Rapid social and cultural change is reshaping the landscape of education everywhere, and Catholic school systems are set to lead it.
Locally, Sydney Catholic Schools laid out that ambition in Magis 2033, a decade-long roadmap launched early in 2026 designed to strengthen academic excellence, deepen Catholic identity and secure the future of Catholic education across the archdiocese.
Executive director Danielle Cronin says the strategy is simple and elegant and reflects the conviction that academic performance alone is not enough. She wants to correct a “hyperfixation” on NAPLAN and ATAR results at the expense of student’s development as whole persons.
“We chose the name Magis for both its richness and its simplicity. Magis is a Latin word meaning ‘the more’ or ‘the greater,’” she told The Catholic Weekly.
“In the context of our new strategy, it calls us to deepen our work and purpose, expand our impact and elevate our excellence for each and every child. It calls us to do what truly matters with greater depth, meaning and quality rather than simply more things.
“We want our students to be prepared for the future, but also deeply grounded in who they are.
“That foundation of faith and community is what sets Catholic education apart.”
Coming after extensive consultation with staff, parents, students, clergy and other stakeholders, the plan is built around three core values – wonder, wisdom, and witness – and three focus areas: Integral Formation for Human Excellence, Schooling Excellence Accessible to All, and Stewardship Excellence for Mission.
Each is intended to reinforce the mission of Catholic education while ensuring schools remain strong, sustainable, and equipped to evangelise.
The system aims to educate the whole person, combining intellectual rigour with spiritual depth, moral clarity, wellbeing and creativity. Leaders say this approach is essential for students who will navigate the world with confidence.
The new approach also retains a focus on ensuring high-quality Catholic education is within reach for families across the archdiocese, regardless of their postcode or background.
It also emphasises the need for strong governance, leadership formation and responsible management of resources.
School leaders welcomed the new approach.
“It fills me with immense pride to serve as a principal in a Sydney Catholic School, where we strive for excellence and keep Christ and our students at the centre of all we do,” wrote Antonella Mazzucco, principal of St Therese’s Primary School in Lakemba on social media.
“I was inspired by the beautiful language that shaped the launch – words like flourish, excellence, wonder, generosity, witness, and wisdom. How blessed are the students in our schools, when this is the vocabulary guiding the leadership and staff who serve them each day.”
Sydney Catholic Schools educates more than 74,000 students across 147 primary and secondary schools. Leaders describe Magis 2033 as both aspirational and practical, positioning Catholic education not simply to react to change but to shape it.
