Mark Richards | Director of Learning and Innovation

Recently I became a father for the first time.  Besides the sleepless nights and constant changing of nappies, I have begun to wonder what his life will be like in the future.  At such a young age, life is full of potential, exciting things to experience, careers to establish and lives to lead.  As a community, unleashing this potential in our students, both inside and outside the classroom, is reflected in our vision to inspire students to be their best.

We are doing some very exciting things at the SCOTS PGC College for the realisation of human potential.  Concentrating on building quality relationships, individualising learning and setting high standards.  Instead of labelling students by ability, we endeavour to emphasise effort and commitment.  Our values of Tenacity and Authenticity encourage a never give up attitude and to be true to who we are.   As a College, we encourage colleagues, students, and the wider SCOTS PGC community to embrace the ideal of becoming our best, most authentic selves and serving others in unleashing their potential.  This sort of education doesn’t just happen in a classroom.  It happens in every moment where we are genuinely engaging in life and tapping our yearnings to matter and make a difference.  Education is a living process of facilitating the realisation of our potential – as individuals, teams, organisations, communities, and as a society. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.  Excellence is a daily choice and our guiding principle for success.

When we apply this to education, we get the following insight.  If we educate simply to help people fit into the world as it is, we don’t progress.  If we educate people to unleash their potential beyond their current circumstance, we help them become agents in creating their best selves and a better world.  This is what I would wish for my child, and what I will strive for the students at SCOTS PGC College.