NSW Public Schools School Staff Survey
The school staff survey is part of the NSW Public Schools Surveys (NPSS) suite of surveys on student engagement, learning experiences and wellbeing at school. The school staff survey provides school leaders with insights into school and classroom effectiveness from the perspective of teachers and school staff.
About the school staff survey
The department runs the NPSS School Staff Survey to provide schools with valuable insights from teachers and school staff about their perspectives on school and classroom effectiveness. The survey covers a range of topics, including classroom practices, school leadership, professional learning and staff wellbeing. Survey results provide schools with actionable data to drive school planning, reporting and excellence, helping to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
The survey also allows the department to observe trends and better understand what works best to promote positive outcomes for students, helping to shape effective policies and programs so that every student is known, valued and cared for in our schools, a key priority of Our Plan for NSW Public Education.
Schools can survey their staff each year during the survey window in Term 2.
Who can take the school staff survey?
Teachers and school staff can take part in the survey in participating schools.
How does it work?
School staff will be offered the survey by participating schools during Term 2 each year. The survey takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete. A unique link to the survey will be distributed by a nominated survey coordinator at the school. The survey can then be completed on a computer, tablet or mobile device. No login is required.
Staff anonymity
To ensure anonymity, each school has a unique URL that allows school staff to access the survey for their school. The school will distribute this unique URL to school staff using a preferred channel of communication, which may be via email or at a staff meeting. All responses to the survey via this link are anonymous. To further protect school staff confidentiality, the department will not report any results when there have been fewer than 5 responses to a question.
Privacy notice
implementing programs that meet student educational and support needs
maintaining the good order and management of schools
assessing and evaluating the effectiveness of programs and their impact on student educational outcomes
conducting and publishing lawful research and compiling statistics relating to school experiences
operational and administrative purposes.
Survey results may be used locally at schools to help inform planning and decision-making. Your school will receive a report once surveys are completed, but school staff will not be able to identify you from your responses. The school will only see the results as a combined score of your and other staff members’ responses, and only for questions where 5 or more staff members responded.
The department will use the data for research and analysis to understand what works best to promote positive outcomes for students, helping to shape effective policies and programs.
Only grouped results from this analysis and research may be made public through the department’s publications, with all identifying information removed.
The department will not disclose your personal information to any other person or body.
The department will only keep information for as long as the department needs it to fulfil the purposes it was collected it for. After this, the information will be disposed of securely in accordance with the State Records Act 1998 and any other applicable legislation.
The department’s privacy management plan details the department’s practices and procedures for handling personal and health information. It can be accessed from the department’s website. Concerns about the collection or handling of your personal or health information should initially be raised with your principal.
Topics covered in the survey
- Assessment
- Bullying
- Classroom management
- Collaboration and staff culture
- Curriculum
- Effective feedback
- High expectations
- Meeting student needs
- Professional learning
- School infrastructure
- School leadership
- School supports post-school pathways
- School supports transitions
- Staff-parent partnership
- Staff wellbeing and sense of belonging
- Student wellbeing
- Support for evidence-based practices
- Use of data to inform practice
- Workload
Survey questions
All Department of Education staff can view the survey questions on the intranet.
For a copy of the school staff survey questions, email the NSW Public Schools Surveys team at schoolsurveys.admin@det.nsw.edu.au.