- Why has my school been chosen to take part?
-
In the first year of the study, a sample of secondary schools in
England was selected at random to take part. Schools were selected
using Edubase, a database of schools in England held by the
Department for Education. In the second year of the study we are
returning to all the schools who took part in the first year.
- What is the benefit for schools taking part in the study?
-
We will be able to provide overall results for your school
compared with other schools in England (for example on levels of
educational aspiration among pupils, attitudes to school and
learning). Participating schools will also be sent national and
cross-national findings.
The findings will be of benefit to young people and to those
working in education because they will aid understanding of how
young people's achievements are influenced by their backgrounds,
attitudes and social relationships.
- What does taking part in the study involve for schools?
-
In the first year of the study we typically included two Year 10
classes per school in the study. Young people were asked to
complete a questionnaire, some exercises and a short assessment in
a classroom setting. The classroom sessions took a maximum of 80
minutes. There was also a short questionnaire for two class
teachers to complete.
In the second year of the study we would like to return to each
school to ask the young people to complete another questionnaire so
we can see how their experiences and attitudes develop (this
session will take about 40 minutes).
- How are pupils selected?
-
In the first year of the study, two Year 10 classes at the
school were selected at random to take part. We asked all pupils in
these classes to take part in the study.
In the second year of the study we would like the same pupils to
take part again - as well as any pupils who have joined the class
since last year.
- How are interviews with pupils arranged?
-
An interviewer from NatCen will contact your school to arrange a
mutually convenient date and time for administering the
questionnaires.
- How are parents told that their child is taking part?
-
Schools will receive letters to send to parents notifying them
that their child has been selected to take part in the survey.
Parents are able to opt out if they do not wish their child to
participate in the survey.
- Does the teacher need to be present?
-
No. Teachers are not required to be present throughout the
session. A NatCen interviewer will supervise the sessions.
- Will a lot of the teachers’ time be taken up?
-
Our well established survey process has been set up to ensure
minimal burden is placed on teachers, whilst the majority of the
survey administration and supervision is taken on by our NatCen
interviewers.
- What about confidentiality?
-
The information provided by you will be used for research
purposes only and will be treated in strict confidence in
accordance with the Data Protection Act.
Participation in the study is voluntary and the information we
collect will be treated in strict confidence, in accordance with
the Data Protection Act and will not be reported in any way that
could identify schools or individual pupils.
More information about how your data will be used can be found
here.
