In academic year 2024-25 (Year 8), schools operated without any COVID-related disruptions in all three terms. However, the option for students to take the survey at home was continued for secondary schools, with some schools opting to set the survey as homework, rather than a school-based activity.
Primary schools could make a special request to do the survey as homework. Pupils in selected classes had the opportunity to complete the survey using computers, smartphones, or tablets either at school or at home.
If pupils were completing at school, teachers were advised that they could help pupils with reading or understanding but not with answering the questions and as such, there should be someone present in the room who could assist children who normally need help with tasks.
The survey was intended to be completed in one sitting under exam conditions so pupils could not see each other’s responses. Teachers were advised to encourage secondary school pupils to have planners or timetables to hand to help with the answering the behavioural questions.
Additionally, they were also advised to ensure school year 1 to 2 pupils had headphones available while completing the survey, in case they wanted to use the audio feature (to have the questions read out to them instead of reading the questions themselves).
If pupils were completing at home, teachers were asked to send the survey links home to their pupils using email, Show my Homework, ParentMail, text or an alternative method.
Pupils were able to use a laptop, desktop computer, tablet or smartphone to complete the survey. They were able to complete the survey at any time but it must be done in one sitting and preferably during school hours (though secondary schools had the option to set it as homework). Parents could help their child with reading and understanding the questions but not with answers.
Parents completed the survey at home on their computer, smartphone, or tablet or on school computers or tablets during parents’ evenings or at other times when parents were in school. Teachers could complete the survey at home or at school using their own or a school computer, smartphone, or tablet.
Parents and teachers could provide an email address which sent them their own unique link to the survey to allow them to come back to the questionnaire at another time if they were not able to complete it in one sitting.
A free technical helpline was available to enable parents, pupils, teachers or APs to deal with issues they may have completing the survey. This could be contacted via email. This was only used in a small number of cases.