Fieldwork: Online questionnaire

This was especially important for younger pupils, who needed to be able to type the URL into their computers during lesson time, or at home.

Each URL therefore consisted of the domain ipsos.uk followed by a unique randomly generated seven letter string e.g.: https://ipsos.uk/FCDZKXO.

These URLs were seven letters, which is the same length as academic year 2017-18 (Year 1) and longer than the five letters used between academic years 2018-19 and 2020-21.

The reason for this was to allow for a large enough number of unique combinations, while excluding letters which were found from previous years to be easily confused.

The letters V, Q, I, M and S were not included in the short URLs because of their similarity with other letters or numbers. Every URL had Z as the fourth letter to avoid short words featuring in the URLs.

The survey was hosted on the Ipsos website, which ensured the legitimacy of the survey was immediately evident.

Each sampled school was provided with a series of unique URLs through which the survey could be completed:

• One URL was provided for each sampled year group within the school (in the majority of schools three year groups were sampled, and therefore three URLs were issued, but in a small number only two year groups were sampled and therefore two URLs were issued),
• One URL was provided for the parent survey,
• One URL was provided for the teacher survey.

Schools were able to opt in to the survey. This could be schools which had not been sampled at all, or schools could request that additional classes took part in the survey, beyond the three chosen in that school. This could be additional classes within a selected year group or other year groups.

Where requested, up to three URLs were provided for non-sampled classes (for use where the school asked additional classes to complete the survey or for schools not included in the sample at all). Schools were provided with URLs for classes in school years 1-2, school years 3-6 and/or school years 7-11 as appropriate.

Allocating unique URLs in this way meant that respondents saw only the questions that were appropriate to them given their role (pupil, parent, teacher) and, where applicable, year group (1-2, 3-6, 7-11).

The unique URL also minimised error by ensuring that the data collected was automatically allocated to the correct school (which may not have been the case had respondents been required to identify their school and year group themselves).

During academic year 2023-24 (Year 7), the use of QR codes was piloted across a small group of APs. Each unique QR code directed users to a specific survey link.

As feedback on the pilot programme was positive, as a result this system was implemented across the entire sample for academic year 2024-25 (Year 8). QR codes were created for all schools and APs could access and provide these to schools if they wished.