Project 1: Managing Controversy: A Whole-

School Training Tool

Countries involved:
Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, Montenegro, and the United Kingdom with the support of Albania,
France and Sweden

Overall objective:
 To develop a training tool on Managing Controversy in Schools which offers practical
support to school leaders/senior managers on how to proactively manage and react to
controversial issues in and beyond the school.

Expected outcomes:
 A whole school training tool on handling controversial issues is developed and
piloted;
 A scoping paper - on why school leaders/senior managers in schools play a crucial
role in managing controversial issues in schools is developed;
 A practical ‘How to’ guide -  on providing answers and guidance in relation to the
FAQs for school leaders/senior managers concerning managing proactively and
reactively controversial issues is produced;
 An on-line self-evaluation matrix – on key aspects of school policies and practices that
impact on how well schools manage controversy so that school leaders/senior
managers (primary and secondary) can see where their schools are ‘at’ and plan for
further actions is developed;
 The training tool is integrated into existing Education for Democratic Citizenship /
Human Rights Education (EDC/HRE) activities by the Council of Europe, including
Pestalozzi training, member states and partner organisations, such as the European
Wergeland Centre and the Summer Academy programme