School Year Wrap-Up: Turning Feedback into Next Year’s Success
As another academic year draws to a close, it’s time to take a thoughtful pause, not just to look back, but to shape what’s next. Stakeholder feedback is one of the most valuable tools schools and trusts have for building a culture of listening, improvement, and trust.
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Share This post offers a practical approach to reviewing the feedback you’ve gathered and planning how to build on it for the year ahead.
Reflect on the past year of feedback
Start by grounding yourself in the journey your school or trust has already been on. The feedback cycle isn’t complete until we stop to understand the impact of what we’ve heard and what we’ve done.
Ask yourself:
- What surveys did we run?
Think back to staff, pupil, and parent surveys, when they happened, and what they aimed to uncover. - What did we learn?
What were the stand-out stats, trends or quotes? What surprised you? - What have we done?
Acknowledge the actions taken, including both quick wins and larger projects already underway. - What still needs to be done?
Be honest. Which areas still require attention? What’s being carried into the next year?
Bring your stakeholders with you on the journey
It’s not just about what you do with the feedback; it’s also about how you close the loop with your community. Use simple, clear communication to show that you’ve been listening:
You said – summarise what you learned from the feedback.
We did – highlight actions already taken.
We’re working on – explain what’s in progress and what will continue to be your focus.
We won’t do – be transparent about what’s not possible and why.
This builds trust and shows respect for every voice that contributed. And it shows you are holding yourself accountable to the priorities and goals you set.
Checklist for wrapping up the year:
✅ Review conclusions from survey analysis
✅ Set clear priorities – urgent and important
✅ Set clear ownership – assign names to priorities
✅ Communicate next steps and deadlines
✅ CELEBRATE! – acknowledge progress and efforts
Planning for the next year
As you wrap up one year, your attention naturally shifts to what lies ahead. The transition between academic years offers a powerful moment, not just for operational planning, but for embedding a culture of continuous improvement through feedback. What you do now to map out your approach to stakeholder voice can determine how effectively you listen, respond, and act in the year to come.
By building feedback into your annual calendar now, you give your teams the time and space to engage deeply with results, communicate clearly, and take meaningful action, without rushing or overloading staff, shifting from being reactive to proactive. It’s also a chance to align trust-wide goals with local priorities, ensuring that everyone is working toward the same vision, with the tools and insights they need.
Choose surveys that fit your needs
Start with your core experience surveys (staff, pupils, parents) and consider whether to add:
- Pulse surveys – small, regular check-ins
- Topic-specific surveys – e.g. behaviour, SEND, sustainability
- Inspection readiness tools – aligned with Ofsted-style questioning
Have a clear plan – use an annual planner
Plot survey timings thoughtfully. Avoid busy periods, and build in breathing room for:
- Prep and communication
- Survey response time
- Result analysis and follow-up
Once you’ve mapped out central surveys, communicate them clearly so schools can confidently plan their own feedback collection around them.
Empower schools to plan their feedback needs
Allow flexibility for contextual, on-the-ground surveys. Whether it’s a “Back to School” check-in, a transition survey, or end-of-year reflections, schools will benefit from clarity about the central plan.
Checklist for planning your next year
✅ Identify key surveys for different levels (trust-wide, school-level)
✅ Mark tentative dates – build in time for PREP → RUN → ANALYSE
✅ Set clear ownership – who is responsible? Who else should be involved?
✅ Plan next steps and deadlines now (including necessary sign-offs)
✅ Explore Edurio resources – toolkits, guides, and the survey library to support your planning
Source: Stakeholder Feedback Hub Guide
Final thought
Feedback isn’t finished when the survey closes. Its true value comes from what happens next: how it’s discussed, shared, and built into the day-to-day life of your school or trust. When feedback is woven into planning, decision-making, and reflection, it stops being a box-ticking exercise and becomes a vital tool for growth.
As you transition between academic years, this is your chance to set the tone for a culture that values listening and learning. Closing the loop with honesty, planning ahead with intention, and involving the right people at every level sends a clear message: stakeholder voice matters here.
By wrapping up the year with purpose and planning the next with care, you’re doing more than completing a process; you’re creating the conditions for meaningful, long-term improvement in your school community. And that’s something truly worth celebrating.