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.

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.