In July 2016, we invited feedback from parents through our annual parent survey. More parents than ever before completed the survey, with 172 completed surveys. The survey comprised 21 questions, the majority of which were the same as in 2015 to allow year to year comparisons. The full results were considered by the Full Governing Body in October. A summary of the results of the survey are published on the school’s website.
Overall the results were at least as positive or even more so than in 2015, and compared favorably with national benchmarks. For example, the vast majority of parents (93%) reported that their child was happy at school; there was an increase in the proportion of parents who would recommend the school to family and friends (92%); and parents reported high levels of satisfaction with their child’s progress at school (91%).
As well as providing numbers, the survey gives parents an opportunity to write comments on the questions asked, and on any other issues they want to raise. We received hundreds and hundreds of comments, which the Governors and the school leadership have reviewed in detail. Again, these were overwhelmingly positive, but there was also lots of good and challenging feedback for us to work on.
Two specific issues where the survey feedback has been particularly useful are: i) more work to improve how the school communicates with parents, and ii) continuing to improve behaviour generally across the school and improving the way that the school deals with the (thankfully rare) instances of bullying. Both of these were already priorities for the school, and are areas where the parent survey feedback has been particularly helpful in shaping our plans.
Of course, the parent survey is just one of the ways that we gather feedback on what’s happening at Morley. The school leadership and Governing Body work hard to make sure that we regularly gather feedback formally and informally from parents, pupils, and staff. If you have any questions or ideas, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.