, grappling with authentic issues through persistence, teamwork and creativity. We aim to encourage girls to think as innovators and solve real world challenges: from treating diseases to addressing our net-zero carbon journey for the environment. STEM education prepares girls for the rapidly evolving world where STEM skills are essential. We aim to… 1.1a Expand our STEM subject offerings in both Junior and Senior School 1.1b Enhance our robotics program with improved facilities and staff support 1.1c Provide STEM learning on a continuum from Kindergarten to Stage 6 1.1d Collaborate with other institutions
creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Additionally, the collaborative nature of the arts fosters teamwork, communication and leadership skills. We aim to… 1.2a Enhance music and drama programs with an annual artists-in-residence program 1.2b Create a biannual performing arts program 1.2c Develop a performing arts precinct with facilities which cater for dance, music and drama 1.2d Establish a community group for
that aligns with the priorities of the school plan 1.3c Refer to research when making key decisions across the school 1.3d Increase staff awareness on the
opportunities in action research projects.
4. Pre-K * With the government’s announcement of plans for all 4-year-old children to attend a year of preschool prior to their entry to primary school, it is important that we introduce a program to provide for the social and educational needs of our prospective St Catherine’s students. Pre-K students will have the opportunity to engage in our existing educational programs and facilities and be a great addition to our current Junior School. We aim to… 1.4a Create a play-based learning program that does not overlap our existing K-2 teaching and learning programs 1.4b Create a specialised area/facility to cater for the needs of 4-year-old children ie: purpose-built playgrounds, classrooms and bathrooms 1.4c Sustain robust enrolments moving from Pre-K to Kindergarten and beyond 1.4d Employ quality staff who have expertise in early learning and a passion for overseeing the growth and development of young minds.
Performing Arts to assist and support the performing arts program across the school.
3. Educational research Educational research ensures teachers are engaged in ongoing, targeted and significant discoveries that improve student learning and outcomes. By actively engaging with research, St Catherine’s can avoid ideology and, instead, focus on valid, objective and reliable measures of success. The role of research at St Catherine’s is to partner with external researchers and build the research capabilities of our staff.
on real world projects such as environmental innovations, AI exploration and future career opportunities.
2. Performing Arts At St Catherine’s, we recognise the performing arts provide invaluable experiences that enhance academic learning, support emotional wellbeing and prepare students for the complexities of the modern world. Research indicates that students involved in performing arts programs exhibit enhanced
We aim to… 1.3a Join research networks to
establish external connections 1.3b Present to staff on current research
* Dependent on government approval
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CHRISTIAN CHARACTER AND PURPOSE
Our Christian culture should be evident to all who work, learn and visit St Catherine’s. Students are encouraged to engage in honest and rigorous thinking and to respect the viewpoints and backgrounds of others.
Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5
Christian ethos As an Anglican school we aim to model Christian values and ethos. We want all members of our community to embrace our values of integrity, courage, relationships and service. We also want to be an inclusive school that understands our local community and respects the diversity of our staff and students. Together we can grow in an understanding of how our faith impacts actions. The Christian worldview includes a message of hope, forgiveness and love centred on Jesus Christ. Engaging in Bible stories is the initial approach for our early learners. As girls develop, learning about other religions puts a perspective on the Christian faith and culture. We want our students to be able to articulate a Christian worldview as well as be receptive to hearing other points of view and as they mature and prepare for life beyond school. We aim to… 2.1a Challenge girls to consider how they will anchor moral decisions 2.1b Model Christian worship and engage students in chapel 2.1c Incorporate a study of world religions into the senior Biblical Studies curriculum 2.1d Meaningfully engage with the broader community inluding families and local churches 2.1e Be proactive in environmental issues in caring for God’s world.
Biblical literacy We aim to equip students with biblical literacy and a personal capacity to read and interpret the Bible. The objective is to teach students to read the Bible for themselves and critically think about and evaluate the meaning of the text in an historical context. Integrating biblical text and ideas into English literature, scientific understanding, Australia’s legal foundations and creativity is important as students develop their intellectual reasoning. We aim to… 2.2aReview the Biblical Studies curriculum to ensure developing biblical literacy is emphasised and academically rigorous 2.2bFocus on critical thinking when guiding students in their personal reading of the Bible 2.2cProfessionally develop teaching staff around the impact of the Bible across society and encourage them to integrate biblical background into their subjects where appropriate 2.2dEnsure chapel services provide opportunity for reflection and deep thinking.
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A FLOURISHING SCHOOL
A flourishing school is one which has the ability to build on its strengths, where high performing staff and quality physical capital are brought together to optimise the benefits to all who work and learn there.
Staff professional support and development
Growth in community engagement St Catherine’s School is a lifelong journey, where we embrace the joy of community. We will develop new opportunities for students, alumni and parents to connect with each another and the school, fostering engagement and positive outcomes for the school and community alike. We aim to... 3.3a Develop communication touchpoints that engage and share our story 3.3b Engage our Past Parent community 3.3c Define the roles of community groups 3.3d Build volunteerism throughout the school community 3.3e Reconnect with lost families and build contacts. Our school is a place that respects and nurtures for the future. We will embed sustainable environmental and organisational practices to ensure the school continues to be a place of learning and educational excellence for generations to come. We aim to... 3.4a Coordinate the school’s environmental practices and procedures through the implementation of student, staff and community initiatives 3.4b Work towards being net zero by 2035 through benchmarking and reporting Sustainability in education and workplace practice
3.4c Develop and expand the school
campus and education environment.
We will foster St Catherine’s as a workplace of choice for teaching and professional staff by developing opportunities to thrive and flourish through programs that support and enrich the working lives of all staff. We aim to... 3.1a Create a family-friendly workplace 3.1b Provide a flexible working environment 3.1c Build on the Staff Wellbeing program 3.1d Seek operational opportunities that benefit staff culture. First Nations engagement Our community will build meaningful relationships with local and regional First Nations elders and communities. St Catherine’s School will continue to be a place where Indigenous girls are supported, and cultural awareness is fostered across all staff and students. We aim to... 3.2a Coordinate the current Indigenous initiatives underway, into a coherent Indigenous program 3.2b Develop programs of awareness and celebration for the whole community 3.2c Build upon our collaboration with aligned organisations to impact change 3.2d Establish relationships between senior staff and elders.
Build a philanthropic culture Our philanthropic culture supports quality education for future generations. Supporting and celebrating the generosity of our community as well as the act of giving will be both fostered and appreciated, as we build towards developing a culture of philanthropy. We aim to... 3.5a Develop sustainable fundraising initiatives and strategies 3.5b Foster bequests and major gifts from the community 3.5c Grow, develop and support the staffing and people behind St Catherine’s fundraising 3.5d Enhance the recognition, celebration and appreciation of giving 3.5e Increase the efficiency and processes involved in giving.
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IN CHRISTO THESAURI SAPIENTIAE ET SCIENTIAE.
Colossians 2:3
St Catherine’s School www.stcatherines.nsw.edu.au stcaths@stcaths.nsw.edu.au 26 Albion Street Waverley NSW 2024 Australia +61 2 8305 6200
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