Encouraging, then Managing a School’s Growth

ACC Casey, a prep to year 9 school, located at the gateway to the Mornington Peninsula to the south of Melbourne, is in rude health.

The school is moving to a new location which will accommodate the surging student body. It is envisaged that the college will grow to a student population of 1200 plus on the new campus with an additional 800 students enrolled in the Christian Distance Education program, based at the campus. In its final form there will be 2000 plus students and 180 staff.

Principal of ACC Casey Daryl Pollard has been hard at work encouraging that growth while managing the demands it generates.

“Enrolment enquiry is coming through two major avenues at this stage. Firstly, recommendations from current parents are generating significant interest. This comes from high satisfaction levels of our parent body and anticipation of moving to our new site in Cranbourne South on Pearcedale Road.

“Secondly, a number of enquiries are coming from our online presence, with potential parents finding our school Christian philosophy and culture appealing. We are currently working with the marketing department to increase traffic to our online sources. A key element to the interest being shown is in the location of our new campus in 2024, a significant growth corridor of the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne.”

The positive Christian culture of Australian Christian Colleges nationally has been instrumental in seeing ACC rack up wins.

“Parents have observed the establishment of an effective teaching and learning environment within the Christian context. This has also enabled the flourishing of students in their learning journey, supported through the growth of a supportive wellbeing and pastoral culture, where students are given their voice knowing they are respected, valued and appreciated. This is evident as prospective students and parents visit the college, leaving a lasting impression as parents decide the best educational pathway for their child.

“Also, it is noted, we are an open enrolment school, with a purposeful Christian directive. This means we invite all to enjoy the journey with us, while remaining true to our Christian foundations of faith. This is outworked through a genuine desire to care, protect, empower and educate all our students to the fulness of their God given potential regardless of where they are on their Christian journey, from those exploring for the first time right through to students and families that have established their Christian faith. In short, ensuring all students are well known, well loved and well taught.

Rapid growth brings its own set of challenges and retaining and attracting staff is a big one.

“It is imperative that as we grow we do not lose the key essence of our Christian community and that we continue to provide opportunity for the highest level of academic, wellbeing and spiritual development for each and every child and staff member.

“Significantly, this requires deliberate and focused support and development of our staff to ensure they are resourced and able to provide for the individual learning and wellbeing needs of each child. This includes targeted training in the key elements of our Explicit, Direct Instruction pedagogical approach ensuring quality and consistent teaching and learning for every child, across every classroom, every day.

“Another area of focus is ensuring students are connected to key personnel with whom they have strong relationships of mutual respect. This ensures that the students' sense of belonging, safety and respect is developed and protected as the enrolment number increases. Therefore, as we grow we are able to duplicate the learning and wellbeing culture, rather reducing the essence of who we are through the diluting effect of spreading relationships too thin.”

Staff are included in the school’s internal discourse and growth strategy which gives them a sense of agency.

“Our staff have been a crucial part of the journey so far and into the future. Feedback from staff indicates that they are excited about the direction of the college, its strategic plan, resourcing and potential impact on the local community.

“As such there is total buy-in from the staff with many recommending the college to associates as a destination school for those wanting to flourish in their educational career. Collegiate decision making, clear communication and the willingness to invest in training and development in a progressive educational model are all appealing to our staff.”

For the local community, ACC Casey’s success means there is a vibrant, growing school within their neighbourhood and Pollard looks to involve the local community in the school’s story as much as possible.

“At this exciting stage of our development there is a unique opportunity for families to join us in shaping this vibrant community in achieving the strategic objectives outlined above, with the backing of our wider Australian Christian College community and organisation. A community school, serving in the local context through national resources.

“As we grow we will continue to follow our strategic plan to ensure the key essence of the college is enhanced and not diluted, enabling every student to reach their God given potential. This means that engagement of the parent body and wider community to ensure that we are meeting the specific needs of our student base, is crucial to successfully grow ACC Casey.”