Quality Mark Accreditation

Many schools that engage with the principles of VbE want formal recognition of their achievements.

We carry out a Quality Mark audit that assesses seven dimensions of VbE.



What is the VbE Quality Mark?

Quality Mark Assessments

When a school first enquires about certification, we allocate a dedicated consultant to help schools manage the straightforward process. Schools can download the self-assessment audit tool at the start of the process. It guides them through compiling evidence of the effectiveness of VbE at their school and forms the basis of our audit. Before we carry out an audit, the consultant will discuss the process and review the school’s self-assessment tool.

Where it is apparent that the school needs to address particular areas in order to attain the quality mark certificate, the consultant will discuss the issues with the school and suggest ways for the school to resolve the issues.

To download the self-assessment tool, click the link below.

What is the VbE Quality Mark audit entail?

Scope of Assessments

Quality mark assessments consider six aspects of a school’s experience for pupils;

The final part of the assessments includes:


Booking a Quality Mark Assessment

To book a quality mark assessment or for more information, click the link below.


The Audit Process

Once it is clear that the school meets the conditions of the quality mark certification scheme, the consultant will visit the school to audit the evidence provided.

Once the audit is complete, we arrange a debriefing session with staff and with the senior leadership team on the day of the audit. We follow it up with a comprehensive report, highlighting and celebrating the school’s achievements and offering suggestions to strengthen or deepen VbE if/as appropriate.

Enhanced Quality Mark Assessments

Quality Mark schools have many opportunities to enhance and embed their values journies.

The Enhanced Quality Mark assessment allows schools to recognise and formalise some of their enhanced achievements. Enhanced quality mark schools must commit to supporting and sharing their values-based experiences with other schools. Schools have complete discretion about the direction their enhancements might take, such as specialisation dimensions of mental health, work on values in the community, research or explicit training/support for other schools.

Quality Mark schools already have a dedicated consultant Schools should discuss their aspirations to attain the enhanced Quality Mark standard, and download an enhanced self-assessment audit tool to help guide them through the process.

Schools can download the enhanced self-assessment audit tool at the start of the process. It guides them through compiling evidence of the effectiveness of VbE at their school and forms the basis of our audit. Before we carry out an audit, the consultant will discuss the process and review the school’s enhanced self-assessment tool.

To download the self-assessment tool, click the link below.

Early Years Quality Mark

The VbE Early Years Quality Mark has been created to recognise and celebrate excellent values-based practice in nursery and pre-school settings.   

It fulfils the criteria outlined for the Values-based Education Quality Mark whilst being adapted for Early Years children, staff and settings. 

Schools can download the early years self-assessment audit tool at the start of the process. It guides them through compiling evidence of the effectiveness of VbE at their school and forms the basis of our audit. Before we carry out an audit, the consultant will discuss the process and review the school’s enhanced self-assessment tool.

To download the self-assessment tool, click the link below.

Staff Quality Mark

The VbE Staff Quality Mark is an independent award to a staff member who makes an outstanding contribution to the awareness and experience of students’ positive, universal values and to the values environment within the school.

Seeking the Quality Mark helps staff to focus on the effectiveness of their values practices.

For teachers, the Quality Mark links directly to professional standards. These have been adapted to include values-based criteria. For non-teaching/support staff, a set of criteria/standards have been created.

To download the staff quality mark self-assessment tools, click the links below.

It guides staff through how well their procedures and practices are focused towards values modelling and values actions, and will steer them towards gathering the evidence needed for the audit.