On this page you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about ethics for high school and ethics education in general.
Ethics Classes
Our classes are taught using a ‘community of inquiry’ with between 8 and 22 students. Experience has taught us that more than 22 in this format is not viable as active participation is a critical component of the lesson.
It’s not a requirement that every ethics class needs a supervising (school) teacher and this is not usual in high school classes.
We do not currently have specific resources for children with special needs, however the school is encouraged to work with the ethics teacher to make sure any additional information or resources (such as a teacher’s aide or special equipment) is made available for the class.
Volunteers will find an online short course in My Training in EVIE about teaching children with additional or special needs.
Depending on the number of students who have opted for ethics, there might be separate Y7 and Y8 classes or combined.
This is the responsibility of the principal or a member of the school staff delegated to coordinate Scripture and Ethics classes.
The Department of Education has developed a participation letter which lists all SEE and SRE options on the same form. This should be provided to all Stage 4 students upon enrolment.
Our curriculum framework is available on this website, including the objectives of each topic. The actual lessons used within each topic are only available to the NSW Department of Education and for use by our volunteers. To assist families in understanding and engaging with our curriculum, we send @Home once a term – a newsletter which provides curriculum outlines and updates.
If there are volunteers available to teach ethics, then classes can start at any time during the school year. New ethics programs sometimes start in Terms 2, 3 and even 4. Principals must strive, in coordination with Primary Ethics, to make the option available to parents who ask for it.
No. The principal is to inform the school community on enrolment as well as via the school website and school newsletter if ethics is available at the school and that parents have the right to the option of ethics for their child. If there is a change to the program – such as a new class – this should also be communicated via the same channels.
School websites should have a section on SRE/SEE with a link to the Primary Ethics website. Ideally, even if there is not yet an ethics program at your school, the school should make it clear to parents that ethics is an option and work with Primary Ethics to start a program when there are trained volunteers.
Principals support SRE and SEE by making adequate facilities available, including learning spaces. Consultation and regular communication will assist in equitably allocating learning spaces for the delivery of SEE. Ensure that all possibilities have been explored – library, school hall, music rooms, even playground spaces with roofing. Classroom allocations are based on common sense and cooperation and we work with the schools to find a solution on a case by case basis.
Volunteering for Primary Ethics
To ensure continuity for students and schools we do ask for a commitment to the end of the current year and preferably for 12 months from new volunteers. While Primary Ethics does have volunteers who teach ethics on a casual basis, they are ethics teachers who have already taught for over a year.
Yes, we have quite a few teachers who elect to teach at two schools, including both primary and high schools. However, this is after first completing a year of teaching ethics in one school.
We’re here to help! Many of our teachers are new to managing a group of school students and we understand it can be a bit of a culture shock. We offer plenty of support options:
-training in behaviour management and child protection
-access to our classroom support team (via Help&Feedback in EVIE)
-telephone support with our volunteer managers
-assistance from your school
-our Chatter discussion forums on EVIE and private Facebook group often cover many issues you might face as a teacher.
Primary Ethics has arranged a discounted checking service via National Crime Check. A link to the application form is provided as part of the volunteer induction process.
If you are able to provide a copy of the original certificate document, it is less than 12 months old and it has a check type of ‘Healthcare and Vulnerable Persons’, we are happy to accept it. Please note that these are the only criteria under which we will accept a pre-existing certificate.
For part time or casual teachers this is possible, however full time Department of Education teachers are not allowed by the terms of their employment to volunteer during their working hours.
All roles with Primary Ethics require an interview as part of the recruitment process. It is preferable to meet with someone face-to-face where feasible, however we appreciate that this is not always possible. We are happy for your interview to take place by phone or online.
Ethics Teacher Training
There are two phases of training for volunteer ethics teachers:
Phase 1: online learning introduces the required knowledge components to prepare you for the training workshop
Phase 2: You can choose either an intensive two-day (9.30am – 4.30pm) face to face training workshop OR an online training course.
High school volunteers then go on to complete more e-learning and a trainer-led online assessment.
Once you are an active volunteer, we provide ongoing online courses and workshops to further develop your skills. We also provide telephone assistance and ongoing access to the classroom support team.
The online and face to face components of training cover:
-Overview of the philosophical framework for the curriculum
-Understanding the community-of-inquiry approach to learning and the role of the teacher as facilitator
-How to use the lesson materials
-Facilitation skills, including non-verbal communication, procedural questioning, neutral responses, managing dominant and timid group members, managing small groups and running activities
-Behaviour management strategies and practice
-Child protection
-Primary Ethics policies and requirements
-Department of Education policies and requirements.
We hold online training workshops throughout the year, at different times of the day and evening to suit most schedules.
Regular face-to-face training is held in various locations around Sydney. We also hold training in regional centres on demand once we have sufficient numbers.
Training is provided free of charge to approved volunteers.
Bookings are essential. There are a number of online and compliance pre-requisites for the workshop. All of our training is copyright protected and may only be delivered to inductee teachers who have undergone our recruitment process. The training is restricted to enrolled persons only.
Primary Ethics - the Organisation
We are a registered charity and the sole authorised provider of special education in ethics to the NSW Department of Education. Find out more about us here.
Primary Ethics is funded entirely by donations from individuals and foundations.
There is no cost to public schools, families or children. The provision of classes costs Primary Ethics approximately $25 per annum per student. This is funded through the generosity of individual and organisational donors.
We would be most grateful if you did! It costs Primary Ethics approximately $25 per student per annum to provide ethics classes. We would welcome your support.
Primary Ethics runs on volunteers – ethics teachers, school ethics coordinators (though not in high schools) or the Classroom Support team. Please get in touch if you have a particular skill you think would be useful to us.