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Key Resources

• VEGPSP Report – Stage 1 (executive summary) (293kb)
• Key elements and approaches that inform good practice (37kb)
• Student agency (42kb)

Engage: Students

• The National Framework identifies support for students as a key element in the delivery of planned and systematic values education.
• Schools are urged to develop programs and strategies to empower students to participate in a positive school culture. The National Framework also emphasises the importance of providing a positive, safe and supportive all-of-school environment for students. Supporting students to engage as active partners and participants in developing a values-centred school culture is seen as an essential component of using values education to improve outcomes in student connectedness, resilience, health, wellbeing, relationships and personal achievement.
• The VEGPSP Report  – Stage 1 identified the development of positive relationships in classrooms, in the school and within the school community as central to values education: 'At the very heart of building values-based schools is the development of positive relationships between students, teachers and parents – in classrooms and schools, and between schools and their school communities. This was central to much of the Good Practice Schools Project Stage 1 work.' (See executive summary)
• Numbers of schools in the VEGPSP Reports - Stages 1 and 2 set out to use forms of explicit values education to address concerns about perceived increases in antisocial behaviour. Many of these reported positive changes in the tone and ethos of the school, ('friendlier, calmer, more respectful and caring'), which was linked to improved attendance and student engagement in learning and less negative behavioural incidents.
• The VEGPSP Report – Stage 2 identifies 'student agency' as one of the ten principles of good practice in values education: '… the role of student empowerment and agency in values education practice has been significantly highlighted in Stage 2. Starting from the premise that schooling educates for the whole child and must necessarily engage a student's heart, mind and actions, effective values education empowers student decision making, fosters student action and assigns real student responsibility.' (Principle 6).