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Benchmark.Pulse

Survey for staff

Leading several subjects in a small school

Asks teachers who lead more than one subject about time for monitoring, subject knowledge, access to trust or cluster networks and the effect on their wellbeing, so you can share the load more fairly. It works best run across a trust or cluster, because results are only shown once 10 people have answered. About 4 minutes to complete.

What respondents read first

This survey is for teachers who lead subjects or areas. It asks about your time and support as a subject leader, so the load can be shared more fairly. It takes about 4 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.
Fig. 1  The opening screen, word for word.

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.

See the anonymity rules working

The questions

Numbered in the order respondents see them.

Arrange the questions

Respondents choose

How many subjects or areas do you lead?

  • 1
  • 2 or 3
  • 4 or more

This places each answer in a group for the report. It is the only question about the person answering.

Subject leadership10

  1. Question 1.

    I am clear what is expected of me as a subject leader.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  2. Question 2.

    I can lead all my subjects well with the time I have.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  3. Question 3.

    I have protected time to see how my subjects are taught across the school.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  4. Question 4.

    In a typical half term, how much protected time do you get for subject leadership?

    Choose one

    • None
    • Up to half a day
    • More than half a day, up to a full day
    • More than a full day
  5. Question 6.

    I have the subject knowledge I need to lead each of my subjects.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  6. Question 7.

    I understand how pupils' knowledge in my subjects should build from year to year.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  7. Question 8.

    I have had training in how to lead a subject.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  8. Question 9.

    I would feel confident talking a governor or visitor through the curriculum in each of my subjects.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  9. Question 14.

    Senior leaders are realistic about what one person can do across several subjects.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  10. Question 15.

    What one change would most help you lead your subjects well?

    Write your own answer

Curriculum1

  1. Question 5.

    I have enough time to develop the curriculum in the area I lead.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

Trust and cluster networks2

  1. Question 10.

    I can get advice from subject specialists in other schools in the trust or cluster.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

  2. Question 11.

    I am given time to attend subject networks outside my school.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

Workload1

  1. Question 12.

    My workload is manageable.

    Agree scale: five points, strongly disagree to strongly agree

Wellbeing1

  1. Question 13.

    I can lead my subjects without it harming my wellbeing.

    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 free

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Run this survey today, free.

Sign in with your school email. No password and no card needed. You choose whether to pay after it closes.

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