paddington academy paddington academy site options during transition survey of parents – main...

Paddington AcademyPaddington AcademySite Options during Transition

Survey of Parents – Main Findings

January 2006

Prepared for:

United Learning Trust

34 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4JH Tel 020 7611 5270 Fax 020 7430 0658 www.opinion.co.uk ⋮ ⋮ ⋮

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Outline

Objectives

Methodology

Results

Summary & Conclusions

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Objectives

The purpose of the survey was to give parents an opportunity to select their own preferred site

option during the transition phase from North Westminster Community School to Paddington

Academy, given a delay in building works. The three options presented to parents were:

Option A: To operate from North Wharf Road with a bus service provided for Y7 and Y8

between this site and Oakington Road. The move to the new building to take place in

January 2007

Option B: To operate from Oakington Road with the move to the new building to take place

after Easter 2007

Option C: To operate from split sites with Y7-9 based at Oakington Road and Y10 upwards

based at North Wharf Road. The move to the new building to take place after Easter in 2007

Parents participating in the research were given a list of the advantages and disadvantages of all

three options. They were also made aware of the fact the preferred option of the United Learning

Trust is Option A.

Client logo

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Methodology

1540 self completion questionnaires were distributed to the following:

Parents and carers of students at North Westminster Community School (NWCS) who have chosen to join

Paddington Academy in September 2006

Parents and carers of students in year 12 at NWCS who will complete their studies at Paddington Academy

and those in year 11 who have not had a chance to express a preference

Parents and carers of students in year 6 who have chosen to study at Paddington Academy

161 questionnaires were received from parents and carers, of which 19 were removed as they

were from parents/carers who had been sent more than one questionnaire. Just one

questionnaire per parent/carer was included in the sample

A total of 142 (net) were returned by parents. This is a response rate of 9%.

Eighty nine parents responding have children in Y6-8 and 73 in Y9-13

Data from questionnaires has been edited and cleaned (e.g. duplicate questionnaires have been

removed)

There was no evidence of block voting or attempts to sway the results by the submission of

multiple returns. Where parents submitted more than one return, this appeared to be due to an

expectation based on more than one questionnaire being supplied to the household

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Results

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Main Preferred Option

5%

10%

8%

29%

43%

33%

66%47%

58%

Child in Y9-13 Child in Y6-8 Total

Q. Which option do you think best?

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• Option A is the top preferred option for 58% of parents and is almost twice as often selected as Option B (ranked second with 33%)• Option A is the preferred option of the ULT and most parents therefore agree about this• Those with children in Y9-13 are particularly likely to favour Option A (66% compared to the average of 58%)• Those with children in Y6-8 are more likely than average to favour option B (43% compared to 33%)• Only a small minority of parents favour the split site option

Option A

North Wharf Road

Option B

Oakington Road

Option C

Split Site

Base: Child in Y9-13: 73; Child in Y6-8: 89; Total: 142

Second Preferred Option

16%

22%

23%

41%

38%

39%

14%

13%12%

Child in Y9-13 Child in Y6-8 Total

Q. If ULT decided to go with an option other than the one you think best, which of the remaining options would be your second choice?

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• Option B is the main second preferred option (selected by 39%)•Taking the first and second choice options together:- 70% choose A- 72% choose B- 31% choose C• Option B therefore emerges as equally as popular as Option A when the first and second choices are combined• Just over a quarter of parents (26%) did not have a second preference

Option A

North Wharf Road

Option B

Oakington Road

Option C

Split Site

Base: Child in Y9-13: 73; Child in Y6-8: 89; Total: 142

Reasons for Preferring Option A(North Wharf Road)

Q. Please tell us the main reason why you think it is best (open-ended question)

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2%

2%

2%

4%4%

5%

5%5%

6%

7%

7%

8%

14%

18%

18%Nearby/more convenient

More stability/less disruptive for pupils

Full curriculum from day one

More space/enough room

No building works/ Health issues

All at one site/better at one site

Safer/better area

Good to mix older & younger pupils

Agree with/accept recommendation

Used to school/familiar/less unsettling

Better for pupils’ education

Wider range of/better facilities

Prefer this school / do not want my children to move

New building finished/opened sooner

Easiest/best choice

• The main reasons for preferring Option A centre on the site being nearby, more convenient and because the new academy will open earlier• Those who prefer it also think it will be less disruptive for pupils (e.g. some concerns were expressed about the effect of this on pupils taking exams)• Some reasons given reflect the stated advantages of this option outlined to parents

Mentions of less than 2% are excluded

Base: All choosing Option A as preferred option: 83


Nearby / More convenient“It is the most convenient site for me in comparison to the other two options, in terms of travelling etc”

“It’s very near where we live. So for any reason, if we needed, we could get there”

New building finished / Opened sooner“Paddington Academy will be available sooner and children will not be exposed to dangerous asbestos”

“Means the building will be made sooner and my daughters will be able to go to the academy as it sounds really good”

More stability / Less disruptive for pupils“Crucial that there is stability in a child’s school…..”

“Less disruption. Children need a calm environment to do GCSEs”

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Full curriculum from day one“From the first day of school, the timetable and enrichment programme can be implemented fully. No disruption from building works”

“Full timetable and staff will be implemented from the first day”

More space / enough room“There is much more space and a wider range of facilities to support the children’s education. It is also close to our home”

“Sufficient space for children…”

No building works / Health issues“Health and safety. Free from building work and health hazard”

“Because of more space and no interruptions [from} building works noise”

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Reasons for Preferring Option B(Oakington Road)


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2%

4%

4%

9%

17%

64%Nearby/more convenient


Safer/better area

NWR site not good/safe for younger pupils/poor pupil behaviour

Easiest/best choice

Used to school/familiar/less unsettling • The main reason given by those preferring Option B centres on the site being nearby and more convenient. A significant majority (64%) cite this as the reason• Given this, more effort may be needed to promote the value of the bus service to/from North Wharf Road, if Option A is implemented. Some parents do not want their children to have to travel further to school • 17% also say that they/their children are used to the school at Oakington Road and will therefore find Option B less unsettling• A few parents do not think North Wharf Road (Option A) is a suitable site for younger pupils

Base: All choosing Option B as preferred option: 47


Nearby / More convenient“Because it’s near to the bus stop and near to my house”

“I think it is the best because I live near it”

Used to school / Familiar / Less unsettling“To keep students in the familiar setting for their learning. Moving can upset their learning ability”

“Because it will be better not to unsettle them. Just leave them where they are for now, until the new academy opens in 2007”

Prefer this school / do not want my children to move“Because the school is very good and the teaching staff….are very good too and because I prefer this school”

“Because good school and staff and my son likes this school”

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Safer / Better area“It is closer to most houses and safer for the younger kids”

“Because it is located nearby our home address. He does not need transport. The shorter distance, the more safety”

NWR site not good / Safe“I think this is the best decision for all of the children. Due to the behaviour of older children, I am against the North Wharf Road option”

“North Wharf site is not good for younger children”

Other“Because they stay at school and there is no need for transportation…..”

“It is nearer to our house and my child won’t need to use the bus”

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Reasons for Preferring Option C(Split Site)


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8%

8%

8%

8%

17%

17%

17%

Nearby/more convenient

More stability/less disruptive for pupils

More space/enough room

Safer/better area


• Just 12 parents selected Option C as their top choice for the transition phase and a range of reasons were given for their preference• Most reasons, however, centred on preserving the status quo (and stability) as far as their children are concerned. Convenience and suitability were also mentioned

Caution needed when interpreting data due to very small baseBase: All choosing Option C as preferred option: 12

More suitable

NWR site not good/safe for younger pupils/poor pupil behaviour

Reasons for Preferring Option C(Oakington Road)

Prefer this school / Do not want my children to move

“It would be too much for the children changing their school”

“At least the Y7 will be based in one site and don’t have to move about”

More stability / Less disruptive for pupils

“Less disruption”

“No need to provide free transport to school”

More space / Enough room

“Option C sounds about the best as less cramped facilities and no significant costs”

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Other Comments & Suggestions

Parents were asked whether they had any other comments or suggestions to make which they would like ULT to consider. Representative examples, grouped by theme, are given below:

Disappointment over the delay in opening the new building and requests for it to be completed as quickly as possible“It is very important for the new building to be finished as we are told, because it is difficult for us to travel and change environment totally. It is hectic for us parents and children” (Option B preferred)

“I think that the Paddington Academy should have been made for the year promised as I was told a couple of years ago. I would have expected it to be complete by the promised date” (Option A)

“You promised that the school will be finished in 2005 [but] it is not going to be ready. With hope that the school will be opened in 2006” (Option B)

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Concerns about disruption to children’s education“I do not mind what happens but I would not like my child’s education to be compromised. However, the faster the new building is built, the better” (Option A)

“No comment. But I feel much better [if] my children stay at the same school because moving might interrupt their education” (Option B)

“My son finds it hard to settle in new places so this new move may jeopardise his education….” (Option A)

“I don’t agree that children should be moved from site to site, but there is no choice” (Option A)

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Concerns about younger children mixing with older children at North Wharf Road

“I would prefer it if the younger children do not mix with the older children” (Option B)

“I don’t want them going to school with older kids aged 16-17” (Option B)

“How can we, as parents, be assured that our children will be in a safe enough environment at the upper school, amongst older and disruptive children” (Option A)

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Additional concerns about bullying, especially of younger children, at North Wharf Road

“Would there be a possibility of some form of supervision on the buses provided to transport pupils? My biggest concern is that any form of bullying is prevented and dealt with promptly in a positive way to everyone’s benefit. Behaviour on transport for large groups of pupils can lead to unruly behaviour and a very unpleasant start and finish to the day” (Option A)

“If you decide on Option A you will have to keep a very good eye on Y7 kids so that they don’t get harmed and bullied from older kids…” (Option A)

“The Y7 will need extra supervision if in upper school, and not mix, during lunch, with older children, in order to keep bullying to a minimum and trouble to a minimum” (Option A)

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Reiterating the advantages of own preferred option and expressing concern about the alternatives“It would put immense pressure on the family if my son was to travel to North Wharf Road as we are obviously concerned for our son’s safety” (Option B)

“I want my kids to stay at this school (Oakington Road) because my kids prefer this school” (Option B)

“I just think Option B and C have too many disadvantages and a bigger disruption for students” (Option A)

“The two other suggested options will cause students to lose out by making cuts to their options and curriculum areas” (Option A)

“ULT should consider children’s needs first. This is to have a school to go to without being moved from site to site unnecessarily. I don’t see the point in even considering Option B or C as these will delay the opening of the new school and the children will not feel settled” (Option A)

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Expressing confidence in the system / those in charge

“I see that the authority of the school and [those] who own it are working the best they can to make the school one of the best for all” (Option B)

“No. I am happy with everything you are doing. Thank you” (Option C)

“No comment. I think the authority will take the best possible decision which is good for study” (Option A)

“You are still doing a good job. It does get hard at times but keep the faith” (Option A)

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Option A (North Wharf Road) is the top preferred transition option for parents (selected

by 58%) and is almost twice as often selected as Option B (Oakington Road), which is

ranked second with 33%. Few parents like Option C best (split site).

When the first and second choice options are taken together, however, A and B emerge

as almost equally as popular, with Option C receiving little overall support.

The factors of particular importance to those choosing Option A are closeness to

home/convenience and a desire to see the new academy completed as soon as possible.

It is also seen as the least disruptive option (from both an educational and building works

point of view). Many parents also agree with the stated advantages of Option A.

Parents who choose Option B as their preferred choice favour it mainly because of

closeness to home/convenience. Many do not want their children to have the longer

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journey to school which would arise if Option A is chosen, particularly if they have children in

Y7 or 8, even though transport would be provided. Reassurances will need to be given about

this if Option A is ultimately implemented.

• Parents also have concerns about the safety and security of their children if Option A is

chosen, and this applies to those who select Option A as their first choice, as well as those

who do not. In particular there are concerns about the vulnerability of younger pupils who will

be mixing with older pupils, such as their vulnerability to bullying. Reassurances will also need

to be given about this if Option A is implemented.

• Overall, parents seem keen to ensure that, during the transition phase, disruption and

inconvenience are kept to a minimum. They do not want their children to become unsettled

and distracted and also wish to avoid unnecessary worry for themselves. Reassuring parents

about this would also be valuable, whichever option is implemented.

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34 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4JH ⋮ Tel 0207 611 5270 ⋮ Fax 0207 430 0658

34 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4JH Tel 020 7611 5270 Fax ⋮ ⋮ 020 7430 0658 ⋮www.opinion.co.uk

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paddington academy paddington academy site options during transition survey of parents – main...

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