From Hors D'oevres to Main Course!

Completion of the Alphacrucis NECSTEP* Research:
Publications, SETS Framework and More

​*Alphacrucis University College NECSTEP (National Embedded Cross Sector Teacher Education Pilot)

Research Publications

Continuing our food metaphor for the NECSTEP project, we have moved on from afternoon tea cupcakes to the main meal.  After discovering that sustained engagement was central to bonding the other factors for school embedded teacher training in Phase 1 of the project, the research team began to take the findings and develop some bite-sized pieces to share with the wider academic world. Three articles have been submitted to journals for review showcasing areas of the research. 
 
These areas include: 

1. A case study of the overall NECSTEP project  
2. An exploration of the central bond (Sustained Engagement)  
3. A zoom in on the key ingredient, Mentoring, in the teaching school model 

 
​We are excited to share where you can read these in the coming year. 

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School Embedded Teacher Support (SETS) Framework

The results of this project through Phase I and Phase II included input from every sector of the pre-service teacher training journey. This has allowed us to develop a framework to support mentors and pre-service teachers in their consideration of ‘professional readiness’. The School Embedded Teacher Support (SETS) Framework is a valuable resource that allows mentors and pre-service teachers to focus on elements of readiness as identified by YOU – the pre-service teachers, mentors, principals, Teaching Hub directors and ITE providers. 
 
To aid the implementation of the SETS Framework, it is accompanied by the SETS Guidebook, explaining some of the background of the research, the elements of readiness, and a how-to guide for optimal use of the framework in your context. The SETS Framework with Guidebook will be launched at the NICE Symposium at Alphacrucis in May 2026. ​

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Research Informed Mentoring Courses

Alphacrucis University College has also developed a Graduate Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring which includes identified needs from teaching schools as found in the NECSTEP research.  

AC is also offering an online self-paced short-course for Mentoring Pre-Service Teachers.  This affordable short-course will also be further discounted for AC partners in 2026. ​

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Thank you for the part you have contributed to this important body of research at this critical time in the education sector.  We will be continuing to work with the data from both stages of the project to explore other areas of research and further publications.   ​

For more information:

Contact 
Ms. Cassandra Pendlebury
Alphacrucis (AC) National Teaching School Partnerships Director
[email protected]

​NECSTEP research team
Dr. Rachel Perry (ACU),
Associate Professor Susan Westraad (AC),
Associate Professor Tony Loughland (UNSW),
Professor Johannes Luetz (AC)
​Ms. Cassandra Pendlebury (AC),
Dr. Vanessa Miller (AC),
Mrs. Emily Shea (AC)