It goes without saying that we all want our schools to be successful. But what does this mean within our own Catholic educational narrative?

A successful Catholic school must do what all successful schools do.

That is to help each of their students improve learning outcomes; develop the skills, attitudes and values young people will need if they are to live and contribute as workers, family members and citizens in the 21 st century; to educate towards true wisdom.

A successful Catholic school pursues these goals within a Catholic cultural context, informed by a Catholic worldview. This gives the school its distinguishing features.

This week I want to name five qualities I believe make a successful school. These qualities are often referred to in professional literature and suggest links to our own educational narrative.

1. A successful school reflects a shared vision and a clear sense of purpose
   
   The successful Catholic school is able to identify the threads which link its vision and mission to its plans and strategies. It can demonstrate that its educational programs and pedagogies are evidence-based and reflect a Catholic understanding of the purpose of schooling and the nature of the learner.
   
   
2. A successful school has a strong communal dimension
   
   No Catholic school stands alone. Each is part of a wider community of schools and importantly, each is integral to the wider church community. Partnership and teamwork characterise its endeavours.
   
   In itself, the successful Catholic school is a learning community which is committed to continuous improvement. This commitment is fuelled by shared reflection and self-evaluation. It asks itself hard questions about relevance and effectiveness.
   
   
3. A successful school has effective leadership
   
   In a successful Catholic school, leadership is strongly cultural, as well as educational and organisational. It is distributive and empowers a range of people to develop innovative ways of leading and serving the school community.
   
   
4. A successful school focuses on quality learning and teaching
   
   The school’s academic focus is supported by practical strategies for ensuring that each student develops his or her capacities and that the diversity of students’ needs, abilities, backgrounds and aspirations receives appropriate responses.
   
   In a successful Catholic school, this focus is informed by contemporary research and by a Catholic understanding of the nature of the human person as one who searches for meaning and connection.
   
   
5. A successful school is committed to improving its learning and teaching
   
   Fundamental to being a good school is to use data to help improve practice. Such data needs to be quantitative and qualitative in nature. One of the most powerful ways to bring about improvement is for teachers to reflect together on their practice in order to discern the most appropriate ways to continuously improve learning outcomes for the school community.