Inquiring about values: Enhancing consultation through critical research ethics

If schools wish to be more inclusive by reflecting the communities they serve, paying deliberate attention to embedded values can be helpful. This article describes thinking and actions set in a school with a history of attending to values. It suggests that when consulting on values, the ethics of critical research can enhance the process of inquiry. This happens if the values that are present in how we inquire are brought to the surface to complement the values-based information we learn. This is not an easy matter. It is a journey that involves a balance between leadership and consultation, and that prioritises listening as widely as possible in ways that can lead to change.