Advice

Title

Surveys to measure school performance

Purpose

This advice sets out requirements for schools to participate in surveys (and provide other data to measure aspects of school performance.

Overview

Schools must participate in the Department’s annual student, parent and staff opinion surveys to generate data for School Performance Reporting and standardised reporting to the school community.

Schools must complete administration tasks to facilitate the survey collection in their school according to the Department’s instructions and timeline.

The Department provides a standard survey instrument to all schools (with differentiation for various participant characteristics), provides access to a secure online survey platform and reports survey results to schools.

Policy

Participation in annual student, parent and staff opinion surveys helps schools and the Department plan, monitor and evaluate school improvement initiatives. The surveys are aligned with the Framework for Improving Student Outcomes and reflect current research and evidence about what matters most to improve student outcomes.

The Department may change these surveys or introduce new surveys for all schools, or a subset of schools, to further enhance system or school reporting.

Student Attitudes to School Survey

• conducted annually in Term 2
• all students in Years 4-12 are invited to participate.
• differentiated versions of the survey provided for year level groups and for students with cognitive impairment
• schools facilitate collection with students during school time
• survey provider contacts all schools late in term 1 with information and instructions for facilitating the survey with students.

Parent Opinion Survey

• conducted annually in Term 3
• schools invite a random sample of parents to complete the survey
• some differentiation based on school type
• survey provider contacts all schools late in Term 2 with information and instructions for distributing the survey to parents.
• schools distribute the survey link to parents

School Staff Survey

This survey is an opportunity for staff employed in Victorian government schools to provide feedback on components of the school environment proven by research to have an effect on student outcomes.

• conducted annually in Term 3
• all staff, teaching and non-teaching are invited to participate. Individual staff participation is voluntary
• survey is differentiated based on role classification (principal, teacher, education support) and whether staff spend time in the classroom.
• survey provider contacts principals in Term 2 with information and instructions about customising the survey for staff in their school
• survey provider contacts staff directly to provide a link to complete the survey

About You – student health and wellbeing survey

• conducted in Term 2 and 3
• students in Year 7, 8, 10 and 11 are invited to participate
• schools facilitate collection with students during school time
• survey provider contacts all schools in Term 2 with information and instructions for completing the survey

Related policies or advice

• School performance data
• Provide student outcomes data through CASES21
• Providing school-level data
• Research in schools