What are the most effective ways to measure school culture and climate?

Culture and climate are not tangible, though there are tools through which one can assess the ethos of the school; for instance feedback from the stakeholders. Other key indicators would be the retention rate and staff turnover rate, which are not always directly correlated with the culture and climate. I believe feeling the pulse of the school, and observing the behaviour of students, staff and school leaders are vital in the process.

Student development, behaviour with family and others, way of communication with others, and knowledge wise improvement. Communication skills and leadership qualities development. Student must belive he or she is going to be future leader for the sociey and country development. Helpng others, empathy, love and respect everyone, must know their responsibility towards their family and society.

Surveys and Questionnaires: Design and administer surveys or questionnaires to students, teachers, and parents to gather their perceptions of the school's culture and climate. Include questions about safety, communication, relationships, and overall satisfaction. Focus Groups: Conduct focus group discussions with various stakeholders, including students, teachers, administrators, and parents. Observations and Walkthroughs: Attendance and Dropout Rates: Discipline Records: Student Achievement Data: Teacher and Staff Turnover: Climate and Culture Assessments: Parent and Community Involvement: Cultural Competency Training: Social Media and Online Platforms: Staff and Student Well-being Surveys:

En este sentido de percepción y tomando como referencia el concepto “escuela feliz” definido por la UNESCO aclarando que la felicidad es subjetiva,dicha organización bautiza por escuela feliz un lugar que favorece el aprendizaje, la salud,el bienestar de las personas, las familias y las comunidades. Por supuesto podremos dar estudios que lo sustentan pero que mejor que nuestra propia experiencia con un clima laboral o familiar “negativo”, le pregunto al lector, como se siente estar en un lugar así? Un clima positivo se complementa de una cultura de paz y respeto: UNICEF (cultura de paz es el proceso que permite el desarrollo de conocimientos, capacidades, actitudes y valores en las personas para resolver conflictos de manera pacífica).

Other metrics include, staff retention, length of service, and staff absences. These will measure how the school culture manages to maintain staff. This maybe more so in metropolitan areas where there is an abundance of choice in schools staff can move between.

La UNESCO se apoya en los cuatro pilares de las escuelas felices (personas, procesos, lugares y principios). Debido a varias investigaciones en mi empresa definimos 12 indicadores clave con factores que medimos en las escuelas y los comparto: Salud, Responsabilidad social,Sentido de Pertenencia,Participación de los padres,Motivación para aprender Lealtad, Gratitud y reconocimiento, Estado de ánimo,Entorno físico y bienestar escolar, Desarrollo personal y autonomía, Confianza y resolución de conflictos, Felicidad y paz. Los factores no te los pude agregar por este medio pero espero que te haya aportado y podamos ser más conscientes de la importancia de cada uno.

Nosotros desarrollamos un sistema que permite a través de 12 indicadores con sus factores mediante encuestas con opción multiple y escala facilitar en tiempo real el estado del clima escolar, con dashbord ejecutivos. Los alumnos contestan de manera anónima otorgando con honestidad sus respuestas con resultados que dirigen a diversas acciones para una ruta de mejora. Espero que haya contribuido con un método confiable también para ti.

There is that saying of "don't measure something you do not plan on changing" or "ask for feedback you aren't prepared to act on" . Make sure as a school leadership team you are prepared to address these areas of need for staff, students and community.

One thing to consider in communicating findings is the email fatigue that many of your team may have. Inboxes are inundated with various messages that people sift through on a regular basis. With that, consider different means of communicating the findings. Perhaps instead of emails, consider a wall walk in a heavily trafficked area that walks through the process and the findings. You could also host interactive workshops or dashboards to provide updates. Regardless of the approach, it’s important to find creative and engaging ways to disseminate information.

Identifying, articulating and measuring school culture and climate is no simple task. Whilst critical endeavour for every school, it is not something that can be done with ease. Start small by walking through your school at different times of day, what do you notice? How do you feel? Spend time in the playground, canteen, classrooms and observe. Talk to the children, talk to the teachers, talk to the vital support staff - cleaners, drivers, cooks… what are they seeing? How do they feel about the school? Most importantly of all, don’t just do this once to satisfy the need - do it every day. Take a daily barometer reading of your school and over time map the rhythm of your school.