This section outlines the key design features of the survey and the reasons for this. For evidence used to decide on this approach, please see the academic year 2017-18 (Year 1) technical report.
1. The survey is school-based with children completing the questionnaire during school hours, or set as school homework.
Setting the survey as homework was only an option for secondary schools; however, primary schools could set the survey as homework on request. Primary schools could also set the survey as homework when school sites were closed to most pupils due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions (academic years 2020-21 and 2021-22 only.
While completion took place at home or at school throughout academic year 2024-25 (Year 8), the survey is still school based as respondents were recruited through their school.
This is known from other surveys to be an effective method. It is more cost-effective, and it is possible to generate a larger sample than approaching children through following up from households taking part in the Active Lives Adult Survey.
2. The survey is online to allow robust and cost-effective collection of complex activity data. There was a desire to future-proof the survey rather than using an older method (pen and paper).
Initial development work showed that online completion was feasible as schools have access to computers or tablets for pupil use and children were positive about an online survey.
During the summer term 2020, the survey was adapted to ensure that completion was also possible on a smartphone, and this has continued since.
3. The age range of pupils is 5-15/16 years to align with Sport England’s remit. The design of questionnaire needed to reflect this age range so that the questionnaire was appropriate for each age group. The development work guided this and resulted in the following questionnaires:
- Standalone simple questionnaire for school year 1-2 (age 5-7 years) – collecting some activity data but mainly attitudes and wellbeing.
- Questionnaire for school year 3-11 (age 7-15/16) with variations by year group within it. Use of images for school year 3-6.
- Questionnaire for parents of school year 1-2 to gather detailed information on their activities. Followed same approach as school year 3-11 questionnaire and was part of the same questionnaire program so in practice treated as one questionnaire with the school year 3-11 pupils.
- Teacher questionnaire – one per school to gather key data about the school such as time spent doing PE, facilities, active travel and healthy eating/school food standards to reduce burden on pupils of answering questions about facilities at school.