About Values Education School Cluster Projects
Values in Action Schools Project
Values in Action Schools Project Clusters
Values in Action Newsletter
VASP: Work in progress
Values Education Good Practice Schools Projects
Values Education Good Practice Schools Project - Stage 1: Final Report
Values Education Good Practice Schools Project - Stage 2: Final Report
Values Clusters Projects

Background information

What is the Values in Action Schools Project?

VASP, the Values in Action Schools Project, is a national project in which clusters of schools are funded to design, implement and evaluate the outcomes of high quality values education projects. Focused and targeted action research projects have been selected through a competitive application process and funded to deliver quality findings that provide guidance to all Australian schools on how to effectively use values education for the long-term benefit of students, teachers and the whole school community. Funding for VASP reflects an ongoing commitment to values education. It is part of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations 2008-09 National Values Education Program. VASP will build on the significant work that has taken place in schools since the National Framework for Values Education in Australian Schools was sent to all schools in 2005.

Who could apply?

All schools in Australia, through cluster arrangements, were invited to develop a project proposal and apply for grants. School clusters range in size from a minimum of three to a maximum of ten schools.

The final selection of funded cluster projects reflect the broad range of Australian schools and include representation from primary and secondary schools, a mix of school sectors, schools from different contexts, schools from across jurisdictions and systems, and schools from diverse locations.

What grants are available?

School clusters have been funded with grants ranging from approximately $30,000 to $54,000 to design, conduct and evaluate projects demonstrating how effective values education promotes high quality schooling. The outcomes of the Values in Action Schools Project will be shared with the wider Australian education community to foster greater knowledge, understanding and good practice in values education.

What is the VASP timeframe?

The Values in Action Schools Project will be conducted from December 2008 until the end of October 2009. Each cluster project will have approximately eight months of project activity time, allowing for school holidays and project evaluation time.

What are the VASP objectives?

1.   Broad objective

The broad objective of the Values in Action Schools Project is to design and conduct quality values education projects that equip students with:

  • the knowledge, values and attitudes that enable them to be tolerant, respectful and socially inclusive members of society
  • the skills, abilities and resilience for social, emotional and physical wellbeing as confident, engaged learners.

 

2.      Specific objectives

The more specific objectives of VASP are to develop quality school clusters that provide evidence-based outcomes to demonstrate how values education supports:

  • development of social cohesion in school communities
  • improved academic and social outcomes for young Australians
  • building student resilience and wellbeing
  • strategies for improving teacher quality
  • ways in which values in action activities can serve specific school needs
  • all Australian schools in the pursuit of high quality education outcomes.

 

3.      Areas of special interest

The Values in Action Schools Project offers an opportunity for school clusters to explore the links between values education and a number of areas of special interest to the Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations. These include, in particular, the role of values education in:

  • developing student resilience and positive whole-of-school learning environments
  • improving learning through fostering student wellbeing
  • personal action for the achievement of sustainable futures
  • fostering student participation in Australia’s democracy as active and informed citizens
  • developing student awareness and positive behaviours for a socially inclusive community
  • developing positive relationships and mutual understanding in Indigenous, interfaith and intercultural community settings
  • demonstrable improvement in learning engagement and general academic outcomes
  • developing an ethos of service and learning through service to others.

 

4.      Producing evidence-based outcomes

The Values in Action Schools Project aims to identify, produce and evaluate evidence-based outcomes of improved practice in the cluster schools in order to produce valid and useful information that can inform the implementation of values education in all Australian schools. VASP will:

  • provide models of quality practice in values education developed through the clusters’ projects and their evidence-based evaluation
  • gather valid data (evidence) of project outcomes to inform the implementation of sustainable values education approaches
  • disseminate valuable and practical information from school cluster projects that will inform values education practice and teacher professional development within clusters, across clusters and to the broader education community.

 

Who will manage VASP?

Curriculum Corporation is managing VASP on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Curriculum Corporation will work directly with the schools in each cluster, together with a group of University Advisors and local state and territory Values Education Contact Officers, to support the development and successful implementation of high quality values education projects.

VASP also will be supported by a Values Education Project Advisory Committee (VEPAC) representing key national stakeholders from the Australian education community. The Committee will meet from time to time with Curriculum Corporation and DEEWR to review the project progress and provide advice on development and direction.

How will Curriculum Corporation support the school clusters?

Curriculum Corporation will use a variety of approaches to provide advice and assistance to VASP school clusters prior to and during the implementation phase of their projects. This is to ensure the best possible outcomes for the projects and to ensure that key learning and information about leading practice in values education are gathered to inform future developments in Australian schools.

1.      Project manager liaison

Curriculum Corporation will provide dedicated project managers who will be responsible for the direct support of clusters throughout the Values in Action Schools Project.

2.      From project proposal to project plan

Curriculum Corporation staff will work with each school cluster to refine, shape and translate their project proposal into an achievable project plan. The plan will articulate the cluster project objectives, methodology, activities, deliverables, schedule, budget and personnel. Each project plan will be signed off by Curriculum Corporation and by all schools in the cluster project by end February 2009.

3.      University advisors

A university advisor will be identified and matched to each Values in Action Schools Project cluster to work as teacher-educator for the project duration. The role of advisor includes support in cluster project start up; advice on gathering and analysing data, and on reporting project outcomes; support to maintain focus on objectives and outcomes; and advice on pedagogy and professional learning.

4.      Cluster Support Groups

A Cluster Support Group (CSG) will be established for each school cluster. Each CSG will comprise a Curriculum Corporation project manager, the cluster university advisor, the two cluster leaders (the Cluster Coordinator and Deputy Cluster Coordinator) and a state and territory values education contact officer. The CSG for each cluster will conduct an initial onsite visit at the commencement of the project to establish relationships and to support the cluster in developing a manageable and achievable project plan with clear goals and tasks, a workable budget and project management processes. A second CSG meeting later in the project will review project activity, its achievements and the next phase. Other site visits may take place by agreement between Curriculum Corporation and clusters.

5.      National Briefing Sessions

Two National Briefing Sessions will be convened for cluster leaders and university advisors at critical points in the project. The first National Briefing Session will be convened in Melbourne on 10 December 2008. The second will be convened in Canberra prior to the National Values Education Conference 30 April – 1 May 2009. The funding for both briefings will be provided in addition to cluster project grants.

6.      Evaluation Summit

Prior to submission of the cluster final reports, an Evaluation Summit will be convened on 16 October 2009 in Melbourne. The purpose of the summit will be to evaluate the outcomes of projects using a structured and facilitated participatory evaluation methodology. The summit will involve teacher, parent and student representation from each cluster and will provide an innovative means of gathering evidence of change generated by the cluster projects. The Evaluation Summit will also deeply inform the approach of clusters to their final reports. The funding for this activity will be provided in addition to cluster project grants.

7.      Offsite support

Offsite support will be provided by regular formal and informal communication with cluster schools through phone/email contact with project managers, provision of feedback on interim reports and inter- and intra-cluster teleconferencing. Curriculum Corporation may facilitate and host up to two targeted teleconferences for projects at dates determined by project progress to foster the exchange of ideas and information, and support network building.

8.      Online support

Online support will be provided through the Values Education website, which will act as a major portal for the provision of news, information and advice. It will provide an e-library of tools, archives, templates and other materials which will support cross-project interaction and dissemination of professional learning during the Values in Action Schools Project. An online Values Education Newsletter will keep all school communities aware of VASP work and share the activities of partnership projects in the 2008-09 Values Education Program. In addition, a closed online forum site for all project participants will foster cluster discussion group interaction and exchange.