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Magis is a Latin word that means ‘the more’ or ‘the greater’. In the context of our new strategy, it drives us to deepen our work and purpose, expand our impact and elevate our excellence for each and every child.

Magis 2033 delivers a shared vision for the future of Sydney Catholic Schools. Magis 2033 invites us to look beyond what is easy or familiar and to ask how we can go deeper, do better and create the conditions for every student to flourish.

This strategic plan is focused on quality over quantity, purpose over activity, and a shared commitment to excellence, generosity and service. For more than 200 years in Sydney, our Catholic schools have formed young people in faith, knowledge and character, guided by a mission to educate the whole person and serve the common good.

Magis 2033 builds on this legacy, helping us respond with confidence and care to the world our students will inherit. It is the next step in our journey, anchored in our Catholic values and shaped by hope for the future.

Danielle Cronin,
Executive Director

Our Strategy

Sydney Catholic Schools contributes to the shared mission of Catholic education across Australia and the priorities established by the Bishops Commission for Catholic Education and the National Catholic Education Commission by advancing faith, excellence, and access through Magis 2033.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide Catholic education that is deeply anchored in faith, marked by educational excellence and accessible to all who seek it.

Our Vision

We offer a Christ-centred vision of education focused on forming the whole person and fostering the pursuit of truth, beauty and goodness.

Our Values

Wonder

We seek to cultivate awe and curiosity, fostering a genuine appreciation for all of creation and finding God in all things.

Wisdom

We seek knowledge and understanding and the
synthesis of faith and reason, nurturing and applying wisdom with sound judgment.

Witness

We seek to be credible witnesses in the lives of others, speaking truth with love, compassion, empathy and respect.

Our Ways of Proceeding

  • Discernment​
    We promote intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and moral reasoning, ensuring mission alignment and fostering informed and just action through prayerful decision-making.
  • Service
    We keep people at the heart of all we do, promoting subsidiarity, solidarity and participation, and accompanying others through cura personalis.
  • Accountability
    We embrace personal and collective responsibility for the mission and strive for excellence with clarity, integrity and transparency.

“The more and the greater calls us to excellence in all we do: in depth, quality, and purpose.”

Danielle Cronin,
Executive Director

Three Strategic Focus Areas

Magis 2033 has three focus areas that will frame our work. The focus area of ‘Integral Formation for Human Excellence’ operates as the core priority, while ‘Schooling Excellence Accessible to All’ and ‘Stewardship Excellence for Mission’ serve as enabling priorities. Our Mission will animate the entire strategy.

The Child

Focus Area One:

Integral Formation for Human Excellence.

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Focus Area Two:

Schooling Excellence Accessible to All.

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Focus Area Three:

Stewardship Excellence for Mission.

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Three Strategic Horizons

We will implement our strategy, and deliver on our goals, across three overlapping ‘horizons’ from 2026 to 2033.

At the end of each horizon, we will ‘take stock’ and reflect on our progress, as well as the opportunities and challenges posed by our operating environment to discern the programs of work and activities for the horizon ahead.

Strategy Development Timeline

Phase One

Data Gathering and Dialogue Phase

June to September 2025

Purpose:

Consultation ‘listening’ phase with Board, school communities, clergy, and external stakeholders.

Phase Two

Discernment Phase 

September to November 2025

Purpose:

Development of mission, vision, values, ways of proceeding and pillars with short and long term objectives.

Phase Three

Development Phase 

November 2025 to January 2026

Purpose:

Refinement of priorities and development of key activities.

Planning for resource alignment and strategy implementation.
01-our-process

Strategy Development Process

  • Principal, network and directorate consultation sessions involving more than 750 staff.
  • 40 individual stakeholder interviews (Board members, executives, principals, parents, clergy, office staff and external stakeholders).
  • A community survey with 1200 responses.
  • Workshops and focus groups involving 165 staff and other stakeholders (principals, parents, clergy, students, assistant principals, religious education coordinators and central office staff).
01-our-process

Integral Formation for Human Excellence

By pursuing this focus area:

We are harnessing our rich tradition to deliver the very best outcomes for our students, staff and school communities.

By this we mean:

We are committed to education that places the learning and development of the whole person at the centre, nurturing intellectual excellence, spiritual depth, moral character, physical health and wellbeing, and creativity while fostering a deep sense of life’s meaning and purpose, so that every learner may realise their full potential and grow into the fullness of life.

Schooling Excellence Accessible to All

By pursuing this focus area:

We are focusing on improving and extending our distinctive educational offering.

By this we mean:

We believe every family should have access to the highest quality Catholic education, where excellence and opportunity go hand in hand. Our ambition is to ensure every learner, regardless of circumstance, can experience a Catholic education that is life-giving and transformative and every teacher is supported to focus on the work that drives improvement in student outcomes.

Stewardship Excellence for Mission

By pursuing this focus area:

We are leveraging the collective strength of our system to ensure mission vitality into the future.

By this we mean:

As faithful stewards of the mission entrusted to us, we are committed to transparent and accountable governance, discerning leadership, and wise management of our time, resources and talents. Collectively, we will sustain and grow our schools as vibrant centres of evangelisation, learning and hope for generations to come.