The power of parent-school partnerships

By Mr Christopher Bradbury, Principal

We extend our sincere gratitude to our parent community for their enthusiastic participation and insightful engagement at the recent Evening with the Principal event hosted by the Parents and Friends Association. It was a privilege to share our vision for Radford College and to hear your thoughtful perspectives on the future of our school and education. Your presence underscores the strength of our partnership and your commitment to student success.

The significance of the occasion reinforced to me a quote from the researcher Mark McCrindle who said: “The strength of a school comes from its stories and traditions, but the future of a school rests in its relevance and innovation.”

The "relevance and innovation" largely resides in understanding both the strategic and operational direction of a school. Schools need to ensure they have the operational capacity to achieve their goals and objectives on a day-to-day basis, while also having the strategic vision to future-proof, so our students are prepared for life after school.

Success in this instance can be achieved by having a clear understanding of our community expectations and meeting the challenges of future learning. Through his research, McCrindle presented some interesting data demonstrating community perspectives about the future of education, and the importance of establishing processes and systems to achieve the best possible learning experience for our students.

The relationship between home and school has never been more important and an understanding of parent expectations is vital in establishing the right balance between the interests and needs of the community and the school.

McCrindle's research highlights the growth of parent engagement in recent years through the following observations:

• In the past two years, two in five parents (41 per cent) have become more engaged with their child’s school.
• Almost half (46 per cent) are making it more of a priority to be engaged with their child’s schooling.

It is clear to me in the early stages of my tenure that we are fortunate at Radford to have a well-connected parent community. Our parents are heavily invested in the education of their children and there are very clear expectations regarding the learning experiences we establish for our students. The level of support we receive from our community is instrumental in building a sense of pride and collaboration to achieve positive learning outcomes. Parents are investing more time and energy into their children’s education because they recognise its value, and they do so under the growing demands of work commitments.

Human flourishing needs to be at the heart of our educational mission and in terms of community expectations, well-being is a growing priority—and rightfully so. McCrindle's research made the following observations:

• Almost half of parents (48 per cent) have increased their expectations of their child’s school to support well-being.
• Almost all parents (97 per cent) believe schools should have a holistic focus and play some role in the management of well-being.

Part of preparing students for the future is equipping them with the skills and dispositions to handle pressure, be organised and develop competencies such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and creativity.

As we embark on the development of our next strategic plan, the cornerstone of our success will be the robust partnership between home and school. Your insights, perspectives and continued commitment to our students' well-being are vital in shaping a vision that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our community.

Community engagement at Radford College is not merely a component of our strategy, it will be the very essence of it. We are committed to fostering an environment where every voice is heard, every idea is valued and every member feels a sense of belonging. Through open dialogue, collaborative initiatives and a shared dedication to excellence, we will craft a strategic plan that not only propels Radford College forward but also strengthens the bonds that make our community so exceptional.