Independent Schools Victoria: Survey Results

Independent Schools Victoria (ISV) aims to create a strong Independent education sector that demonstrates best practice and provides excellent outcomes for students and choice for families. The role of ISV is to advocate for excellence in education, champion member schools, and protect the right of parents to choose where and how their children are educated. Every second year, ISV conduct a survey, which provides St Michael’s with powerful insights about the effectiveness of our practices. The survey collects data from students, parents and staff and helps us to gain a better understanding of our community’s perceptions of the School, which ultimately assists us in our decision making and improves educational outcomes. Earlier this year, parents were invited to participate in the ISV survey, where they were asked to answer a variety of questions online. The questions fit into several categories including academic program, quality of teaching, learning outcomes, pastoral care, discipline and safety, parental involvement, resources, year level transition, recommending the School to others, and overall satisfaction. Students were asked questions that related to academic program, discipline and safety, learning outcomes, overall satisfaction, pastoral care, personal development, peer relationships, resources, values, and student transition. We are pleased to share that in 2020, parents and students reported overall satisfaction above the ISV benchmark across all categories. The benchmark is based on a mean score of all ISV member schools, which provides a good indicator to how St Michael’s is performing against other similar schools. Parents reported that their child was happy at St Michael's, that our School offers a safe place to learn, that they have a good relationship with the teaching staff and that the School provides excellent resources for students. Students also reported that they feel safe at St Michael’s, that they are encouraged to do their best, that they have access to quality technology and resources, and that they feel challenged and accepted for who they are. Additionally, students reported that they receive a high level of support from teachers, who they feel are knowledgeable about the subjects they teach. Importantly, overall satisfaction levels have improved significantly across all categories year on year, since 2017. Mrs Terrie Jones, Head of the School, is very pleased with the survey results but acknowledges that review is required to ensure continuous improvement each year.

“We are assured that the School is moving in the right direction, however the survey also highlighted areas with which we can improve. These insights are important and we value the time our community invested in providing us with this feedback”.

St Michael’s will continue to survey our community to ensure we are improving all aspects of the student learning experience.