The Mary Ward Schools’ Compass

The Mary Ward Schools’ Compass is a guiding educational document for schools in the Mary Ward tradition, developed in 2017 at the Loreto Schools International Education conference held in Pretoria, South Africa. The document applies to Mary Ward schools around the globe, including at Loreto Toorak.

Delegates from twenty one countries, representing over 180 schools worldwide, attended, with a key outcome being the development of the Compass. The compass points the way to a set of shared educational priorities and outcomes for all schools in the Mary Ward tradition.

The Compass identifies eight markers that ensure Mary Ward schools offer educational, co-curricular and student wellbeing programs that are relevant in our ever changing world, and which empower students to become agents of change and stewards of our shared vision, based firmly on our Loreto values, into the future.

The Compass reminds our schools of the centrality of remaining ‘rooted responsive and relevant’ as we strive to create a sense of oneness through our diversity, across the borders of our world. This call is even more relevant as we embrace the union between the Congregation of Jesus and the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary which took place in November 2025.

At Loreto Toorak, the Compass helps focus work both inside and outside our classrooms across all year levels, with teachers planning and delivering a range of programs in line with the directions it sets. Our STRIDE@9 program has a particular emphasis on the Compass points, as it underpins a bespoke course for our Year 9 students encompassing experiences and learning that helps shape them into confident, thoughtful and courageous learners and decision makers.

The Mary Ward Schools’ Compass is a source of inspiration and motivation at Loreto Toorak; a firm reminder of our responsibility as educators to ensure we are educating our students grounded in faith, hope and justice, to be leaders for tomorrow and today.