Parent Surveys

Quick guide to surveys for parent feedback

Gathering feedback from parents isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a cornerstone of a well-rounded educational environment. This brief guide looks at how educators and school administrators can fruitfully use surveys to collect invaluable parental feedback. After all, parents are the silent partners in children's educational journeys.

Why parental feedback matters

Parents hold a pivotal role in the educational ecosystem. Their insights offer a unique vantage point: a blend of emotional investment and analytical distance that neither teachers nor their pupils can provide. Parental feedback can aid in fine-tuning educational programmes, enhancing facilities, and even shaping school policies.

Types of surveys to consider

Paper-based questionnaires

These are the classic paper-and-pencil methods we all know. Some pros of this collection method include their convenience (for the participant at least) and the ease of distribution in some settings. Also, there are no tech barriers for less digitally savvy parents. Some cons include the additional time required to collate and analyse your responses, and the potential for lost, incomplete or illegible submissions.

Online surveys

The digital counterpart to paper questionnaires, online surveys are often quicker and more convenient for both parties. They are ideal for when you need results swiftly for decision-making. Two notable pros of online surveys are the fact that automated analysis is possible, and that they are easy to modify and update. Some cons are the need for internet access (although kiosk surveys can help here) and the risk of lower completion rates if the survey is not optimised for mobile (our themes are all mobile ready).

Face-to-face interviews

This traditional method can often yield the most insightful feedback, and are best reserved for in-depth investigations into specific issues, often as a follow-up to broad surveys. Some of the pros of face-to-face feedback include the opportunity for deep, nuanced responses, and the ability to clarify questions if required. Some negatives include the fact that this method can be time-consuming, and the requirement for scheduling and the potential to be logistically challenging.

Designing your parent survey

Selecting the right questions

Crafting effective questions is more art than science. Consider mixing open-ended and closed-ended questions. The former gives parents the freedom to express their thoughts, while the latter allows for straightforward quantitative analysis.

The importance of anonymity

Anonymity can often be the key that unlocks honest and detailed responses. No one wants to be the parent who complains and then becomes the topic of discussion in the teachers' lounge. Whilst any good online platform will naturally allow for anonymous responses, for paper-based methods, setting up anonymous drop boxes can be effective.

Pilot testing your survey

Before diving headlong into the main survey, a small-scale pilot test is often a good idea. It helps iron out kinks and ensures that you're asking the right questions in the right way.

Distributing your survey

Optimal times to distribute

Think about the school calendar when planning your survey distribution. Avoid exam periods or holiday seasons when parents are less likely to engage.

Methods of distribution

For physical handouts, parent-teacher meetings can serve as an excellent platform. Digital methods, like emails or notifications through a parent portal, work well for online surveys.

Analysing and interpreting results

Quantitative analysis

Tools like spreadsheets or specialised software such as SmartSurvey can help sort the numbers. Look for trends, outliers, and correlations that could reveal actionable insights.

Qualitative analysis

Textual feedback might be more challenging to analyse, but it's often where the gold lies. Don't ignore it; use text analysis tools or manual review to delve into these responses.

Making data-driven decisions

The real litmus test of any survey is how its findings are employed. Make sure to loop back and inform stakeholders – both internal, like teachers and school support staff, and external, like parents and community members – about any action steps.

Final recommendations

To wrap things up, here are some quick tips:

- Keep surveys concise; respect parents' time

- Use straightforward language; avoid jargon

- Be transparent about how the data will be used

- Set a clear deadline for responses

- Send reminders, but don't overdo it

School surveys, when done right, can be incredibly enriching for your educational community. So why not get started on your next one? To help you get up and running quickly we have a growing collection of educational survey templates as well as sample questions for you to use (find a brief summary below or see our longer list of example parent questions).

Example parent survey questions

Crafting the right questions is pivotal for a successful parent survey. The type of questions you pose can deeply impact the kind of answers you receive, so let's review the basics before looking at some examples.

Multiple choice questions are straightforward; they offer a few predefined choices and respondents tick the one that resonates most. Likert scale questions probe deeper, asking respondents to rate their sentiments on a scale, usually from "Strongly Disagree" to "Strongly Agree." Open questions let people offer their thoughts freely, using either a single text box or a longer essay box, but they can be labour-intensive to analyse.

These are some common question types, but there are many more you could use, from matrix questions to ranking and rating questions (for more on your choices, see our run down of survey question types).

Now, onto the sample questions.

Multiple choice

How do you usually receive updates from the school?

• Email
• Text Message
• School App
• Other

Likert scale

The school's facilities meet my child's educational needs.

• Strongly Disagree
• Disagree
• Neutral
• Agree
• Strongly Agree

Communication between school and parents is effective.

• Strongly Disagree
• Disagree
• Neutral
• Agree
• Strongly Agree

Open questions

What suggestions do you have for improving school safety measures?

Can you describe your experiences with our school's online learning platforms?

What extracurricular activities would you like the school to offer?

Mixed types

How satisfied are you with the current school meal options? (Likert Scale)

• Very Unsatisfied
• Unsatisfied
• Neutral
• Satisfied
• Very Satisfied
• If unsatisfied, what changes would you recommend? (Free text)

How often do you engage in your child's homework? (Multiple choice)

• Never
• Rarely
• Sometimes
• Often
• Always
• Any particular reason? (Free text)

Do you feel the school accommodates special educational needs effectively? (Likert scale)

• Strongly Disagree
• Disagree
• Neutral
• Agree
• Strongly Agree
• Please elaborate. (Free text)

How convenient is the school's location for you? (Multiple choice)

• Very Inconvenient
• Inconvenient
• Neutral
• Convenient
• Very Convenient
• Do you have any travel-related issues? Share them here. (Free text)

For even more ideas, see our longer list of 30 parent survey questions.