Shared Vision & Goals
Effective schools demonstrate a clear and shared understanding of their goals. These goals are typically focused on student learning, sustained improvement and problem-solving. Effective schools create consensus among staff about the aims and values of the school and how they can be consistently and collaboratively put into practice. Steps are taken to ensure that the curriculum, teaching and learning and professional learning arrangements are consistent with the school's vision and goals. Relationships between staff, students, parents and the wider community need also to reflect the school's goals.
Forming answers to the following questions may help to focus an understanding of a shared vision and goals in your school:
- To what extent is there a shared vision about the desired student learning outcomes in our school?
- How clearly communicated are the school's goals relating to student learning?
Links to Blueprint Strategies/Initiatives
The development of a shared vision and goals is supported through:
Flagship Strategy 1
The whole-school curriculum planning model promoted in the Curriculum Planning Guidelines supports schools to plan their curriculum with a shared school vision and common goals. Whole-school curriculum planning recommends that schools establish professional learning teams of teachers that work closely with the school leadership team including the school council.
The Victorian Essential Learning Standards describe what is essential for students to achieve during the compulsory years of school (Prep to Year 10). Schools therefore must construct appropriate curriculum programs which ensure these essential outcomes are achieved, in ways which reflect the resources and expertise available, and the particular needs and interests of the school community.
An essential condition for significant change is for teachers to develop a shared understanding of the Principles of Learning and Teaching P-12 and be committed to their implementation. The Principles provide a scaffold for teachers to assist them in making explicit both the obvious and the more tacit aspects of their practices and are central in guiding the development of goals and initiatives in the school action plan. They are sufficiently flexible, however, to allow schools to focus on particular aspects of their needs at different times. An important task for schools participating in the Principles of Learning and Teaching Program is to develop a shared understanding of the meaning of the Principles and a shared language with to discuss issues around pedagogy.
Effective schools ensure regular communication of student Assessment and Reporting information between teachers as it forms part of understanding a student's development over time. The focus should be on having a shared view of the purposes of assessment and the means of best reporting progress in student learning to parents, other teachers and the system.
Flagship Strategy 4
A Performance and Development Culture in schools sustains a shared vision and goals by ensuring: all new teachers participate in an effective induction and mentoring program, individual teacher development plans are aligned to school priorities including improved student learning, and professional learning programs are linked to individual needs and school priorities.
Flagship Strategy 6
The Effective Schools Model provides a lens through which schools can think about their performance, plans and priorities. Blueprint Flagship Strategy 6 (School Improvement) provides a range of tools, processes and opportunities for schools to improve their planning, reviewing, evaluation and decision-making when they examine their school through the model.
Single Planning and Accountability Document
Staff, Student and Parent Surveys
Professional Reading
The following readings can be located on the web or in hard copy through the appropriate journals or educational texts. These readings have been influential in the thinking behind current educational reform in Victoria.
Reynolds, David et al. School Improvement for Schools Facing Challenging Circumstances: A Review of Research and Practice. (December 2001). Department for Education and Skills.
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The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development website contains a range of useful resources including access to reference publications focusing on what works in schools (specific strategies to enhance learning).
The National Grid for Learning (NGfL), described as "the gateway to educational resources on the internet" (note: the National Grid for Learning portal closed on 13 April 2006.)