Strategic Plan Towards 2029

Chair of Council & Head of College

It is with great joy and anticipation that we present to you the Strategic Plan for Concordia Lutheran College as we celebrate 80 years of Christian education in 2026. This Strategic Plan is a deliberate and forward-thinking blueprint designed to cultivate a vibrant and dynamic Christian learning community.

The Strategic Plan towards 2029 is a milestone that marks not only a rich legacy of faith, learning, and community, but also a bold step forward as we unite our campuses into one integrated College across Stephen Street and Warwick Street. It is focused on equipping our students with the attributes and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Our foundation remains deeply rooted in the Word of God and the gospel of Christ Jesus, empowering us to live lives of grace, purpose, and service.

These beliefs are central to our identity and mission. As we walk alongside our young people, we witness the transformative power of the good news in their lives and in the lives of all who are part of our College community.

The Strategic Plan has been developed through meaningful engagement with our College community, including Council, Leadership, staff, families, and students. It is a dynamic document—one that will evolve through ongoing review and reflection to remain responsive to the world around us. As Karen Seashore Louis writes, “Strategic planning in schools is not just about setting goals; it’s about creating a shared vision that guides decision-making and fosters collective responsibility for student success.”

As we move forward, we will continue to develop and monitor financial plans and a resource master

plan that supports this Strategic Plan. We remain mindful of changes in government funding and the financial realities faced by families, ensuring that a high-quality Christian education remains accessible and sustainable.

Concordia Lutheran College has always been a place of unity, harmony, and shared purpose. From its founding in 1946 with just 27 students, to its growth into a respected K–12 institution, Concordia has embodied its name—Concordia, meaning agreement and unity. The integration of our campuses in 2026 is a natural and exciting progression of this legacy, bringing our community together in new and meaningful ways.

As we embrace this new chapter, we are reminded of the words from Colossians 3:14:

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

On behalf of the Concordia Lutheran College Council, we commend this Strategic Plan to you and invite you to join us in shaping an exciting, future-oriented Concordia Lutheran College.

Mr Kyal Osborne

Chair - Concordia Lutheran

College Council

Mr Anton Prinsloo

Head of College

Philosophy, Purpose Values & Vision

At Concordia Lutheran College, a vibrant community comes together to offer an outstanding education for each individual child. Our College is coeducational, inclusive, welcoming and friendly.

Our Philosophy

Concordia Lutheran College is a Christian coeducational day and boarding school that provides a holistic approach to shape and prepare students to be confident, informed and equipped to make a difference in an ever changing world. We offer a rigorous and quality education where students strive for excellence, and set high expectations in a safe, Christ-centred, grace-filled learning environment.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to deliver to our students inspiring, relevant and engaging learning opportunities in a welcoming and caring Christian environment.

Our Values

• Learning

We value learning: where students demonstrate resilience and persistence as creative, adept learners who are not afraid to take risks as they learn and grow.

• Compassion

We value compassion: where students develop their hearts and minds as they care for, respect, support and nurture one another.

• Courage

We value courage: where students become risk-takers who take ownership of their learning,

set high expectations and are not afraid to speak up for others and themselves.

• Service

We value service: where students reflect on their place in the world as they desire to reach out and support people and groups on a local and global level.

• Excellence

We value excellence: where students continually strive for excellence as they set and exceed their own goals in their learning.

• Respect

We value respect: where every member of the College community respects themselves, others, and creation as they demonstrate stewardship and care for God’s earth and all who live on it.

Our Vision

Inspiring lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and caring citizens in a Christian community.

Our Story

Celebrating 80 Years of Excellence in Christian Education

In 2026, Concordia Lutheran College proudly celebrates 80 years of providing exceptional Christian education. From its humble beginnings to its current evolution into an integrated campus, Concordia continues to honour its rich and varied history while investing in a vibrant future.

Concordia Lutheran College is merging its legacy into one integrated campus, encompassing both the Stephen Street and Warwick Street locations. This strategic development includes the opening of purpose-built, contemporary educational environments in our Junior Learning Centre and Early Learning Centre—designed to support modern teaching and learning practices while nurturing the whole child.

The College officially opened its doors for teaching on 13 February 1946 under the leadership of Professor Rudolph Altus, welcoming 27 scholars, 23 of whom were boarding students. The historic Redlands Building and surrounding lands were purchased to serve as the College’s home. The vision of establishing a Lutheran coeducational boarding school in Queensland was driven by a deep commitment to preserving the Christian faith for future generations.

From its inception, Concordia has been community-focused. Local Lutheran congregations worked tirelessly to raise the funds necessary to bring the College to life. Toowoomba was chosen as the ideal location, drawing boarding students from rural Queensland and attracting day students from the city.

Over the decades, the College welcomed students from Papua New Guinea, northern Queensland, and other international destinations, enriching the boarding community and shaping the diverse demograph-

ic we see today. Music became a foundational tradition from day one, with three pianos in constant use and students earning accolades at the Toowoomba Eisteddfod. Athletics and speech nights quickly became part of the College’s culture, and academic achievements flourished, affirming the founding vision as a leap of faith blessed by the Lord.

Worship has always been central to College life, becoming a lifelong practice for many students. While aspects of the College culture have evolved, the cornerstone remains unchanged: our motto, Nisi Dominus Frustra – “Unless the Lord builds it, it is built in vain.” This enduring commitment to Christian education is what makes Concordia Lutheran College distinctive and unique.

Significant development of facilities and growth in student numbers have marked the College’s journey. By the end of the 20th century, Concordia was widely respected both culturally and academically across the Darling Downs, while remaining firmly rooted in Christian values.

The College expanded with the addition of the Warwick Street Campus in 1961 and the Hume Street Campus in 1977. On 30 January 2007, Concordia Lutheran College P–12 became a reality through the amalgamation of all three campuses. Over time, Concordia has come to embody the meaning of its name—agreement, unity, and harmony. United in purpose, we embrace the opportunities ahead with open hearts and minds.

Today, as we celebrate 80 years of educational excellence, our foundation remains strong. We continue to inspire students to strive for academic success and nurture their aspirations in a caring, dynamic, and faith-filled learning environment.

Christian Ministry Wellbeing & Pastoral Care

We aspire to: In the next three years we will:

Promote the strong Christian and supportive culture of the College

Celebrate our Lutheran identity and support the agencies of the Lutheran Church of Australia

• Continue to build and be known for a welcoming, caring, inclusive Christian culture.

• Continue to build a strong and unified culture across the College

• Develop staff understanding of Lutheran ‘distinctives’

• Continue our co-operation with and support for the LCA through service projects such as Walk my Way (ALWS) and through connection with local congregations.

• Continue to advance student involvement in the spiritual life of the College, including through the Worship program

Care for, and develop wellbeing among our students, staff and community

Promote and recognise service to others as an integrated focal point for students

• Continue to develop a clear and articulated staff wellbeing structure that staff create and own.

• Continue to implement and expand wellbeing programs that are age appropriate for all students from K-12.

• Continue to build a cohesive service learning program that is recognised at the highest college level and meaningfully connected to the wider community.

• Continue to promote our RAP and fulfil our commitments to reconciliation.

Learning & Teaching

We aspire to:

Build a vibrant learning culture centred on an engaging curriculum and engagement of students in their own learning journey

Support the implementation and development of a Contemporary Learning Framework

In the next three years we will:

• Renew learning spaces to provide engaging environments from K-12.

• Revise and implement learning programs based on an authentic and rigorous curriculum including surface, deep and transfer learning opportunities.

• Develop programs to support the implementation of Contemporary Learning.

• Implement the CLC Pedagogical Framework and its three key components:

• Classroom Culture

• Explicit Instruction

• Learning by Inquiry

Continually expect higher academic standards at all levels

• Implement the Universal Design for Learning Framework (UDL) as a key component of inclusive learning.

• Implement and further develop a co-teaching model within the Junior College.

Broaden subject choices for students

Create learning programs, within the capacity of the College, to support the diverse learning needs of all students

Record, analyse and utilise data to inform all aspects of learning and teaching

• Continue to provide and refine learning options and develop academic pathways across the College, particularly in senior schooling

• Refine processes and intervention programs for inclusive learning under a new banner of Diverse Learning

• Investigate a framework for Learning Extension

• Investigate and implement a new Learning Management System across the Senior College

• Create processes for recording, storing and analysing student achievement, progress and wellbeing data across the College

• Maintain a robust moderation cycle of assessment across the College

Build a culture of professional growth and development for all teachers and staff

• Provide research based professional learning for all staff around the Contemporary Learning Framework

• Implement and reflect on staff driven appraisal processes and coaching that reflects best practice and incorporates the values of the College

Life Wide Learning

We aspire to:

Develop a sporting program that is planned, high quality, sustainable and able to build student interest in physical activity

Strengthen programs and offerings in co-curricular and extra-curricular areas

In the next three years we will:

• Maintain and investigate further sporting structures and programs with a view to develop a long-term vision for sports across the College

• Build strong connections to local club teams through affiliations

• Provide quality ‘in-house’ training opportunities across the college in selected sports

• Continue to promote the profile of ‘The Arts’ in the community eg College Musical, Arts Tour

• Continue to participate in Toowoomba Eisteddfods for all areas of The Arts

• Continue to expand and provide quality coaching for debating/public speaking opportunities across the College

• Expand opportunities for students in the areas of agriculture and food and fibre through study tours and community partnerships

Develop student leaders who have the opportunity of input into College life and society beyond Concordia Lutheran College

Build leadership capacity at all levels

• Review and refine student leadership program that recognises and develops leadership at all levels across the College

• See also: Christian Ministry, Wellbeing and Pastoral Care

• Encourage and provide opportunities for staff to progress their careers through relevant professional development and certification (HALT)

• Actively engage staff and students in the College’s strategic planning and decision-making processes

Our Community

We aspire to: In the next three years we will:

Build Concordia’s reputation as a leading coeducational school through a growing visibility in the wider community

Lift interest in national and international boarding in a coeducational setting

• Engage the community with targeted promotions that highlight the unified strategic future direction

• Continue to promote and communicate with local Pastors and the wider Church regarding developments as they occur within the College

• Continue to expand and promote programs in line with best boarding practice

• Work to attract national and international students who will grow through involvement with our boarding program

Engage past students, parents and staff

• Continue to grow our connections with alumni in order to engage our ‘Old Scholars’

• Continue to survey and engage with stakeholders to monitor and gauge community opinions

• Continue to develop the Concordia ‘Future Foundation’ to allow for Annual Giving, Major Capital Gifts and Bequests to support the future learning and teaching needs

Infrastructure: Facilities & Human Resources

We aspire to: In the next three years we will:

Provide learning environments which have a profound impact on learning and wellbeing for both students and staff

Commit to new construction and ongoing refurbishment programs that deliver modern, innovative and quality facilities to meet the educational program of the College

Commit to stewardship and care for God’s Earth and all who live on it

Commit to a robust recruitment and retention staffing strategy to ensure quality program delivery

• Continue to review and implement a College wide Master Plan and timeframe

• Continue to investigate capital funding options

• Maintain a College wide Maintenance and Refurbishment Plan

• Reflect these commitments in the Annual Budget

• Develop Sustainability Plan

• Develop Conservation Management Plan for heritage listed infrastructure of the College

• Invest in staff Professional Development and expertise

• Promote the College as an employer of choice