The Connection

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In challenged communities, schools provide much more than a place of learning.

School leaders have a very important role to play in the lives of their students and communities.

Great school leaders create conditions that enable both outstanding education and successful social outcomes for each and every student. This is particularly vital in lower socioeconomic regions.

The SVA Bright Spots Schools Connection (The Connection) is a network of high-performing school leaders across Australia, delivering exceptional results within communities experiencing disadvantage.

The Connection brings together highly experienced educators and emerging leaders within a collaborative framework, exposing school leadership teams to best practice and innovative thinking from all over the world.

By connecting, leveraging and supporting these ‘bright spots’ in the Australian education system, The Connection gives school leaders the chance to address common challenges and drive evidence-informed action in their schools.

The outcomes and findings from The Connection are shared continually, both formally and informally, with school leaders, government partners and supporters.

Schools in The Connection

The Connection has a growing network of 50 schools across New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria, already reaching more than 2,800 educators and approximately 30,000 students in Australia.

Powerhouse Schools

Schools that have demonstrated outstanding outcomes despite challenging circumstances.

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Star Hub Schools

Schools that are ready to implement initiatives to improve outcomes for their students.

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STEM Learning Hub Schools

Schools in communities where STEM expertise and support are needed most.

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Alumni Hub

Schools who have continued their engagement in our network to continue to improve outcomes.

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Connection online platform

With the Ian Potter Foundation‘s support, we developed an online platform for Connection schools to collaborate, communicate, and problem-solve across borders.

The platform centralises information, makes it easier for leaders to share expertise, and encourages engagement for those with more limited resources.

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Our brand values

Collaboration

We convene education leaders across systems working together to take shared responsibility for action, accountability and success to improve educational outcomes for all students.

Connection

We purposefully cultivate new connections and convene opportunities for schools that supports them to achieve their goals and grow impact for learning through action together.

Trust

We build an environment where school leaders feel safe to share expertise and become willing learners for the shared purpose of achieving education excellence and equity in their communities.

Equity

We increase equitable access to resources, practices and opportunities for all students to thrive in their learning.

Inspiration

We leverage the shared exchange of knowledge, evidence and expertise from leading educators across systems, to create opportunity to accelerate evidence informed innovation and grow effective teaching and learning practice that will lead systems forward.

Agility

We support responsive adaption to changing circumstances and competing demands, while designing to overcome and address challenges presented within education communities serving diverse cohorts with complex needs.

Activities and events

Thought Leadership Gatherings

Quarterly two-day events presented by experts from key fields in education.

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Hub Days

School leaders gather in local clusters to work collaboratively on the challenges and opportunities presented by individual schools.

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International Exploration

School leaders undertake structured overseas learning visits to engage with creative, evidence-based practices beyond the Australian education landscape.

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