Student Voice Questionnaire.
The Report to Staff
We must remember that this is the pupils’ perception of what happened in their lessons, so
may or may not be a true reflection. We must also consider that some pupils did not
necessarily complete the questionnaire honestly or accurately.
The first section of the questionnaire concentrated on the structure of the lesson. We must
be mindful that not all strategies are appropriate in every lesson or every subject.
Staff achieved high positive responses to the statements “My teacher told the class
what we were going to learn at the start of the lesson” and “My teacher checked we
understood the task before we started it.”
Questioning was used effectively in years 8 (68%) and 10 (73%) but less so in other
year groups, the lowest being 38% in year 7. This can be partly attributed to the
different teaching techniques you would expect to see across the school at any one
time.
In years 8 and 9 pupils were told the level they were working at 52% of the time; in
other year groups this figure was much lower ( year 7 -7%, year 10 - 36% and year 11
-20%). Clearly it is not always appropriate to give levels, but it should be noted that
pupils commented that they liked being told the level they were working at.
In years 7 and 10 54% and 47% respectively had a starter activity, for other year
groups this percentage was far lower. It can be argued that pupils may not be aware
of what is meant by a starter activity or they may have mistaken the starter for part
of the main body of the lessons, however when asked how a lesson could have been
improved a number of pupils commented that they would have enjoyed a fun starter
activity.
The positive response for “We were told the success criteria” ran at between 25%
and 38%. This strategy is not always appropriate in every lesson, and it may also be
the case that teachers are using success criteria but are not flagging it up to pupils.
Are all teachers using a common language in the classroom?
“My teacher gave me/my class feedback” in years 7, 8 and 10 this ran at between
54% and 59%, this could be due to different lesson structures. However feedback
was given in 37% lessons in year 9 and just 26% of lessons in yr11.
The second section of the questionnaire was concerned with pupils perceived lesson
outcomes. Here it was clear that satisfaction decreased with age.
As the age of the year group increased the enjoyment of lessons decreased. In year 7
88% enjoyed their lesson by year 11 this had fallen to 38%.
In yr 10 40% felt they were not challenged, in yr 7 48% were not challenged. In all
other yr groups less then half of the pupils felt challenged by the lesson.
In years 7 and 8 the majority of pupils found the work interesting (yr 7- 83%, yr 8-
80%). In years 9, 10 and 11 just over half the pupils found the work interesting (year9
– 53%, year 8 57% and year 11- 51%).
As the age of the year group increased pupils felt less successful in lessons. In year 7
90% felt successful, by year 11 this had fallen to 56%.
Over 60% of all pupils in all year groups felt they had made progress during the
lesson. Again the lowest positive response rate was in year 11.
Over 60% of all pupils in all year groups agreed that they had learnt something new
during the lesson. The highest positive response rate was year 10 at 79%.
The final section of the questionnaire concentrated on the relationships between staff and
pupils and how teachers are perceived in lessons. The positive response rate was high
throughout and is a testament to the quality teachers we have at Oakdale.
Over 90% of pupils in years 7 and 8 felt they could ask for help in lessons. In yr 9 and
10, 11% and 13% respectively, felt unable to ask for help, this percentage rose to
26% in year 11.
Behaviour in lessons was excellent in years 7 (91%), 8 (96%) and 10 (95%). In year 11
74% agree their class was well behaved and this percentage fell to 72% in year 9.
These results are outstanding.
The majority of pupils in year7, 8 and 10 felt the teacher enjoyed teaching the
subject, with only 4%, 2% and 7% respectively disagreeing with this statement.
However 17% of year 9 believed their teacher did not enjoy teaching the subject and
this rose to 34% in year 11.
The majority of pupils in year7, 8 and 10 felt the teacher enjoyed teaching their class,
with only 1%, 2% and 4% respectively disagreeing with this statement. However 25%
of year 9 believed their teacher did not enjoy teaching their class and this rose to
38% in year 11.
Most pupils feel that their teacher cares about their progress. Again the lowest
satisfaction levels were in years 9 and 11 with 85% and 73% respectively. In all other
year groups the positive response rate was over 90%.
Any thoughts on the way forward would be gratefully received.
What were the best things about the lesson?
Getting a good grade back.
I learnt something new.
She got us all interested with the work, no one had nothing to do.
The best part was that I understand what was said during the lesson.
The group activity.
Being able to talk and interact with other pupils
The activities were fun.
The lesson starter
The teacher is cool, he is fun when teaching
The teacher explained fully
My teacher involved us in the lesson and helped me when I got stuck.
That my teacher gets us all involved and goes over things we don’t get.
Working with others learning new things
Finding out new things. Everyone learnt what they was supposed to
learn
We had a class discussions
We had fun
Everyone together helping each other
The teacher played a fun game to start.
We all enjoy it, its not boring, its something different
We get to decide who to sit with in the class and I think my teacher
trusts us to get on with our work but still have fun
We learnt new facts
The lesson is always a challenge and the teacher makes the work fun and
easy
The teacher helps us.
The teacher told us what level we were working at.
Working in groups
I found the work interesting
Learning new things
The teacher is quite funny and makes the lesson fun
The teacher was very helpful and it was cool
We worked as small groups and discussed our opinions with the class.
How could the lesson have been improved?
Explained it a bit more and recapped
More interactive questions, include pupils more
It should have been more fun.
Make the teacher go slower. Have one on one time with the teacher
Give us fun starter activity
If there was a starter activity
Could have spent more time talking to us about what we have to do.
Less noise from the class
Recapped at the end
By throwing naughty people out of the class.
Teacher needs to start the lesson on time
Don’t use the text book all the time.
She should have recapped the lesson
He should of turned up because everyone was not behaving
The teacher could have talked more
Involve everyone.
Give us feedback
The teacher being more interactive
Explain more about the objective.
More interesting
Report our progress more
Less strict
No pupils favoured
Interact with the class more
Make sure we understand everything
We could have been praised more. I feel disappointed when they say
nothing
If the teacher was there for most of the lesson
Explaining the meaning of words more.
We could have had more help.
Yr 7 Yr8 Yr 9 Yr 10 Yr 11
The lesson had a starter activity 54% 19% 11% 47% 7%
My teacher told the class what we were 66% 89% 72% 80% 62%
going to learn at the start of the lesson
My teacher used questions to involve us in 38% 68% 50% 73% 56%
the lesson
My teacher checked we understood the task 77% 73% 58% 66% 62%
before we started it.
We were told the level/grade we were 7% 52% 52% 36% 20%
working at
We were told the success criteria 34% 34% 25% 38% 26%
My teacher gave me/my class feedback. 55% 54% 37% 59% 26%
My teacher recapped on the main points at 45% 66% 43% 54% 42%
the end of the lesson.
I enjoyed the lesson
Yr Group Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Yr 7 52% 36% 8% 1%
Yr 8 44% 43% 10% 13%
Yr 9 12% 63% 20% 15%
Yr 10 5% 73% 17% 5%
Yr 11 2% 47% 35% 16%
I was challenged
Yr Group Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Yr 7 8% 44% 38% 10%
Yr 8 11% 31% 46% 12%
Yr 9 7% 29% 52% 12%
Yr 10 5% 55% 30% 10%
Yr 11 5% 33% 52% 10%
I found the work interesting
Yr Group Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Yr 7 28% 55% 13% 4%
Yr 8 31% 49% 15% 5%
Yr 9 11% 42% 36% 11%
Yr 10 8% 49% 37% 6%
Yr 11 6% 45% 29% 20%
I felt successful
Yr Group Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Yr 7 35% 55% 8% 2%
Yr 8 23% 55% 18% 4%
Yr 9 17% 49% 29% 5%
Yr 10 17% 50% 28% 5%
Yr 11 5% 51% 36% 8%
I felt like I had made progress
Yr Group Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Yr 7 20% 58% 20% 2%
Yr 8 24% 56% 19% 1%
Yr 9 16% 50% 28% 6%
Yr 10 18% 52% 24% 16%
Yr 11 9% 54% 30% 7%
I learnt something new
Yr Group Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Yr 7 31% 38% 20% 11%
Yr 8 29% 38% 31% 2%
Yr 9 27% 33% 27% 13%
Yr 10 16% 63% 17% 4%
Yr 11 14% 48% 28% 10%
If stuck I felt I could ask for help
Yr Group Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Yr 7 49% 44% 3% 4%
Yr 8 56% 38% 4% 3%
Yr 9 35% 54% 6% 5%
Yr 10 31% 56% 12% 1%
Yr 11 22% 52% 19% 7%
The class is well behaved
Yr Group Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Yr 7 37% 54% 8% 1%
Yr 8 31% 65% 3% 1%
Yr 9 11% 61% 23% 5%
Yr 10 27% 68% 5% 0%
Yr 11 17% 57% 19% 7%
The teacher enjoyed teaching the subject
Yr Group Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Yr 7 56% 42% 0% 1%
Yr 8 48% 58% 2% 0%
Yr 9 15% 68% 11% 6%
Yr 10 30% 63% 4% 3%
Yr 11 10% 54% 24% 10%
The teacher enjoyed teaching my class
Yr Group Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Yr 7 48% 48% 3% 1%
Yr 8 40% 58% 2% 0%
Yr 9 7% 67% 19% 6%
Yr 10 30% 63% 5% 2%
Yr 11 9% 53% 26% 12%
I feel the teacher cares about my progress
Yr Group Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Yr 7 54% 37% 8% 1%
Yr 8 49% 45% 6% 0%
Yr 9 23% 62% 11% 4%
Yr 10 33% 55% 9% 3%
Yr 11 24% 53% 13% 12%