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Our Guiding Beliefs
At the heart of the plan is a renewed commitment to our core values and the attributes and principles that define Scotch and shape its identity.
To assist in providing clarity in what we believe in and are committed to, we have developed seven Guiding Beliefs for the College. These are rooted in the School’ s Articles, Christian values and Scottish heritage and are designed to ensure our purpose remains clear and meaningful, and help guide our strategy and how decisions and actions are taken.
Firstly, we believe boys thrive in a singlesex environment. We are unashamedly committed to advancing scholarship in boy’ s education and empowering boys to find their interests and passions through offering a prep to Year 12 day school and boarding for senior students.
Secondly, we believe aiming high is essential in all endeavours. An awareness of the highest order causes all things on one’ s horizon to tilt upwards rather than downwards. If you expect to achieve excellence you will tend not to be satisfied with less, and you will be gratified to learn how far you go towards achieving it. At Scotch, we are committed to a culture of continuous improvement, attracting and developing outstanding educators, and encouraging each student to achieve the highest standard of which he is capable.
Thirdly, we believe learning is best understood as a holistic lifelong endeavour and we are committed to pursuing a rigorous educational program that develops mind, body and spirit and prepares boys for a future characterised by uncertainty, but great possibility.
Fourth, we believe the Christian worldview offers hope and purpose. Institutional structures and policies, while certainly necessary, are not sufficient in themselves to create a flourishing human education and to be fully alive. We are committed to forming men of character, and not just young minds, through developing a sense of responsibility, respect and spirit of reverence, and being accepting and generous towards others.
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Fifthly, we believe our heritage and traditions help frame our future. If we understand ourselves as heirs of a rich inheritance built on the legacy and sacrifice of others, then the natural response is to share, give back in what way we can and serve others. We are committed to drawing on our Scottish heritage and traditions in passing the torch and things we hold dear from one generation to the next, and cultivating a spirit of service, and building a better society.
Sixth, we believe the strength of the Scotch family comes from caring for others. In today’ s world, it is easy to become caught up in individual ambitions and personal achievement. By harnessing our collective strengths, we are better able to help others less fortunate than ourselves, deal with adversity and achieve great things together. We are committed to identifying opportunities where we can partner in education and engage in the wider community, including through providing opportunities for boys from a range of backgrounds to attend the College who might not ordinarily be able to do so.
Finally, we believe our Hawthorn campus creates belonging and community. Without a sense of belonging and roots it is hard for individuals to assemble a coherent and stable narrative in their lives. We are committed to creating the best possible learning environment and place where teachers and staff want to work, which is respectful and inclusive and where all members of the community feel welcome and safe.
Our values and strategic aspirations
Along with the guiding beliefs we have developed Respect, Responsibility and Reverence as our school values.
The 3R’ s have appeal in their simplicity and guide our actions and define the qualities we seek to cultivate in each boy who passes through the School.
Our guiding beliefs and values have provided clarity in developing a clear and singular purpose, which captures the essence of our vision, being‘ Forming enlightened learners of good character committed to shaping a better future’.
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To bring this purpose to life, three
new strategic aspirations have been
developed being:
• Firstly, Forming men of character
• Secondly, Advancing learning that appreciates beauty, pursues goodness and discerns truth; and
• Thirdly, Championing progress inspired by our past
Each of these aspirations is supported
by separate initiatives and a detailed
operating plan. These include a
new outdoor education program at
Mallacoota, an enhanced teaching
and learning framework, an expanded
Christian education and service
program, a teacher professional learning
program and IT infrastructure and
communications upgrades. Further
details can be found in the Strategic
Plan document available on the School’ s
website, which I encourage you to read.
Through the course of this year, we are
also reviewing our Masterplan to ensure
our facilities align with our vision. This
will bring together our stakeholders and
experts to create an integrated plan for
the long-term future development of
the Hawthorn Campus and a plan for the
Mallacoota site, which we will share with
the community in 2026.
Looking ahead
Our new strategic plan demonstrates our
commitment to our founding values, and
it provides a roadmap for the future, that
is forward looking and ambitious.
It deepens our commitment to character
formation and developing young men of
confidence, compassion, with a sense
of responsibility- young men who will
become good fathers and responsible
citizens, with a capacity to serve, be leaders
and contribute meaningfully to society.
Having developed the Plan, the real work
now really begins in bringing it to life.
Implementing this strategy will require
us all – teachers, students, parents, Old
Boys and the entire Scotch community
to play their part.
As we move forward together, I hope you
will embrace our vision with energy and
commitment. Let us‘ light the way’— not
only for today’ s boys, but for generations
to come.
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Great Scot | Issue 173 | 2025 |
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