Survey for parents and carers
Cost of the school day
Shows where the cost of uniform, kit, trips, equipment, food and clubs is a barrier for families, and how often children miss out, to inform your charging policy and Pupil Premium strategy. Best run in early spring. About 5 minutes to complete.
What respondents read first
This survey asks about the cost of school for your family, such as uniform, trips, clubs and food. It helps the school keep costs down and make sure no child misses out. It takes about 5 minutes. It is anonymous: the school cannot see who answered, and results are only shown for groups of 5 or more. If you write something that makes us worried about a child's safety, the school's safeguarding lead will see that comment so they can help.
How anonymity works in this survey
- The school cannot see who answered. Nothing is reported until 10 people have answered.
- A group, such as one role or one year group, is shown only when 5 or more people in it have answered. Smaller groups are hidden.
- An answer chosen by fewer than 5 people is hidden, along with enough others that it cannot be worked out by subtraction.
- Written comments appear only once 10 people have answered.
The questions
Numbered in the order respondents see them.
Respondents choose
Which year is your child in?
- Nursery (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Reception (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 1 (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 2 (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 3 (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 4 (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 5 (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 6 (offered in primary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 7 (offered in secondary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 8 (offered in secondary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 9 (offered in secondary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 10 (offered in secondary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 11 (offered in secondary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 12 (offered in secondary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
- Year 13 (offered in secondary, all-through, special and alternative provision schools)
This places each answer in a group for the report. It is the only question about the person answering.
Cost of the school day18
- Question 1.
The cost of school uniform is affordable for our family.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 2.
My child can wear plain items without the school logo for most of their uniform.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 3.
The school makes it easy to get second-hand uniform.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 4.
The cost of PE kit is affordable for our family.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 5.
My child has the equipment they need for lessons.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 6.
We can afford the technology my child needs for schoolwork at home, such as a device or internet.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 7.
The cost of trips and activities is affordable for our family.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 8.
We are told about trips early enough to save up for them.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 9.
The cost of paid clubs and activities is affordable for our family.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 10.
School meals are good value for money.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 11.
The school keeps the cost of dress-up days and charity days low.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 12.
In the last year, has your child missed out on a trip, club or activity because of the cost?
Choose one
- No
- Yes, once
- Yes, more than once
- I would rather not say
- Question 13.
What did your child miss out on because of the cost? Choose all that apply.
Choose any that apply
- A day trip
- A residential trip
- A club or activity
- Music lessons
- A dress-up or non-uniform day
- A school event, such as a disco or fair
- Equipment or materials for lessons
- Something else
- Prefer not to say
- Question 14.
The school tells us about help with costs, for example free school meals.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 15.
I would feel comfortable asking the school for help with costs.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 16.
If the school knew a family was short of money, it would treat them with respect.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 17.
The school does what it can to keep the cost of the school day low.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 18.
What one change would make the school day cost less for your family?
Write your own answer
Free to run. The full report is £149.
Running it is free and gives you the headline result, with strengths and priorities. The full report adds every chart, comments grouped into themes and briefing slides.
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