The four core documents for Catholic Education which apply to all schools and
elements of Catholic Education are:

» Defining Features
» Strategic Framework
» Strategic Priorities
» Learning Framework

Purpose of Core Foundation Documents

All Schools and education systems today face an increasing need to be more focused in their planning, decision-making, and delivery of educational services. Change has been rapid and wide-ranging in primary and secondary schools in recent years, and there is little to suggest this trend will stop. Catholic Education schools are not exempt from these forces of change. The challenge is to identify emerging needs (interpreting the signs of the times), and the benefits and opportunities that arise. However, in doing so, identity can be altered or compromised if we are not mindful of who we are and where we are going.

During the last few years, a great deal of reflecting and planning has been done within Catholic Education in the Diocese of Cairns. In 2002, the Defining Features document, formally entitled Catholic Schools for the 21st Century, was launched. In that document, seven characteristics of Catholic schools were identified - the outcome of a research project that had taken place over the previous few years. In many ways, this document provided a response to the question "Who are you?"

In 2002, a strategic review of Catholic Education was undertaken, the outcome of which was a Strategic Framework. The simple model is based on the 'balanced scorecard' approach to planning, which identifies the core elements of what happens in an organisation that most contributes to the achievements of its goals. In Catholic Education’s case, the outcome is the education, social and spiritual development of our students.

The Strategic Priorities document draws some of its content from both of these previous documents. Since 2002, the Defining Features and Strategic Framework have been regarded as core, foundational documents to guide decision-making and planning in Catholic Education, both at system and school level. The ‘Strategic Priorities 2005 – 2009’ are the outcome of a consultation process involving many in Catholic Education. This document sets strategic priorities with a vision of a long-term future for Catholic Education’s schools, staff and students. They provide a means of focusing the spotlight on those things that are most important to Catholic Education, in ensuring that Catholic schools remain true to the mission objective of spreading the gospel message and providing high quality educational experiences for students. They provide an answer to the question, "Where are you going?"

In 2007, the fourth foundation document of Catholic Education in this diocese was published, the Learning Framework. A team of teachers, principals and CES staff followed a consultation process to produce this document. The Learning Framework describes the key elements that should inform curriculum planning and decision-making in our schools, along with the delivery and evaluation of curriculum in classrooms across the diocese.