Survey for parents and carers
Year 9 options: parent view
Run straight after options are submitted to check how clear the subject information was, how fair the process and blocks felt, and how confident families and children are about the choices. About 5 minutes to complete.
What respondents read first
This survey asks about your experience of choosing GCSE options with your child this year, so we can make the process better for the next year group. 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 have more than one child in this year group, please answer about one of them. 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
Is this the first of your children to choose options at this school?
- Yes, this is our first
- No, an older child has done this here
This places each answer in a group for the report. It is the only question about the person answering.
Information and advice6
- Question 1.
The information about each subject was clear.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 2.
We got the options information in good time to talk it through at home.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 3.
The school explained clearly which subjects every pupil must take.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 4.
Did you go to the options evening?
Choose one
- Yes, in person
- Yes, online
- No
- Question 5.
The options evening helped us make decisions.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 6.
We were able to ask subject teachers the questions we had.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
Advice for your child1
- Question 7.
The school gives my child good advice about which subjects to choose for GCSE.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
The options process4
- Question 8.
The way options were chosen was fair.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 9.
The option blocks let my child choose the subjects they wanted.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 10.
I know what will happen if my child cannot have one of their choices.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 15.
What one thing would make the options process better for families?
Write your own answer
Your child's choices4
- Question 11.
My child felt free to choose the subjects that suit them.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 12.
My child feels confident about the subjects they have chosen.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 13.
I understand how GCSE grades work, from 9 down to 1.
Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree
- Question 14.
I understand how other courses my child could take, such as vocational courses, differ from GCSEs.
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.
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