Which survey type is best for your school or trust

13 January, 2025

Which Survey Type Is Best for Your School or Trust

Find out which survey type can help your school or trust make well-informed, data-driven decisions.

Stakeholder feedback is about understanding what people in your school or trust think, feel, and experience. While academic data, such as exam results, measures performance, non-academic data, like stakeholder feedback, provides equally vital insights into how a school operates and how stakeholders feel about it.

This non-academic data is crucial because research shows a link between wellbeing and outcomes. For example, if people are unhappy, they may achieve less than they otherwise could.

By collecting stakeholder feedback strategically and using tools like pulse surveys to check in regularly, you can positively influence your school’s people and culture. See some examples here.

However, it’s essential to approach this process thoughtfully to maximise its benefits.

Which Survey Type Suits Your Needs?

Let’s start by exploring the differences between the survey types we offer at Edurio.

Survey options matrix

Experience Surveys

Experience surveys are our speciality, and we have been helping schools and trusts run them for years.

These surveys take a broad view of key factors, helping schools and trusts set strategic priorities and identify areas for improvement.

With Edurio’s comprehensive benchmarking, you can compare stakeholder experiences nationally and gain a clear picture of how your school or trust is performing.

Examples of our experience surveys include:

Pulse Surveys

Pulse surveys allow schools and trusts to stay agile by running frequent surveys to track changes in stakeholder sentiment. These short, focused surveys are ideal for quick check-ins or monitoring trends over time. Pulse surveys are especially useful after an experience survey to:

  • Guide priorities.
  • Track progress in key areas.
  • Ensure stakeholders see improvements.

Examples of our pulse surveys include:

Topic Surveys

Topic surveys dive deep into specific areas such as staff professional development, parental engagement, or pupil behaviour.

These one-off surveys offer detailed insights for addressing particular challenges. Unlike pulse surveys, topic surveys are longer and provide a focused look at specific issues.

For example, running topic surveys for staff, parents, and pupils on the same issue, like attendance, provides a 360° view. This approach helps identify where views align, where they differ, and what to prioritise to address concerns effectively.

Examples of our topic surveys include:

External Review Surveys

External review surveys help schools and trusts confidently prepare for inspections. They are tailored to align with frameworks from Ofsted or the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

These surveys provide targeted insights to:

  • Highlight areas for improvement.
  • Support inspection readiness.

With specific options for maintained schools, trusts, and independent schools, you’ll have the right tools to gather actionable data and prepare for external inspections.

Examples of our external review surveys include:

Explore 50+ survey templates

Start planning your year of surveying today.

Best Practice for Pulse Surveys

Pulse surveys are a powerful tool for monitoring stakeholder sentiment, but success depends on following best practices. Here are three key tips.

Schedule Regularly

Pulse surveys work best when conducted at regular intervals, such as monthly or termly. They’re most effective when paired with an experience survey to track the impact of changes over time.

To improve response rates, allocate time during staff meetings or other routine gatherings for stakeholders to complete the survey.

Use Consistent Questions and Terminology

For reliable results, pulse surveys should use the same questions each time. Repeating the same questions in each survey without altering the language ensures responses can be compared over time to identify trends and changes accurately.

Additionally, be clear about the time frame respondents should consider, such as the past week or month, to ensure the data is meaningful and actionable.

Communicate Clearly

Encourage participation by explaining the purpose of the pulse survey and how the results will be used. Transparency builds trust and encourages buy-in from staff, parents, and pupils.

Furthermore, thanking respondents for their feedback and time and following through on proposed actions shows that you are listening as an organisation and value the feedback you are given.

Edurio Unlimited

With Edurio Unlimited, you’ll have access to all four survey types on our platform. Our offering includes:

  • Over 50 survey templates designed for a range of stakeholders.
  • A new survey builder to create bespoke surveys.
  • National and trust-specific benchmarking.

The flexibility of Edurio Unlimited ensures you’re equipped to address your school or trust’s unique needs.

Why Choose Edurio?

  • Tailored Insights: Designed with input from school leaders and staff to meet your priorities.
  • Benchmarking Excellence: Compare results nationally and internally to track progress.
  • Flexibility and Adaptability: Access the latest tools to support your goals.

Book a demo today to see how Edurio can support your school or trust with effective stakeholder feedback tools, including pulse surveys.

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