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-2020 is Below for reference... |
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School Profile
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Faith Christian School of Distance Education is a non-denominational, co-educational school catering for students in Years Prep to Twelve. The School opened in February 2012 to provide quality distance education under the direction of a school parent board appointed for the interests of distance students. Eight years later we have over 1500 students and 100 staff. |
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Location
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Faith CSDE occupies a base office at 12 Graham Street, Underwood. |
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School Mission/Vision
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Our mission is to work with families to help students reach their God-given potential. We are partnering with parents to raise the next generation of future Godly leaders. |
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Students
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Emerald to Faith CSDE currently has 1500+ students, largely based within SEQ and regional centres; MacKay, Rockhampton, Kingaroy and Toowoomba. We also have students in isolated areas from Dalby to Charleville to Emerald and up to Far North Queensland. |
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Faith CSDE Aims/Objectives
Philosophy and Values
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To provide students with equitable access to quality education.
To develop confident and creative individuals and successful learners through the implementation of programs and the provision of resources required to cover and implement State and National essential learnings and syllabuses within a Christian Worldview.
To recognise parents as first educators and the privilege we have as a school to serve our families in developing the whole child through teaching support and resource provision. To work in partnership with supportive homes and parents who realise involvement is vital for both Distance Education and Day School for student learning success.
To provide safe, nurturing and well-resourced learning environments, both physical and electronic - that are not confined to the four walls of a traditional classroom. Taking advantage of and building strong community partnerships and students who will be active and informed citizens.
To encourage the understanding of the family and home in providing a base and foundation for learning and experiences within school and community learning utilities, the wilderness, and wider social contexts.
We value the opportunity to live in a relationship with God, accepting the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ to live Christian lives following God's Word –the Bible.We value the equitable opportunity for students to fulfill their God-given potential, developing their gifts and talents through learning academic knowledge and excellence in communication skills, critical reasoning ability and love for others.
We value our School Community to enable the students to live full and active lives, encouraging proper standards of fitness, cleanliness, and purity.
We value the development of student's responsible, safe and caring behaviour. Teaching leadership and the joy in serving others - through witness, lessons and experience.
We value and endeavour to foster Christian family values and the importance of strong family relationships and interpersonal skills with others as a basis for happiness and fulfillment to become lifelong learners and active well informed citizens.
These values are in line with the Alice Springs(Mparntwe) Declaration on educational goals for young Australians.
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Staff
The School has a teaching staff of 89 (FTE), supported by 7 Teacher Aids and 35 support and administration staff.
We have teachers based in Toowoomba, North Brisbane, Mackay, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Kingaroy and South Brisbane. Each teacher is reponsible within their area for locally-based area pastoral learning support (ratio 1:40). Each locally based teacher also has a portfolio of responsible to lead, develop with a specific key learning area, subject, and/or range of grades of students.
Currently, our management structure consists of an Executive:
Principal, Administration Manager, DP Senior Studies, DP Primary Leadership, DP Special Needs & Training, DP Operations,
This is supported by our:
Head of Primary, Senior Secondary Coordinators, Area Coordinators and subject leaders.
We also have a SAS School in Woodridge that offers quality learning arrangements for students that have been disengaged from regular school. This operation is headed by Bryce Le Petit as Lead Teacher and supported by the Principal.
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Education Programs
We have established quality academic programs while providing learning support and social opportunities through local workshops, face-to-face and online lessons with teachers (one to one and group), telephone conferencing, training for parents (online and face to face), RTO with 8 cert II and III subjects and school camps and educational trips.
Faith CSDE follows a Christian world view philosophy of education. We aim to provide a balance between intellectual, physical, emotional, relational and spiritual growth through our programs and learning activities.
We also offer support for senior subjects both school-based and have always utilised TAFE, University Head Start type courses, School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships and work experience. This year we are able to offer a selection of 11 school-based Authority and Authority Registered Senior Subjects that provide QCE Credits. Faith Christian School has also developed a program that we hope to refine and implement within our SAS in 2019.
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THE BOARD IS COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING AND FOLLOWING OUR STRATEGIC PLAN
The Board will ensure that the School continues to achieve quality outcomes in all areas. School policies are reviewed and modified (as per the Board Calendar) where needed by the Faith DE Board which provide a copy of all policies to the community through our Website.
The Principal has the responsibility for collating staff and wider community submissions and ISQ models to the Board for the development of new policies. After the Board has worked on policies, staff will again be able to give feedback to the Board through the Principal regarding the possible need for changes before the Board ratifies the policy.
The staff of the school have the responsibility of implementing Board Policy and through the Principal will often be required to adopt or formulate procedures for doing so. These procedures will be kept with each Policy and enter into the review cycle.
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CURRENT POSITION
Faith has moved from a rapid growth and development phase (2018-19) that was needed to support full senior subject options. This was important to provide for future needs and NSSAB requirements. Then in 2019 -20 we required the SAS School to be up and running to secure Commonwealth funding for the DE operation. Now the SAS is up and running safely and effectively to meets it's goals and requirements the DE is experiencing the benefits of the growth that comes with the Commonwealth funding.
This has hugely increased our ability to provide staffing, additional support and learning programs, a physical building base of operations and libraries of resources. We only received our first installment of Commonwealth funding late in 2019 and due to the forecast teacher shortage our first priority has been to secure additional teaching staff. This will continue to be a goal of the DE in 2021, with a continued shortage of quality teaching staff. Once we have the staff and they understand the culture and vision of the school, our priority will be to actualise curriculum planning and development across all subject areas to meet NSSAB compliance and deliver quality education.
One of the most important developments for DE, is the securing of a new building and larger base of operations that is securely leased by the school and recognised by the NSSAB. Many processes are timelined in across this year to make this a reality. This building will provide for administration needs, a resource store, and conferencing areas. We will also look to secure and set up our temporary studio and learning on Compton Road and our Manual Arts Centre at 13 Geonic Street.
We also need to ensure the Manual Art Building at 13 Geonic Street for the security of the SAS school which needs the right neighbours to ensure noise and other factors remain conducive to a positive learning environment.
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1. Student Learning / Education
To continually improve our reputation for educational excellence.
Area of Focus: Operational Plan 2020-2023 Curriculum Development & Implementation.
Goals:
- Realise the full implementation of the Operational Plan for Curriculum 2020-2023.
- Provide learning opportunities for students that are well resourced and supported.
- Provide clear individualised learning programs for each student.
Annual Focus Targets:
- A. Use Commonwealth funding to secure an additional 20 staff as soon as possible, targeting areas of need within the school. Again this needs to be a priority, with the growth in services and resources and a current teacher shortage (this was one of biggest challenges in 2020).
- B. Monitor the progress and implementation of resources and learning programs, while ensuring programs allow students to learn at their instructional level - giving the opportunity for experience success.
- C. Ensure the continued development of DE Curriculum and Assessment to meet compliance and requirements of the NSSAB.
D. Ensure the Special Assistance School continues to run a successful program and finalise accreditation checks remaining documents.
- E. Implement additional senior subjects -History and Psychology.
- F. Continued support for our Cert III and Cert II subjects, with the planning and development to add Cert II in Engineering Experience and Cert I in Construction. We are planning for the Manual Arts Centre to be operational in 2022, with real trade skills to support vocational opportunities for our students.
- G. Continued development of online learning classes, workshop opportunities and regular Teacher contact around learning.
2. Family & Faith-Based Learning
To ensure that Faith Christian School Distance Education programs present a balanced Christian worldview and biblical principles and values
Goal
- Develop a school culture that appreciates students as individuals who are part of a family and the importance of positive working relationships, caring for others, and doing our best.
Annual Focus Targets:
- A. Further development of initiatives and curriculum content that will promote an understanding of Christian Principles and building a foundation for the future.
- B. Continued support for the Chaplaincy Program.
- C. Continued support for the Ministry Cert III course.
- D. Develop the school's mission focus.
E. Reinstate the Vanuatu Missions Trips, subject to a practical way forward for international travel.
3. Professional Learning
To ensure our school staff are highly trained and skilled to meet the needs of our students.
Goal
- To develop a school culture that appreciates lifelong learning and the importance of developing our own knowledge and skills to support student learning.
Annual Focus Targets:
- A. Follow our Professional Development Policy.
- B. Encourage individual teachers to maintain their own Teacher Portfolio Program that covers Professional Development Planning, Areas of Curriculum leadership and needs for development.
- C. Increase training course access through the creation of additional layers of leadership that will run and administer followup local and smaller group training sessions to secure the school vision and culture.
- D. Ensure additional time for new staff to work with the Principal directly gaining a vision and understanding for the heart of the school.
- E. Continue a needs identification approach and provide associated training opportunities.
- F. Implementing Moodle training programs for staff and Mentor Friends for moderating.
- G. Developing a clear understanding of the role of Area and Subject teachers.
Staff have enjoyed our two day training sessions that happen each term.
4. Learning Opportunities
Recognise the home as a safe, stable, and strong hub for lifelong learning and the importance of parents as first educators.
Goal
For parents and learners to be empowered through school resources and learning support to enjoy their home-based learning environments.
Annual Focus Targets:
- A. Ensure parents have access to the information they need to support their children’s academic and spiritual learning.
- B. Ensure lessons on demand and regular class lessons are available to all students.
- C. Maintain parent training opportunities through group training workshops, online information, and individual meetings during home visits or phone/Teams contact.
- D. Begin studio operations to provide quality video and media training materials for students, parents and teachers.
- E. Ensure strong relationships with parents and encourage them in their role.
- F. Implementation of a functional Communications Log System that works for DE structure and cross references the information across the school.
- G. Setting up local resources centres and Hubs for resource allocation and access.
- H. We are planning for the Manual Arts Centre at 13 Geonic Street to be operational in 2022, with real trade skills to support vocational opportunities for our students. This will involve building the infrastructure and approvals for the building, equipment and programs.
- I. Planning and development to add Cert II in Engineering Experience and Cert I in Construction.
J. Setting up an Arts Studio, 3D Printing and design centre utilising 640 m2 next to the Graham Street Office in the Compton Road Building.
- K. Continue to develop monitoring systems within Moodle ensuring parents can see what is expected and can monitor course work and that students can get help where needed.
5. Governance
Goals:
- Ensure the continued effective financial management of the College.
- Further develop the culture of giving and supporting our school.
- Continue to ensure technological provisions are met to support our learner’s needs and efficiencies.
- Ensure Staff and learners are well supported and resourced to fulfill their God-given potential.
- Ensure Government requirements are met, and that our Board is in a strong position to support the school.
Annual Focus Targets:
- A. Actualise our 2021 Operational Plan and budget spending to ensure Faith CSDE is in a strong position to support our students into the future.
- B. Complete a Board ISQ review and report to NSSAB on outcomes and subsequent training.
- C. Continue to exercise prudence in budgeting while considering learning needs and the schools goal to remunerate staff in a competitive and fair manner (1 Timothy 5:18).
- D. Monitor and ensure policies are followed, reviewed and maintained to meet State and National educational requirements.
- E. Recruit and induct additional Board Members for succession requirements and the vision of the school to maintain a Board that is representative of it's community.
6. Facilities
To provide and maintain high standard student and staff facilities that underpin our educational offering and Operational Plan goals.
Area of Focus:
The need for our own facilities that will provide a base of operations for the DE, areas for administration and resource accessioning/storage and film work.
Annual Focus Targets:
- A. Continue to maintain a cost effective quality facility to provide for future school needs as covered within our 5 Year Operational Plan.
- B. Secure NSSAB approval for the base of our DE operations to Graham Street.
- C. Secure the Compton Road Arts Centre approval for educational use from NSSAB.
- D. Ensure planning and compliance work for 13 Geonic Street is in place for application for approval to NSSAB as a site for education and Manual arts and Vocational courses.
- E. Execute the facilities plan according to predetermined timescales and budgets.
- F. Review capital works requirements in line with council and Government requirements.
Strategic Plan 2020
The purpose of this plan is to provide a framework for Faith Christian School's current and future developments.
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School Profile
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Faith Christian School of Distance Education is a non-denominational, co-educational school catering for students in Years Prep to Twelve. The School opened in February 2012 to provide quality distance education under the direction of a school parent board appointed for the interests of distance students. Eight years later we have over 1230 students and 100 staff. |
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Location
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Faith CSDE occupies a base office within extensive church grounds and building facilities at 129 Garfield Road, Berrinba, 4117 and also 12 Graham Street, Underwood. |
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School Mission/Vision
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Our mission is to work with families to help students reach their God-given potential. We are partnering with parents to raise the next generation of future Godly leaders. |
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Students
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Faith CSDE currently has 1230 students, who are based in a number of Queensland centres, primarily Brisbane and more isolated locations, from Clermont, Cairns, MacKay, Rockhampton, to the Gold Coast and out to Charleville. |
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Faith CSDE Aims/Objectives
Philosophy and Values
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To provide students with equitable access to quality education.
To develop confident and creative individuals and successful learners through the implementation of programs and the provision of resources required to cover and implement State and National essential learnings and syllabuses within a Christian World View.
To recognise parents as first educators and the privilege we have as a school to serve our families in developing the whole child through teaching support and resource provision. To work in partnership with supportive homes and parents who realise involvement is vital for both Distance Education and Day School for student learning success.
To provide safe, nurturing and well-resourced learning environments, both physical and electronic - that are not confined to the four walls of a traditional classroom. Taking advantage of and building strong community partnerships and students who will be active and informed citizens.
To encourage the understanding of the family and home in providing a base and foundation for learning and experiences within school and community learning utilities, the wilderness, and wider social contexts.
We value the opportunity to live in a relationship with God, accepting the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ to live Christian lives following God's Word –the Bible.We value the equitable opportunity for students to fulfill their God-given potential, developing their gifts and talents through learning academic knowledge and excellence in communication skills, critical reasoning ability and love for others.
We value our School Community to enable the students to live full and active lives, encouraging proper standards of fitness, cleanliness, and purity.
We value the development of student's responsible, safe and caring behaviour. Teaching leadership and the joy in serving others - through witness, lessons and experience.
We value and endeavour to foster Christian family values and the importance of the strong family relationships and interpersonal skills with others as a basis for happiness and fulfillment to become life long learners and active well informed citizens.
These values are in line with the Alice Springs(Mparntwe) Declaration on educational goals for young Australians.
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Staff
The School has a teaching staff of 35 teachers (including 4 contract or part-time teachers) and 3 administrators, and 2 part-time administration trainees. We utilise a decentralised model with locally-based teaching staff. We have teachers based in Toowoomba, North Brisbane, Mackay, Gold Coast, Ipswich, and South Brisbane. Each teacher is reponsible for a locally-based area pastoral learning support (ratio 1:50). Each locally based teacher also has a portfolio of responsibility to lead, develop, and support learning withing a specific key learning area, subject, and/or range of grades.
Currently, our management structure and leadership team consists of a Principal, a Primary Coordinator, and a Senior Secondary Coordinator supported by a Head of Senior Secondary English and Humanities, Head of Maths Sciences Senior Secondary and Secondary Maths and Secondary English leaders.
We also have a Head of Special Needs and a new position that is just developing - Head Teacher of our Special Assistance School that is starting in Woodridge very soon.
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Education Programs
We have established quality academic programs while providing learning support and social opportunities through local workshops, face-to-face and online lessons with teachers (one to one and group), telephone conferencing, training for parents (online and face to face), RTO with 7 cert II and III subjects and school camps and educational trips.
Faith CSDE follows a Christian world view philosophy of education. We aim to provide a balance between intellectual, physical, emotional, relational and spiritual growth through our programs and learning activities.
We also offer support for senior subjects both school-based and have always utilised TAFE, University Head Start type courses, School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships and work experience. This year we are able to offer a selection of 11 school-based Authority and Authority Registered Senior Subjects that provide QCE Credits. Faith Christian School has also developed a program that we hope to refine and implement within our SAS in 2019.
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THE BOARD IS COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING AND FOLLOWING OUR STRATEGIC PLAN
The Board will ensure that the School continues to achieve quality outcomes in all areas and that it is responsive to change. School policies will be reviewed and modified where needed by the Faith DE Board which will provide a copy of the review cycle to enable the wider school community to have an input in possible changes in policies and in the formation of new policies.
The Principal will have responsibility for collating staff and wider community submissions and ideas for changes to and the development of new policies. After the Board has worked on policies, staff will again be able to give feedback to the Board through the Principal regarding the possible need for changes before the Board ratifies the policy.
The staff of the school will have the responsibility of implementing Board Policy and through the Principal will often be required to adopt or formulate procedures for doing so. These procedures will be kept with each Policy and enter into the review cycle.
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CURRENT POSITION
Faith has moved from a rapid growth and development phase that was needed to support full senior subject options. This was important to provide for future needs and NSSAB requirements. Now we have secured our Special Assistance School (SAS) building and this year has a focus on ensuring the new SAS School runs safely and effectively and meets requirements.
This SAS development has also secured commonwealth funding for our 1230 students in Distance Education and this has hugely increased our ability to provide staffing, additional support and learning programs, a physical building base of operations and libraries of resources. We only received our first Commonwealth funding late in 2019 and due to the forcast teacher shortage our first priority has been to secure additional teaching staff. Now we have a priority to procure, manage and circulate additional resources with funding budgeted but not spent in 2019.
One of the most important developments for DE, we are moving to new building and larger base of operations that is owned or securely leased by the school. This will provide for administration needs, a resource store, and conferencing areas. We will also look to leasing building in each centre to localise resources storage and give better access to all.
We also need to ensure the building and educational operations around the SAS school and property continue as they have, going from strength to strength to provide for up to 30 previously disengaged students. This challenge includes the securing of enrolments.
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1. Student Learning / Education
To continually improve our reputation for educational excellence.
Area of Focus: Operational Plan 2016-2020 Curriculum Development & Implementation.
Goals:
- Realise the full implementation of the Operational Plan 2018-2023.
- Provide learning opportunities for students that are well resourced and supported.
- Provide clear individualised learning programs for each student.
Annual Focus Targets:
- Use Commonwealth funding to secure an additional 40 staff as soon as possible. Again this needs to be a priority with the growth in services and resources.
- Monitor the progress and implementation of resources and learning programs, while ensuring programs allow students to learn at their instructional level - giving the opportunity for experience success.
- Ensure the Special Assistance School continues to run a successful program and finalise accreditation checks remaining documents
- Implement additional senior subjects -History and Psychology.
- Implement and begin 3 cert III Subjects and 4 Cert II subject that focus on future vocational opportunities for our students.
- Continue to develop online learning classes, workshop opportunities and regular Teacher contact around learning.
2. Family & Faith-Based Learning
To ensure that Faith Christian School Distance Education programs present a balanced Christian world view and biblical principles and values
Goal
- Develop a school culture that appreciates students as individuals who are part of a family and the importance of positive working relationships, caring for others, and doing our best.
Annual Focus Targets:
- Further development of initiatives and curriculum content that will promote an understanding of Christian principles and building a foundation for the future.
- Implement a Chaplaincy Program.
- Start the Ministry Cert III course.
- Develop the schools missions focus.
3. Professional Learning
To ensure our school staff are highly trained and skilled to meet the needs of our students.
Goal
- To develop a school culture that appreciates lifelong learning and the importance of developing our own knowledge and skills to support student learning.
Annual Focus Targets:
- Follow our Professional Development Policy.
- Encourage individual teachers to maintain their own Teacher Portfolio Program that covers Professional Development Planning, Areas of Curriculum leadership and needs for development.
- Increase training course access and the number of days per term we have together as a staff for professional development.
- Ensure additional time for new staff to work with the Principal directly gaining a vision and understanding for the heart of the school.
- Continue a needs identification approach and provide associated training opportunities.
Just some of our new staff additions.
4. Learning Opportunities
Recognise the home as a safe, stable, and strong hub for lifelong learning and the importance of parents as first educators.
Goal
For parents and learners to be empowered through school resources and learning support to enjoy their home-based learning environments.
Annual Focus Targets:
- Ensure parents have access to the information they need to support their children’s academic and spiritual learning.
- Ensure lessons on demand and regular class lessons are available to all students.
- Maintain parent training opportunities through group training workshops, online information, and individual meetings during home visits or phone/Skype contact.
- Begin studio operations to provide quality video and media training materials for students, parents and teachers.
- Ensure strong relationships with parents and encourage them in their role.
- Increase understanding and Use of the Comms Log to support consistency of support and contact.
- Setting up local resources centres and library vans.
- Setting up a Woodworking, Mechanical, Metal Workshop, Arts Studio, 3D Printing and design centre utilising 640 m2 neat to Graham Street Office.
- Implement and begin 3 cert III Subjects and 4 Cert II subject that focus on future vocational opportunities for our students.
- Continue to develop monitoring systems within Moodle ensuring parents can see what is expected and can monitor course work and that students can get help where needed.
- Implement a new School Database system.
5. Governance 
Goals:
- Ensure the continued effective financial management of the College.
- Further develop the culture of giving and supporting our school.
- Continue to ensure technological provisions are met to support our learner’s needs and efficiencies.
- Ensure Staff and learners and well supported and resourced to fulfill their God-given potential.
- Ensure Government requirements are met, and that our Board is in a strong position to support the school.
Annual Focus Targets:
- Actualise our 2020 Operational Plan and budget spending to ensure Faith CSDE is in a strong position to support our students into the future.
- Continue to exercise prudence in budgeting and considering future learning needs and priorities for our students.
- Support the increase in school services to include a Special Assistance School in Woodridge for up to 30 students.
- Secure Commonwealth funding and move our DE operations for admin to the new functional site.
- Monitor and ensure policies are followed, reviewed and maintained to meet State and National educational requirements.
- Promote a reflective culture around strategic goals and continually review and develop the Strategic Plan through Principal reports and Board Meeting discussions.
- Recruit and induct additional Board Members for succession requirements.
- Following guidelines and ensure training opportunities for the Board as required.
6. Facilities
To provide and maintain high standard student and staff facilities that underpin our educational offering and Operational Plan goals.
Area of Focus:
The need for our own facilities that will provide a base of operations for the DE, areas for administration and resource accessioning/storage and film work.
Annual Focus Targets:
- To maintain a cost effective quality facility to provide for future school needs as covered within our 5 Year Operational Plan.
- Continue to review and revise the operational needs and directions to provide the best for our students learning opportunities.
- Review the setup of our new DE offices and requirements.
- Execute the facilities plan according to pre-determined timescales and budgets.
- Review capital works requirements in line with council and Government requirements.