1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the values of our school community and explain the vision, mission and objectives of our school.

2. Policy Statement

Princes Hill Secondary College is committed to providing a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all students, staff and members of our community. Our school recognises the importance of the partnership between our school and parents and carers to support student learning, engagement and wellbeing. We share a commitment to, and a responsibility for, creating an inclusive and safe school environment for our students.

The programs and teaching at Princes Hill Secondary College support and promote the principles and practice of Australian democracy, including a commitment to:

• elected government
• the rule of law
• equal rights for all before the law
• freedom of religion
• freedom of speech and association
• the values of openness and tolerance.

This policy outlines our school’s vision, mission, objective, values and expectations of our school community.

To celebrate and embed our Statement of Values and Philosophy in our school community, we:

• display posters and banners that promote your values in our school
• celebrate our values in our school newsletter
• provide awards and recognition for students who actively demonstrate the values
• discuss our values with students in the classroom, meetings and assemblies.

This policy includes our school values, philosophy and vision are which are an integral part of our Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy.  

3. Implementation

Statement of Democratic Principles

The programs and teaching at Princes Hill Secondary College support and promote the principles and practice of Australian democracy, including a commitment to:

• Elected government
• The rule of law
• Equal rights for all before the law
• Freedom of religion
• Freedom of speech and association
• The values of openness and tolerance

Vision

We, at Princes Hill Secondary College believe that education has a fundamental role to play in fostering a deeper and more harmonious form of human personal and social development. Therefore, it is an indispensable asset in the attempt to attain the ideals of peace, freedom and social justice, and to reduce poverty, exclusion, ignorance, oppression and war.

Mission

Princes Hill Secondary College's mission is to provide a safe and inclusive educational environment for the 21st Century that provides learning opportunities that are relevant, integrative and authentic.

This is underpinned by the UNESCO four pillars of education:

1. Learning to Know – the development of skills and knowledge needed to function in this world e.g. formal acquisition of literacy, numeracy, critical thinking and general knowledge.
2. Learning to Do – the acquisition of applied skills linked to professional success.
3. Learning to Live Together – the development of social skills and values such as respect and concern for others, and the appreciation of cultural diversity.
4. Learning to Be – the learning that contributes to a person’s mind, body, and spirit. Skills include creativity and personal discovery, acquired through reading, the Internet, and activities such as sports and arts.

Objective

Our school’s objectives are considered as part of the 4 yearly strategic planning process and reflected in the goals listed in our current School Strategic Plan (SSP). We also develop an Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) to operationalise the goals and key improvement strategies contained in our SSP.

Our Educational Philosophy and Values

Our educational philosophy outlines our core beliefs and supports the Department Values: Integrity, Responsiveness, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and a commitment to Human Rights. The school values have been collaboratively created to foster the high expectations we have as lifelong learners as well as our dedication to ensuring our school is a positive and respectful environment for our students, our staff and the whole school community.

Princes Hill Secondary College is a community united by a shared understanding in the importance of the following values:

To celebrate and embed our Vision, Mission, Philosophy and Values in our school community, we promote our values in our school newsletter, on our website, through posters and banners and other publications. We award and recognise our students who actively demonstrate these values and engage in discussion about the importance of our values with students in the classroom, meetings and assemblies. Values clarification activities are scoped and sequenced into our Social and Emotional Learning program.

4. Evaluation & Review

This policy will be reviewed every 4 years. 

5. Definitions

Policies should be precise and easy to understand. Sometimes terms will need to be defined to clarify meaning. 

6. References

Department Vision for Learning

Understanding Department Values

7. Related Policies

Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy

Bullying Prevention Policy

Complaints Policy

Department Policy and Advisory Library (PAL) links:

Work-Related Violence in Schools Policy

Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy

8. Consultation

This policy was made in consultation with Student Wellbeing and a wider school community workshop including parents and students. Principal team, leadership and teaching staff were also consulted directly.