nmsfsurvey

Middle School Questionnaire

This questionnaire forms part of my PhD research into the advantages and disadvantages of schools catering for different age ranges with particular focus on the differences between the two-tier and three-tier schooling systems. If you would like to know more about this research, please click here to view an information sheet.

This questionnaire is intended for middle school staff (except those within Dorset LEA*) but is also appropriate for other interested stakeholders such as educationists and former middle school staff. Please complete the following questions and click 'next' at the bottom of each page (if you cannot see the 'next' button, please scroll down). If you need to go back to a previous page, please use the 'back' button at the bottom of the page and not the back button on your web browser.

The responses you provide will be treated in confidence and used solely for the work of this investigation.
The questionnaire is anonymous and any potentially identifying information you provide in your responses will not be included in any reports or summaries produced as a result of this research. All data will be handled in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

Thank you very much for your assistance,

Kathy Seymour

PhD Researcher
School of Education
University of Nottingham

Email: ttxks3@nottingham.ac.uk

*If you are a teacher or headteacher in a school within Dorset LEA, your area will be the focus of my PhD fieldwork and you should receive a questionnaire pack in the post shortly, or you can complete your Dorset-specific questionnaire online by clicking here].

Please click 'next' to begin the survey

Section A: About you

Q1.Do you currently work in a school?

Yes

If no, what is your role (e.g. educationist, researcher etc)?

(please specify)

Q2.What is you role at your school?

Headteacher

Deputy / assistant headteacher

Teacher

Teaching assistant

Administrative staff

Other

Q3.If you work in a middle school, which age range does your school cover?

Ages 8-12

Ages 9-13

Ages 10-14

Ages 11-14

Other

(please specify)

Q4.Do you have any experience as a teacher, deputy head or headteacher in the following types of school in England? [Please tick all that apply]

Infant (ages 3, 4 or 5 - 7)

Junior (ages 7 - 11)

Primary (ages 3, 4 or 5 - 11)

First (ages 3, 4 or 5 - 8 or 9)

Middle (ages 8-12)

Middle (ages 9-13)

Middle (ages 10-14)

Middle (ages 11-14)

Secondary (ages 11 - 16 or 18)

Upper or high (ages 12, 13 or 14 - 16 or 18)

Other, or outside England

(please specify below)

Section B: Child development and the age range of schools

Q5a.At what age do you think children are generally ready to be taught...

i)By subject-specialist teachers for most subjects rather than by class teachers?

ii)In groups set by ability for most subjects rather than in mixed ability groups?

Q5b.If you would like to elaborate on the answers given to i) and/or ii), please use the space below:

Q6a.Which of the following schooling systems do you think is most beneficial for the majority of children in terms of encouraging their educational / academic development?

Two-tier system with transfer to secondary school at age 11

Three-tier system including middle schools for ages 8-12

Three-tier system including middle schools for ages 9-13

Three-tier system including middle schools for ages 10-14

Three-tier system including middle schools for ages 11-14

Other arrangement

(please detail)

Q6b.Please use the space below if you wish to elaborate on your response to Q6a:

Q7a.Which of the following schooling systems do you think is most beneficial for the majority of children in terms of encouraging their social / emotional development and well-being?

Two-tier system with transfer to secondary school at age 11

Three-tier system including middle schools for ages 8-12

Three-tier system including middle schools for ages 9-13

Three-tier system including middle schools for ages 10-14

Three-tier system including middle schools for ages 11-14

Other arrangement

(please detail)

Q7b.Please use the space below if you wish to elaborate on your response to Q7a:

Q8a.Do you think children aged 9-13 are more likely to experience the following in the two-tier schooling system (with transfer to secondary school at age 11), or in the three-tier system (with middle schools)?

Involvement in extra-curricular activities

More likely in two-tier system