Strategic planning is “a systematic process of envisioning a desired future and translating this vision into broadly defined goals or objectives, and a sequence of steps to achieve them”.

In every school, the strategic plan must encompass aspirations for school leavers. In secondary schools, this involves outlining how the institution will support ākonga pathways to attain national qualifications. The discussions around Kōrero Matauranga and the School Leavers’ Toolkit inquiry emphasize the critical importance of additional aspirations to ākonga, whānau, and communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. These encompass mental health, self-management, interpersonal skills, and basic financial literacy.

The board of trustees and tumuaki extend an invitation to ākonga, kaiako, whānau, and mana whenua to engage in a positive strategic planning process that values the input of all voices. Participation in this planning endeavor unveils diverse perspectives, contributing value to all stakeholders. This collaborative process fosters connections among individuals and empowers them to collectively envision compelling aspirations for ākonga.

In the realm of strategic planning, school leaders should:

Establish a reciprocal relationship with mana whenua through a meaningful partnership.
Conduct face-to-face meetings with mana whenua to understand the narrative of the geographical area occupied by the school.
Engage the school community, including contributing and destination schools, in shared conversations about the unique attributes of the community and articulate hopes and aspirations for ākonga. Specifically, focus on amplifying the voices of those historically excluded from decision-making, such as Māori learners and their whānau, and Pacific learners and their whānau.
Inform the school community about pertinent school data (e.g., ākonga participation, engagement, achievement, NCEA data, well-being) and actively seek relevant information from them.
Collaborate with the school community to gain a deeper understanding, develop, or amend the vision, values, and goals outlined in the school charter and the 3-year strategic plan.
Prioritize a select few goals and determine the necessary time and resources for their achievement.
Establish discussions and agreements on how to measure the success of the identified goals.
Ensure that the allocation of resources aligns with the established goals.
Regularly review progress towards goals, incorporating input from ākonga, kaiako, parents, whānau, and mana whenua.

Links to further resources

School Trustees’ Association provides templates on how to gather information to inform your charter and how to create an action plan

Educational leaders: school charters include templates on how to construct a school charter