By Mr Christopher Bradbury, Principal

Every year, Foundation Day serves as a time to reflect on how far we have come since 1984 and the successes of the past four decades.

Foundation Day is the day when the past, present and future of our school come together, vowing to uplift the school to the greatest possible heights.

The inaugural Chair of the Radford College Board, Dr T.B. Millar’s speech at the Dedication Service reflects what we continue to strive for, 41 years on:

“We dedicate Radford to the objective of ensuring, so far as possible, that its students are cultured and compassionate human beings, grounded in Christian teachings and traditions, and who at the conclusion of their school careers are well prepared for tertiary education, for employment, and for living.”

Our founders recognised that a fundamental element of a school’s culture is defined by its vision and the values that are communicated within our community. A school’s benchmark on how successfully the vision is embedded is largely determined by the impact our values have on our students.

The values of a school provide a moral compass for establishing norms and behaviours with all key stakeholders. When students achieve, we can reflect on the effectiveness of our values in action, and when we need to deal with inappropriate behaviour or poor effort, we can be guided by our values of Truth, Compassion and Wisdom.

Truth: A commitment to honesty, integrity and authenticity in all words and actions. It encompasses seeking knowledge, being truthful with oneself and others, and upholding ethical principles.

Compassion: Empathy, kindness and a genuine concern for the well-being of others. It involves understanding and responding to the needs of individuals and the wider community with care and support.

Wisdom: The ability to make sound judgements and decisions based on knowledge, understanding and experience. It involves critical thinking, discernment and applying learning thoughtfully in various situations.

Schools are enormously influential, not just on their students and staff, but also on the wider communities they operate in. A Radford education has always been based on developing a rigorous learning environment where students can acquire the attributes necessary for flourishing. This remains the ultimate aim of a quality educational experience.

The context of a school matters, and it is for this reason that I believe there are three distinctive qualities from the foundation of the school that provide us with the infrastructure to succeed today and to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Relationships

The purpose of a Radford education was to create an environment in which supportive and inspiring relationships between staff, students and parents could flourish. A focus on character has supported the development and maintenance of positive relationships within and across the school. The importance of positive relationships can be seen in practice, for example, through pastoral care. The evolution of the College has encouraged positive interactions between younger and older students; developing a support network in modelling good character.

Personalisation

Radford College supports the personalised experience of each student's journey. This is achieved through our College-wide commitment to moral purpose, scholarship and high excellence in challenging, supporting and knowing every student. Emphasis is also placed on the development of student confidence, competence and self-actualisation.

Community

Belonging to a school community is a deeply formative experience. We are a school that promotes in each student a strong sense of belonging and service to the community through our opportunities for representation, leadership and community engagement. The vision of the school is to ensure that the vast potential that our young people have to offer to our community is maximised and celebrated.

We seek to work together to make young people’s contribution possible and valued, because practical action in the service of others to create positive change is a habit for life.

In remaining true to the foundations of the school, we continue to demonstrate that the holistic educational experience at Radford College can be about elevating the achievement of academic growth and excellence through learning, and the development of character and service to the community.

We thank God for those who have led the school over the decades; the staff who have given so generously of themselves and continue to do so; our generations of families; and – mostly, of course, now you – our outstanding students.

As the term concludes, may the joy and hope of Easter fill your homes and hearts, offering a time for reflection and renewal. We wish you all a restful break and look forward to welcoming you back refreshed for the term ahead.