THE new headteacher at Marown Primary School has been surveying pupils and parents in order to plan the school's future.
Ian Longshaw, who started at the school in September, has used the Socrates' Tree programme to collect the views of pupils, parents, staff and governors.
99 respondents completed a 30 minute online survey giving input on 14 different topics.
Mr Longshaw said: "In order to get to know my new school I recognised how important it was to hear from people representing all the different groups that are involved in its development.
"Everyone has different and valid perspectives and I wanted to offer them a forum to express these to inform my decision-making.
"I knew Socrates' Tree would allow me to give all my stakeholders a chance to have their say on issues relating to the school's vision, ethos, organisation, management and design.
"Socrates' Tree poses dilemmas each one presenting opposite ways of thinking. There are no right or wrong answers. It is a way for us to hear everybody's voice and find out what they think of how the school runs now and how it will run in the future."
The results from the survey will provide a starting point to "tease out, discuss and resolve key issues in order to develop a well-defined and comprehensive vision for learning for Marown," according to the headteacher.
He continued: "Socrates' Tree does not give our school all the answers. It will raise questions and issues that we need to keep talking about so that we can develop a shared vision for learning at Marown School informed by our friends and stakeholders."
Marcus Orlovsky, director of Bryanston Square Consulting Ltd - the company that developed Socrates' Tree, said the programme could help get under the skin of a school.
He explained: "Teachers may hold views that they don't share and pupils and parents may find it difficult to find an outlet for their opinions. As such 'taking the temperature' of a school can be anecdotal and unreliable.
"Socrates' Tree can get under the skin of opinions and, because it's both interesting and anonymous, yields opinions and facts that are often hard to reach.
"We were delighted when Mr Longshaw approached us about using Socrates' Tree. The Isle of Man was something of an unknown quantity for us so we were grateful for the opportunity to get to know Marown Primary. We'd welcome the opportunity to speak to other schools about Socrates' Tree."
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below:
