From the Principal

Towards the end of last year, all staff engaged with some recently published research from the University of Sydney titled, The 2025 Skills Horizon – What Leaders Need to Know (Peter, S.,Reimer, K.,Norman, P., 2024). The purpose of this engagement was to ensure all staff remain well informed about what lies ahead, thereby enabling deep discussion about how best to prepare our students for their futures.

The research noted the disorienting times ahead and the need for critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively. 

In an era of rapid change and globalisation, the need for critical thinking and a global perspective in education has never been more pressing. The modern workforce requires individuals who can think analytically, adapt to new challenges, and engage with a diverse world. According to The 2025 Skills Horizon, the most valuable skills of the future include critical analysis, problem-solving, and cross-cultural collaboration. These competencies are essential for preparing students to succeed in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

As we know, cultivating a global perspective is increasingly important given economic systems are interdependent, climate change affects all corners of the planet, and social issues transcend borders. One only needs to consider tomorrow’s International Women’s Day, celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women throughout the world to appreciate this. The day is also, of course, a call to action to accelerate this equality throughout the world. Quality education strengthens understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures, histories, and viewpoints, fostering empathy and constructive engagement with difference.

This understanding has not been lost on our current student leaders either which is reflected in their vision for the year, ‘To foster an inclusive community where diversity is celebrated, and each person is treated with respect to feel a sense of belonging’.

Continuing with the global theme, I am pleased to report that our College is in the early stages of developing a partnership with St Mary’s School Ascot, which is a Mary Ward boarding school in England for students aged 11 to 18.  Currently, our College is supporting Mathematics teacher and Loyola House Coordinator Catherine Roberts, with 12 months’ leave to teach at St Mary’s as a pilot human resource/ retention/ attraction/ professional growth strategy. The strategy has proven very successful and after ongoing discussions with the Principal of St Mary’s, both schools now have the opportunity to formalise their relationship through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). I hope to provide more details about this later in the year.

Daniel Mahon

Principal