School Performance Data

Back to:

Staff Opinion Survey Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. Do all schools participate in the survey?

All government schools are invited to participate in the survey.

2. Who should participate in this survey?

Staff members who have worked at the school on a day-to-day basis (including part-time staff) during the month preceding the survey are invited to participate.

3. Why are we being asked to do the survey?

The main aim of the survey is to identify those factors that contribute to the organisational health of your school. The results will benefit everyone within your school by providing valuable information about the ways in which the school's organisational health can be improved.

4. How long will it take to complete the survey?

The survey should take 15-25 minutes to complete. If your school Principal has chosen to include the leadership questions, this will extend the survey by about 10 minutes.

5. Are my responses confidential?

Your responses will remain entirely confidential.

But I login with my Edumail/Eduweb username and password, so you’ll know some details about me?

It’s true that during the course of the fieldwork (May-July), your EduMail Account details and responses will be stored together in a database. Only the Department's programmer has access to this database during the fieldwork period. This is so the system can remember your responses in case you begin answering questions, then opt to log out and return at a later date to resume the survey. Once all fieldwork is completed (around end of June), the programmer will separate the file into response details and Edumail/Eduweb details. Once these two lots of information are separated, they can never be matched up again. When analysing the survey data, staff in the School System Development Division, will have access to the response details only (plus the school number), but no other Edumail/Eduweb details. In other words, your responses will never be linked to you as an individual.

But will I be identifiable in the report?

The reports will be based on the collective responses of all people who participate in the survey in your school. It will not be possible to identify individuals. A description of the type of report that will be available to schools based on the number of respondents is shown in Question 7.

6. When can I complete the survey?

The survey can be completed at any time between Monday 11 May 2009 and Friday 26 June 2009. However, to avoid overloading of the Opinion Survey System (thereby compromising the speed of the system), it is strongly advised that you complete the survey in the following 2-week bands:

Monday 11 May 2009 - Friday 22 May 2009
Grampians
Gippsland
Southern Metropolitan

Monday 25 May 2009 - Friday 5 June 2009
Loddon Mallee
Hume
Eastern Metropolitan

Monday 8 June 2009 - Friday 19 June 2009
Barwon South Western
Western Metropolitan
Nothern Metropolitan

7. I work for a very small school. If I fill out the survey, can I be identified?

No. Reports back to schools fall into the following categories:
1 respondent: a report will not be generated,
2 or 3 respondents: a report in graphic form (no tables) will be generated only if a confirmation email has been received from each of the two or three respondents, otherwise a 'word-picture' report will be generated,
4 to 6 respondents: a report in graphic form (no tables) will be automatically generated,
7 or more respondents: a report containing both graphs and tables will be automatically generated.

8. Will staff members be given any feedback on the results?

Schools will receive a report in August 2009. Principals will be encouraged to present the results to staff.

9. How do I log into the online survey system to complete the Staff Opinion Survey?

During the specified 2-week period (see Question 6), follow these instructions:

  1. Go to a computer and open Internet Explorer to access the Internet (or whatever web browser you use)
  2. Go to the Survey page
  3. Under the heading 'Staff Opinion Survey', click Login (user name and password required)
  4. Enter your User Name and Password (Use your EduMail User Name and Password if you have one. Your Survey Contact will be able to check whether you have an EduMail Account. If you do, your Survey Contact can tell you your User Name and reset your Password if necessary. If you don't have an EduMail Account, your Survey Contact will create an EduWeb Account and give you a User Name and Password. In other words, your Survey Contact should be able to ensure you have a User Name and Password to log into the survey.)
  5. A box may appear saying ""Do you want to display the nonsecure items?"" Select Yes. Should this box appear again later, just select Yes
  6. Follow the prompts, selecting Next to progress through the survey
  7. Keep answering the questions until you reach the "That is the end of the 2009 Staff Opinion Survey" page. You can then either select "Lock Survey" if you have completed the questionnaire and do not intend to return to it, or "Next" if you think you may want to return to the survey at a later date. Note: upon selecting "Lock Survey", you will not be able to log back in at a later date to alter any of your responses
  8. Select Exit Online Opinion Survey System (located at the top of the screen)
  9. From the menu, select File/Close. That is the end of the survey.

 

10. I'm having problems logging onto the online survey system with my account details. What can I do?

Please consult your Survey Contact (a staff member nominated by your Principal).

11. I don't have an EduMail Account. Does this mean I can't do the survey?

If you don't have an EduMail Account you can still do the survey. Get an EduWeb Account from your Survey Contact and use this to log into the online survey system and complete the survey. Your Survey Contact is a staff member nominated by your Principal.

12. I've been told I need to get an EduWeb Account. How do I do this?

Your Survey Contact can create EduWeb Accounts. Please consult your Survey Contact (a staff member nominated by your Principal).

13. What's the difference between an EduMail Account and an EduWeb Account?

Most teaching staff and some non-teaching staff (i.e. all staff on central payroll) have an EduMail Account. Each EduMail Account comes with an ID, password and email address. An EduWeb Account is an alternative way to log into the online survey system if you don't have an EduMail Account.

14. Who is my Survey Contact?

Your Principal should have nominated a staff member (or themselves) to be your Survey Contact.

15. I'm trying to complete the survey but it takes a long time to go from one page to the next. How can I make it go faster?

The online survey system is likely to be slower at peak times, namely 3.30 to 5.00pm. If you find the system to be slow, you may wish to exit the survey, log in at another time and continue from where you left off. You can complete the survey up until Friday 26 June 2009.

16. Sometimes I press the "Next" button and I get an error screen. What do I do?

Errors are automatically logged and will be followed up by a central office programmer as soon as possible. If you get an error screen, press the 'BACK' button on the top left of your screen and continue from there.

17. I work at a multi-campus school, how do I complete the survey?

When you log into the survey, a list of all the appropriate campuses will be displayed. You choose the main campus at which you work and fill in the survey for that campus. If you work for the admin campus, this may display as the school name rather than the campus name.

18. I work at more than one school, how do I complete the survey?

If you satisfy the criteria for participating in the survey at each school (ie. you work at each school on a day-to-day basis, including part-time, during the month preceding the survey), you should complete the survey for each of the schools at which you work. Your EduMail Account will be associated with one school only, so when you want to complete the survey for that school, log in using your EduMail details. When you want to complete the survey for one of the other schools, you will need to obtain an EduWeb Account. You can obtain an EduWeb Account from the Survey Contact at each school.

19. I only work at school occasionally, do I need to do the survey?

To effectively analyse the organisational health of your school, opinions from all members of staff are important. Staff members who have worked at the school on a day-to-day basis (including part-time staff) during the month preceding the survey are invited to participate.

20. I'm not a teacher at school, do I need to do the survey?

There is a non-teacher version of the survey. To effectively analyse the organisational health of your school, opinions from all members of staff are important. Staff members who have worked at the school on a day-to-day basis (including part-time staff) during the month preceding the survey are invited to participate.

21. My role at school is both teaching and non-teaching. Which version of the Staff Opinion Survey should I complete?

Only complete one version of the survey. If your role during the month preceding the survey involved any teaching duties, complete the teaching version, otherwise complete the non-teaching version.

22. Is the survey available in languages other than English?

No. If a staff member has difficulty interpreting the survey, they should consult a fellow staff member for assistance.

23. Principals: Are there any guidelines on who should or should not have access to the survey?

Examples of EduMail Account holders who may not fit the criterion for survey access (see Question 2) are: School Council Presidents, School Council Vice Presidents, staff members on long service leave / maternity leave / long-term WorkCover (depending on when this leave commenced), staff members on long-term sick leave / holiday / full-time study leave, casual relief teachers (where appropriate) and visiting specialists who spend very limited time at school.

Examples of EduMail Account holders who probably fit the criterion for survey access (see Question 2) are: SSO's integration aides, librarians, lab technicians and staff on disciplinary review.

Please note that if a staff member queries his or her exclusion from the survey, the Principal must be able to justify his or her decision.

24. Principals: How do I exclude EduMail Accounts from the survey?

By Thursday 7 May 2009, the Principal should have finalised the EduMail Accounts that will not have access to the survey. Please note that if a staff member queries his or her exclusion from the survey, the Principal must be able to justify his or her decision. The Survey Contact or Principal can exclude EduMail Accounts from the survey by following the instructions below:

  1. If required, view the current list of EduMail Accounts associated with your school. To do this, see the answer to question 26
  2. Go to the Survey page
  3. Under the heading 'Staff Opinion Survey', click Login (User name login and password required)
  4. Enter the Principal's EduMail User Name and Password
  5. Click "No Access"
  6. Click "Next" (you may then have to re-enter the Principal's EduMail Username and password)
  7. A table of EduMail Accounts that are currently flagged as 'Deny Access' will appear (this table will initially be empty)
  8. Click "Deny Access"
  9. For the EduMail Account that will not have access to the survey, enter the associated EduMail PIN or first name or last name (or any combination of these) and click Search
  10. A table of EduMail Accounts that satisfy your search criteria is displayed
  11. Tick the box next to the EduMail Account that will not have access to the survey
  12. Click "Add Selected Users" (this adds the EduMail Account to the 'no access' list)
  13. If you want to flag other EduMail Accounts as 'no access', repeat the last four steps
  14. Once your 'no access' list is finalised, click Back
  15. A table of all the EduMail Accounts on the 'no access' list is displayed
  16. Click "Close"
  17. Click "Exit Online Survey System" (located at the top of the screen)

NOTE: AFTER THURSDAY 7 MAY 2009, THE OPTION TO EXCLUDE EDUMAIL ACCOUNTS FROM THE SURVEY WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.

25. Survey Contacts and Principals: Want to be proactive and organise EduMail and EduWeb Accounts in advance?

Before advising your staff of the upcoming survey, do the following:

  1. Print off the list of Edumail Accounts for your school (to do this, see the answer to Question 26
  2. Put this list on the staff notice board
  3. Advise staff that if their name is on the list, they have an Edumail Account and their User Name is shown
  4. Advise staff that if they are on the list and they are not sure of their password, you (as the Survey Contact or Principal) can reset it for them. To do this, see Question 27
  5. Advise staff that if they are not on the list, they will need to see you (as the Survey Contact or Principal) about getting an EduWeb Account
  6. If you wish, you could create EduWeb Accounts in advance, without waiting for staff to approach you. Instructions on how to create EduWeb Accounts are given in Question 28.

26. Survey Contacts and Principals: How can I see a list of staff in my school with EduMail Accounts?

To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the EduMail website at: http://www.edumail.vic.gov.au
  2. Select the link titled EduMail Support (located at the top left of the window)
  3. Enter the Principal's EduMail User Name and Password
  4. Select the link titled My Tools (on the left-hand side of the window)
  5. On the right-hand side of the window, select the button titled Account Administration
  6. You should see the ""EduMail Account Administration"" page. A list of all EduMail Accounts for your school will be displayed.

27. Survey Contacts and Principals: A staff member doesn't remember their EduMail Password. How do I reset their EduMail password?

If a staff member has an EduMail Account but cannot recall their EduMail Password, their password can be reset as follows:

  1. Go to the EduMail website: http://www.edumail.vic.gov.au
  2. Select the link titled EduMail Support (located at the top left of the window)
  3. Enter the Principal's EduMail User Name and Password
  4. Select the link titled My Tools (on the left-hand side of the window)
  5. On the right-hand side of the window, select the link titled Account Administration
  6. You should see the ""EduMail Account Administration"" page. A list of all EduMail Accounts for your school will be displayed
  7. Click on the staff member's name
  8. Staff account details will be displayed
  9. Click on Reset this User's Password
  10. A confirmation screen will be displayed
  11. Click on Yes, Reset the Password
  12. A new password will appear on the screen
  13. Advise the staff member of their new EduMail Password
  14. Exit the system. To do this, click on the EduMail Logo labelled EduM@il at the top left of the window.

28. Survey Contacts and Principals: How do I create EduWeb Accounts?

If a staff member does not have an EduMail Account, an EduWeb Account needs to be set up for them. To do this:

  • Go to the Surveys page
  • Under the heading 'Staff Opinion Survey', click Login (User name and Password required)
  • Enter the Principal's EduMail User Name and Password
  • Click Create EduWeb Account
  • On the 'Nominate EDUWEB User' page, enter the staff member's surname, given name and initial, plus the Survey Contact's email address
  • Click Add
  • Click Submit
  • Two emails will be sent to the Survey Contact's email address. One will contain the EduWeb Account holder's name and the Username. The other will contain the Username and Password. Both these emails should be made available to the new EduWeb Account holder, so they can commence the online survey
  • Click Exit Nominate EDUWEB system
  • Click Exit Online Opinion Survey System (located at the top of the screen)

29. Survey Contacts and Principals: How do I include / exclude the leadership questions to / from the survey?

By Thursday 7 May 2009, the Principal should have decided whether to include the optional leadership questions in the school's Staff Opinion Survey. The default setting for all schools is that leadership questions are excluded. The Survey Contact or Principal can include the leadership questions (and subsequently exclude them if need be), by following these instructions:

  1. Go to the Surveys page.
  2. Under the heading 'Staff Opinion Survey', click Login (User name and Password required)
  3. Enter the Principal's EduMail User Name and Password
  4. Under the heading 'Optional Leadership Questions for the Staff Opinion Survey,' note whether the 'Current setting' for the leadership questions is INCLUDE or EXCLUDE. If you wish to change the current setting, click Include Leadership questions (you can toggle back and forth by clicking this button)
  5. Click Exit Online Opinion Survey System (located at the top of the screen)

NOTE: AFTER THURSDAY 7 MAY 2009, THE OPTION TO INCLUDE/EXCLUDE THE LEADERSHIP QUESTIONS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.

30. Survey Contacts and Principals: How can I see the Response Rate for my school and what does it mean?

During the survey period, Survey Contacts and Principals can view their school's Response Rate by logging into the Opnion survey site.

The Response Rate data will include the following information for the school, the school type across the state (i.e., primary, secondary, etc), the region and the state:

A the number of EduMail accounts registered at the school (this will exclude the school account and any EduMail account that had been denied access)
B the number of EduWeb accounts created for those that don't have an EduMail account and want to do the survey
C the total number of accounts that have access to the survey (A + B)
D the total number of people who responded to 50% or more of the survey questions
E the Response Rate as a percentage (D / C x 100)

31. Survey Contacts and Principals: What is a good Response Rate?

The Principal / Survey Contact should check the response rate and aim to maximise it as much as possible by asking staff to complete the survey. Schools should aim to achieve a minimum response rate of 75%.

32. Survey Contacts and Principals: When the survey is over, will the report contain results split by teaching and non-teaching staff?

No. Responses from all participants, regardless of their role in the school, will be aggregated. There are two reasons for this:

  • non-teaching staff are not asked teaching related questions (such as Curriculum Co-ordination). That is, they are only asked about management related issues.
  • management issues should be addressed across the entire school. If there are issues with particular sub-groups of staff, this should emerge from discussions with staff members about the results.

33. Acting Principals: If I choose to include the leadership questions, do these questions refer to me as Acting Principal, or the Principal?

You, as the Acting Principal, should make this decision. If you choose to include the leadership questions, ensure staff are aware of who these questions refer to.

34. Part-time Principals: Our school operates with two part-time Principals (e.g. one Principal for 3 days per week, another for 2 days per week). If we choose to include the leadership questions, how will this work?

Should you decide to choose the leadership questions, you can consult with staff and decide which Principal these questions refer to, noting that they can only refer to one Principal. Otherwise, you can choose not to add the leadership questions.