1. Coming together … Scots and All Saints’ College
Part 1: Overview of our approach
The following slides (extracted) were presented to parents and staff in September 2017 following acceptance of our indicative offer

2. A wonderful opportunity awaits us
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:1.

3. While we are coming together…
… we are not changing our mission to education

4. The challenge before us
Successfully integrating Scots and ASC requires us to think on two fronts, and to balance both:
The operational (business and finance) imperatives of the two schools; and
The cultural (human and heritage) imperatives of the two schools.
Operational
Cultural

5. Two streams of activity
Reporting to the new School Board / Trustees:
1. OPERATIONAL
Due Diligence Working Group:
Due diligence: legal & financial
Government approvals
Align systems and processes
Align staff structures and employment terms
Integrate financial budgets and cash flows
Develop risk management framework
2. CULTURAL
Integration Working Group:
Understand cultural similarities and differences
Build cultural bridges across every aspect of the two schools: including new school crest, colours, uniforms, student services, chaplaincy and church services, and parent groups
Heritage - respect heritage and symbols of each school while building values and symbols for the new school
Future - clearly communicate where we want to go, and keep students and parents updated on progress

6. Changing culture – the challenge
The values, beliefs and ethics that evolve in response to the threats faced by the group.
They are implicit and closely linked to a sense of identity.
They are the way things are done; the habits that exist day to day.
The challenge of changing culture:
“Each side is convinced that the way it does things is the only possible way to do them. That’s where the conflict and mutual criticism come from.”

7. Cultural imperatives
To achieve a culturally harmonious outcome, it is critical that we ‘link’ the cultures of the two schools; in other words, to build a cultural ‘bridge’ between the two schools.
Although many will be sceptical, over time ‘each side’ will slowly come to understand the idiosyncrasies of the other’s values, beliefs and practices.
We plan to develop and implement a strategy for working together that takes into account the unique cultures of both schools to find the external imperative and to focus on it!

8. We know that change will be difficult
We understand human nature is to do the ‘usual’.

9. But we know it can be achieved
Like trying to turn a heavy flywheel, it gets easier as momentum builds up. It’s hard work at the beginning but if you persist it gets easier and easier until its own momentum almost makes it self-sustaining.

10. “Keeping in mind…”
“…the problem with cultural differences is that they don’t lead to disagreements, they lead to misunderstandings.
Disagreements are obvious immediately and can be dealt with.
But you tend to discover misunderstandings when it’s too late, when each party has tackled an action plan in its own way.”
Source: C. Gancel, I. Rodgers, M. Raynaud, Successful Mergers, Acquisitions and Strategic Alliances, 2002.

11. The challenge is to create the future
“When you aren’t learning or challenging yourself, you are arguing for your limits.
When you argue for your limits you get to keep them.
When you keep your limits, you preserve the status quo.
And in time of rapid change, preserving the status quo is usually not a viable option.”

12. “United we stand in one future”
1. Our vision will begin with a child focus
The success of our new school will depend on how well it serves, supports and interacts internally between staff and externally with parents, children and the local community. Our new vision will be grounded in the children we educate and parents we serve.
2. Our vision will focus on educational excellence
We want our vision for the new school to express the contribution we can all make to the school, not what may come to us from outside. We want to reinforce both academic and personal excellence.
3. Our vision will be Christ-centred
Our vision for the new school will to give everyone in the community an opportunity to engage with the Christian worldview of life and an understanding of the Christian faith; centred in the work and person of Jesus through the Bible.
4. Our vision will be a new future for both schools
Our vision will be a new school that will create its own legacy while collaborating with The Scots College, PLC Croydon and PLC Armidale. These connections will provide benefits to both staff and students.