Survey for staff
Middle leaders: capacity and support
Shows whether middle leaders have the clarity, time, line management and influence to lead well, and whether they are being developed for senior roles. Best run in the autumn term. Results need 10 responses in each group, so it works best in larger schools or across a trust. About 5 minutes to complete.
What respondents read first
This survey is for middle leaders, including subject, year and pastoral leads. It asks about the clarity of your role, your time to lead, the support you get and your influence on whole-school decisions. It takes about 5 minutes and is anonymous: the school cannot see who answered, and results are only shown for groups of 10 or more. Written comments are read by the school. If one suggests that a child or an adult may be at risk of harm, including a concern about the conduct of someone who works with children, it goes straight to the school's safeguarding lead and is kept out of the report.
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 10 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
What do you mainly lead?
- A subject or department
- A year group or pastoral area
- Something else
This places each answer in a group for the report. It is the only question about the person answering.
Role and time to lead5
- Question 1.
Overall, I am able to lead my area effectively.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 2.
I am clear about what I am accountable for in my leadership role.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 3.
I have enough time in the week to lead my area well.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 4.
My leadership time is protected from being used for other things.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 15.
What one change would give you more capacity to lead your area well?
Write your own answer
Line management4
- Question 5.
My one-to-ones with my line manager are useful.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 6.
My line manager speaks up for me with SLT when it is needed.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 7.
I have enough time to line manage the people I am responsible for.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 8.
I have had training in how to line manage people.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
Data and quality assurance2
- Question 9.
The quality assurance I am asked to carry out helps to improve my area.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 10.
The data I am asked to analyse and report on is a manageable amount.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
Influence and support3
- Question 11.
Middle leaders have a real say in whole-school decisions.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 12.
I hear about whole-school decisions early enough to prepare my team.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 13.
Senior leaders support me when I need to tackle underperformance in my team.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
Development1
- Question 14.
If I wanted to move into senior leadership, I would get the development I need here.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
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.
Start this survey freeRelated surveys
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