What is a Belonging Audit?
The Belonging Audit is a practical tool designed to identify individuals and groups who may be struggling to feel at home in our school community.
Through targeted surveys and interventions, we gain valuable insights into how students, staff and parents feel in school, helping us create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported and included.
Read on to find out more!
New Student Belonging Survey
Who is this survey aimed at?
New students
When should it be implemented?
This is variable upon your school and context, but I recommend using the same survey one, two or three times in the first term of an academic year to measure and record change over time. For example, you might use it at after one month, then after the first half term, and finally at the end of Term 1.
What will you find out?
This survey is designed to uncover:
👥 A list of specific students who may be struggling to integrate and do not feel a sense of belonging, and may benefit from intervention
📈 Changes over time — are students developing a stronger sense of belonging as the term progresses? Who struggled at the start but is now flourishing? Why do some students thrive from the offset, but others take longer?
🛡️ Whether students feel safe, valued, represented, and included
🧩 Patterns and themes in student experiences
🤝 If students have made friendships and are participating in school life
😊 Whether they feel happy and comfortable in school
🗣️ Student voice — what do students say they need to feel more included?
🚧 Any barriers to the above
The responses provide valuable information that allows the school to make targeted changes, ensuring that all new students feel welcomed, included, and supported in their transition.
Case Studies
This video presents three real case studies of students who benefitted from the New Student Belonging Survey at ISP.
Each example shows how follow-up support based on the survey helped improve their sense of connection and inclusion at school.
They represent simple yet tangible steps taken to help students settle in school.
New Student Belonging Survey Case Studies.mp4There are two versions available:
Standard Version – For fluent English speakers.
EAL Version – With extra support, and an additional section, for English as an Additional Language (EAL) students.
Intervention Ideas
Based on the analysis of the results from the September 2024 survey, students who appeared to be struggling with their sense of belonging and integration were identified for targeted interventions.
These interventions aimed to provide support and foster a stronger connection to the school community.
The 'Intervention Ideas' link outlines some of the steps taken at International School @ Parkcity.
Classroom Belonging Survey
Who is this survey aimed at?
Teachers can share this survey with the students they teach, for example, I might distribute it to gain insights into my Year 11 Biology class.
When should it be implemented?
Anytime during the academic year, but ideally once students have settled in. This allows teachers to assess students' sense of belonging in the classroom and use the feedback to reflect and make adjustments.
What will you find out?
The Classroom Belonging survey is designed for teachers to use with their students to gauge the sense of belonging within the classroom.
This quick anonymous survey focuses on how students perceive their relationships with teachers, the fairness and support they receive, and how valued they feel in their learning environment. This information is for the teacher's eyes only.
The results help inform teaching practices and improve the overall classroom atmosphere by highlighting areas for positive change.
Source:
Allen, Kelly-Ann, and Peggy Kern. Boosting School Belonging: Practical Strategies to Help Adolescents Feel Like They Belong at School. 1st ed. Oxford: Taylor & Francis Group, 2019.
Download the survey
Psychological Sense of School Membership Scale
Who is this survey aimed at?
All students — with particular relevance for those in secondary school.
When should it be implemented?
This survey can be used at any point in the school year. It works particularly well:
As part of a whole-school belonging audit
After key transitions (e.g. moving from KS3 to KS4, post-exam periods, or changes in school structure)
To check in with specific year groups or cohorts
What will you find out?
This survey is designed to measure students’ psychological sense of school membership — essentially, how connected, respected and accepted they feel at school:
🎯 Perceived recognition — if students feel noticed, valued and respected by peers and staff
🧍♀️Relationships — how supported students feel by teachers, and whether they feel liked by classmates
🗣️ Student voice — whether students feel their views and opinions are taken seriously
🎭 Authenticity — whether students feel they can be themselves at school
🚧 Barriers — indicators of alienation, difference, or a desire to be elsewhere
📊 Comparative insights — helpful for identifying belonging gaps across year groups, or groups of students who feel less connected
Source:
Goodenow, C. (1993). The psychological sense of school membership among adolescents: Scale development and educational correlates. Psychology in the Schools, 30(1), 79-90. doi:10.1002/1520-6807
Download the survey
What does your school mean to you?
Who is this survey aimed at?
All Students (Student Survey)
Staff Members (Staff Survey)
Parents (Parent Survey)
When should it be implemented?
These surveys can be completed at any time during the academic year. However, it’s important to consider the best timing based on your school's context. As they are short and quick to complete, you can easily fit them in without taking much time. They are designed as mass surveys to collect focused data efficiently.
You might like to add questions to this survey to suit your school's needs.
What will you find out?
Each survey follows the same structure but is tailored to each school community. It aims to explore how engaged individuals and families are, their sense of belonging, and their involvement in school life, while also providing an opportunity for feedback.
How will this benefit the school?
By combining insights from students, staff, and parents, these surveys help create a fuller picture of the sense of belonging at your school. The data collected enables targeted actions to support community-building, improve inclusivity, and make sure everyone feels welcomed, valued, and heard.
As an added bonus, results from our parents survey provided quotes that we could use on social media, and posters around the school.
Download the Surveys
