Surviving secondary school: Initial student survey

I've been teaching for over 20 years now and have written a book about teaching for teachers. With my own first child going to secondary school in September, I really want to do some research into what young people actually think - about school, about their teachers, about their subjects. I'd like to find out about how young people really, honestly feel and how we (that's as parents AND teachers) can best support you through the secondary years, and how we can help you to be successful and happy in adulthood.

You won't be asked for your full name OR the name of your school. Whether you share an email address or not is up to you and I will only use it either to share the research with you or ask you follow-up questions related directly to this project. Your parents/carers won't be able to see what you write unless you want to show it to them.

Thank you so much for your time. Your voices are the most important of all.

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* 1. Please give your FIRST NAME ONLY. This will not be shared with anyone else.

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* 2. OPTIONAL: Please provide an email address I can contact you on. This will not be shared and I would only use it to contact you for further information regarding this research.

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* 3. OPTIONAL: Please provide the first and surname of a parent/carer who has completed the parents' survey. They won't see what you wrote and you won't see what they wrote (unless either of you choose to share) but it will be interesting to compare parent/carer views with yours!

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* 4. What is your gender?

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* 5. What school year are you in?

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* 6. What sort of school do you attend? (You may select all relevant options)

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* 7. Which of these terms most accurately describe you? (You may select more than one or provide your own.)

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* 8. Is there anything at home or at school which is stopping you from doing as well as you can in your studies at the moment? Please describe this briefly.

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* 9. Complete the following sentence. 'The best teachers are....'

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* 10. Complete the following sentence. 'The worst teachers are...'

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* 11. Please complete the following sentence. ' I learn best when...'

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* 12. Please complete the following sentence. 'I don't learn well when...'

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* 13. What hopes and dreams to you have for when you become an adult?

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* 14. What are you biggest worries about becoming an adult?

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* 15. Please indicate below how often these things cause problems/arguments/tension at home.

  Never Occasionally (once or twice a month) Sometimes (about once a week) Often (twice or three times a week) Very frequently (at least 4 times a week)
Homework
Revision
Exams, assessments or tests
Online interactions
Going out
Friendship groups
Screen time (computer, TV or games)
Your child's behaviour/conduct at school
Poor or inadequate teachers or teaching
Bullying
Romantic relationships (yours)

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* 16. Are there other factors, not named above, which cause stress or arguments at home?

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* 17. Please indicate how often the following help to support you with school and learning

  Never Occasionally (once or twice a month) Sometimes (about once a week) Often (twice or three times a week) Very frequently (at least 4 times a week)
Honest conversations about school
Time outdoors
Meals as a family
Quality time for leisure activities
Regular sporting activities
Music or the arts
Time with a pet or animal

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* 18. Are there other factors, not named above, which help you feel happy and successful in your education?

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* 19. Please indicate your level of agreement with the statements below.

  Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree N/A
I enjoy school
I'm doing well at school
I'm clever/intelligent
Education is important to me
I'd like to go to university
My parents are supportive of my education
I'd like to start earning money as soon as I can
I understand how my teachers are assessing me through exams and tests and what I need to do to do well
I sleep with a phone/iPod/iPod within reach of my bed
I want to do well in my exams
I always have my equipment and books ready at school
My teachers are good at their jobs
I organise my time well
I get enough sleep each night
I'm confident that I will do well in my exams
If I'm worried about something at school, there's someone I can talk to and I know they will help me sort it out
I know how to revise for tests and exams
My parents get involved with my school work - they go to parents' evenings regularly and ask about what I'm studying
My parents can help me with my school work
I get on well with my teachers - I like them
I feel safe at school
My parents listen to me when I have problems at school 
The amount and type of homework I get is about right
My teachers understand me and how I learn - they listen to me
Bad behaviour from students is dealt with well by my teachers
My work at school is challenging - it stretches my brain
I can choose the subjects I really want to study at school
It’s important to my family that I do well at school
I worry I will let my family down if I don’t do well at school

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* 20. What’s your favourite subject? Why?

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* 21. What’s your least favourite subject? Why?

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* 22. What frightens you about school (if anything)?

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* 23. Thank you so much for your time. If you wish to add anything, please use the box below to do so.

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