The impact of staff selection, marketing and development on the emergence of a planned school culture

Effectively establishing a new school culture relies on understanding the systemic framework underpinning the Mission of the School, as well as being cognisant of the relevant demographic, economic, political, social and educational parameters within which it will operate. Most importantly, there must be awareness and sensitivity to the desires of its prospective students and families. Research conducted at St Andrew's Anglican College sought to determine whether selecting the right staff team, utilising both individualist and collectivist approaches, would establish a College which could satisfy these demands and ensure the emergence of the envisioned culture.

A hypothetical model depicts the correlation of Staff Selection Criteria with emergent culture. This is cross referenced with Aspects of Culture as determined by House et al. Qualitative research undertaken through Focus Group Sessions with representatives of all stakeholder groups, is aligned with these Aspects of Culture. Denzin and Lincoln's Bricoleur methodology inspired the augmenting of focus group data with additional material conveying in totality the character of the emergent College culture and the impact of staff selection, marketing and development.

Links between a positive emergent College culture and the model of Staff Selection Criteria utilised at St Andrew's are demonstrated. Consequently, this model may be of interest to other new schools, especially emergent Anglican or other faith-based schools within Australia and internationally. The model can continue to benefit the College in its subsequent stages of development and could also be utilised by other established schools wishing to develop similar characteristics in their organisational cultures.