THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
WHITAKER SQUARE,
SIR JOHN ROGERSON’S QUAY,
DUBLIN 2, IRELAND
TEL (353-1) 863 2000
FAX (353-1) 863 2100
SURVEY OF DIVERSITY IN SECOND-LEVEL SCHOOLS
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Many Irish schools have become more diverse in recent years. The Department of Education and Science
has asked the ESRI to carry out a review of provision for newcomer students in Irish schools. We would be
very grateful if you would complete the enclosed questionnaire. Your response will be combined with those
of other schools to form an overall picture, and used to guide government policy in relation to future
provision for newcomer students. It is important for us to know which schools have newcomer students and
which schools do not, so please respond WHETHER OR NOT there are newcomer students in your school.
PART I: BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[Q1,
Q2, Q3 : If none, please write ‘NONE’]
1. How many students in total are there in your school?
2. How many teachers are there in your school?
Boys ______
Full-time
_____
Girls ______
Part-time ________
3. Approximately how many staff does your school currently have in the following capacities?
Full-time
Part-time
Guidance counsellor(s) or teachers with guidance hours
Other school-based counsellor/psychologist
Home-School-Community Liaison Co-ordinator
Learning support/ resource teachers
Language support teachers
Special needs assistants (SNAs)
4. Over the past five years, has the total number of first year students coming to the school:
Increased ......
1
Decreased ........
Remained relatively stable ................
2
3
5. Are there any other local second-level schools to which your first year students might go?
Yes ..............
No ...............
1
2
6. Are all of the students who apply to your school usually accepted?
Yes ..............
1
 Q7
No ...............
2
If No, what criteria are used to admit students? [Please tick all that apply.]
Lives in
local area
1
Siblings in
school
2
Primary school
attended
3
Date of
application
4
Religion
5
Other (specify) ___________
6
7. In your assessment, approximately what proportion of students in the school would have such literacy,
numeracy, emotional-behavioural or absenteeism difficulties as to adversely impact on their educational
development? Please tick one box on each line.
Approximate percentage of students with each problem
None
<5%
6-10%
11-25%
26-40%
>40%
a) Literacy Problems ......................... 1 .......... 2 ................ 3 .......................... 4 ..................... 5 ..................... 6
b) Numeracy Problems ..................... 1 .......... 2 ................ 3 .......................... 4 ..................... 5 ..................... 6
c) Emotional/Behavioural problems .. 1 .......... 2 ................ 3 .......................... 4 ..................... 5 ..................... 6
d) Absenteeism ................................. 1 .......... 2 ................ 3 .......................... 4 ..................... 5 ..................... 6
1
8. (a) What is the religious ethos of your school?
Catholic
Church of Ireland
1
Multidenominational
3
2
Interdenominational
4
Other (specify) _______
5
(b) Are there students from families with minority (or no) religious beliefs in your school?
Several
1
A few
2
None
3
Q9
(c) What arrangements are in place for these students during religious education (RE) classes?
Students are withdrawn from RE classes ................................
Students stay in the RE class but do not participate ...............
Students stay in the RE class and participate .........................
RE is not taught in this school .................................................
Other (please specify) .............................................................
1
2
3
4
5
____________________
9. Please indicate the extent to which you believe each of the following to be true of students, their parents
and teachers in your school.
True of
True for
True for
True of
nearly all
more
less than
only a
than half
half
few
Students are well-behaved in class
1
2
3
4
Students are motivated about their schoolwork
1
2
3
4
Students show respect for their teachers
1
2
3
4
Parents attend parent-teacher meetings in the school
1
2
3
4
Parents give their children help and support with schoolwork
1
2
3
4
Parents have contact with the school only if there is a problem
1
2
3
4
Teachers are positive about the school
1
2
3
4
Teachers in the school are open to contact with parents
1
2
3
4
Teachers are open to new developments and challenges
1
2
3
4
10. On what basis are students in the school allocated to their base classes?
Randomly/alphabetically ................................
Other [please specify________________] ....
Performance on tests ..........................
Only 1 class per year-group ................
1
2
3
4
11. To what extent do you think your school is (or would be) in a position to cater adequately for the needs
of newcomer students (that is, students from families where both parents come from outside Ireland)?
Please answer this question WHETHER OR NOT you have newcomer students currently enrolled.
To a great extent
1
To some extent
2
Not to any great extent
3
Not to any extent
4
12. Does your school have a written policy on interculturalism or anti-racism?
Yes, included in School Development Plan
1
Yes, other document
13. To what extent does the school liaise with the following services?
To a great
To some
extent
extent
National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)
1
2
National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB)
1
2
School Development Planning Initiative (SDPI)
1
2
Integrate Ireland Language and Training
1
2
Second Level Support Service
1
2
Social Workers
1
2
Local youth/community workers
1
2
Special Needs Organisers (SENOs)
1
2
Voluntary groups (such as Barnardos, V de Paul)
1
2
2
Not to any
great extent
No
3
Not to any
extent
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
2
14. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements.
Strongly
Agree
agree
Pre-service education prepares teachers for teaching in a multicultural
1
2
setting.
Textbooks and teaching resources take adequate account of diversity
1
2
issues.
In-service education prepares teachers for teaching in a multicultural
1
2
setting.
The junior cycle curriculum takes adequate account of diversity issues.
1
2
The senior cycle curriculum takes adequate account of diversity issues.
1
2
More in-service education is needed for teachers in order to promote
1
2
inclusion within schools.
The Irish educational system prepares young people to live in a
1
2
multicultural society.
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
15. Do you have any written information for parents available in languages other than English/Irish?
No
1
Yes, general information
on Irish educational system
2
Yes, information on
your school

3
If Yes, which languages?
___________
16. Schools use different ways of providing social and personal support for their students. In column (a)
please indicate whether or not your school adopts each of the approaches listed. In column (b), please
tick one box to indicate the approach you think is most important in your school.
(a)
(b)
Used in your school?
Single most
Yes
No
important approach
a) Class tutor ........................................................ 1
2
1
b) Year head ......................................................... 1
2
2
c) Guidance Counsellor ........................................ 1
2
3
d) Student mentors ............................................... 1
2
4
e) School-based counsellor .................................. 1
2
5
f) SPHE classes .................................................. 1
2
6
g) Other (please specify) ___________________ 1
2
7
17. In general, how satisfied are you with the following provision in your school?
Very
Satisfied
Neither
Dissatisfied
satisfied
satisfied
nor
dissatisfied
Social/personal support for students
1
2
3
4
Learning support (excluding language support)
1
2
3
4
Support for students with special educational
1
2
3
4
needs
Very
dissatisfied
5
5
5
18. Approximately how many of each of the following groups of students do you have in your school? If
none, please write ‘NONE’. The same student can be recorded more than once.
Students with physical/sensory disabilities
(Number)
_________
Students with learning/intellectual disabilities
(Number)
_________
Students of families from the Travelling Community
(Number)
_________
Newcomer students, that is, students from families where both parents are from outside Ireland, of whom:
Mother tongue is English/Irish
(Number)
_________
Mother tongue is not English/Irish
(Number)
_________
IF YOU HAVE NO NEWCOMER STUDENTS IN YOUR SCHOOL, PLEASE RETURN THE QUESTIONNAIRE IN
THE PREPAID ENVELOPE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY NEWCOMER STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN YOUR SCHOOL, PLEASE
COMPLETE THE REST OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE.
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PART II: PROFILE OF NEWCOMER STUDENTS
We would like to ask you some questions about newcomer students in your school. By newcomer students, we
mean students from families where both parents are from outside Ireland, whether or not the student’s first language
is English/Irish.
19. To your knowledge, do you have any newcomer students in your school whose families have the
following status? (Please tick yes or no on each line.)
Yes
No
Nationals from EU (27) member States ............................ 1 ............................... 2
Nationals from non-EU countries ...................................... 1 ............................... 2
Unaccompanied minors
...................................... 1 ............................... 2
Granted refugee status or leave to remain ....................... 1 ............................... 2
Asylum-seekers (awaiting or refused decision) ............... 1 ............................... 2
20. Please provide the approximate number of newcomer students in your school by country of origin.
EUROPE
Britain (excl. NI)
Other Western Europe
Poland
Romania
Other EU Eastern Europe
Non-EU Eastern Europe
No.
AMERICA/AUSTRALIA
USA/Canada
Australia/New Zealand
Brazil
Other South/Central
America
No.
ASIA
China
India
Pakistan
Philippines
Other Asia
No.
AFRICA
Nigeria
DR Congo
South Africa
Other Africa
No.
PART III: HOW NEWCOMER STUDENTS SETTLE INTO SCHOOL
21. On arrival to your school, what criteria are used for deciding which year and class group a newcomer
student is allocated to? [Please tick all that apply.]
Report from
previous school
1
Student’s age
2
Interview with
student/parents
3
Individual
assessment
Other
(specify)
5 _______________
4
(b) IF INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT, who is involved in assessing students?
Language support teacher(s)......................................
Resource teacher(s) ...................................................
Learning support teacher(s)........................................
Guidance Counsellor(s) ..............................................
Principal ......................................................................
Other, please specify __________________ .............
1
2
3
4
5
6
22. Compared with other students in your school, how would you rate newcomer students on the following
dimensions on average?
Above average
Average
Below average
1
2
3
Academic achievement
1
2
3
Motivation in relation to schoolwork
1
2
3
Educational aspirations
1
2
3
Behaviour in class
1
2
3
Attendance
23. In your assessment, what proportion of newcomer students experience sustained difficulties in the
following areas?
Nearly all
More than
Less than
Only a few
half
half
1
2
3
4
Academic progress
1
2
3
4
Social interaction with peers
1
2
3
4
Behaviour in class
1
2
3
4
Absenteeism
1
2
3
4
Involvement in extracurricular activities
4
24. If any newcomer students experience sustained difficulties in any of these areas, how much would you
say each of the following factors contribute to these difficulties? [Please tick one box on each line]
A great deal
Quite a lot
A little
Not a factor
Language difficulties among students ........................... 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Language difficulties among parents ............................. 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Literacy difficulties among students ............................... 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Cultural differences ........................................................ 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
New peer group ............................................................. 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Bullying .......................................................................... 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Lack of parental involvement ......................................... 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Starting in the middle of the school year ....................... 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Homework ...................................................................... 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Financial issues ............................................................. 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Racism ........................................................................... 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Mobility between schools ............................................... 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
In foster care/living alone ............................................... 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Schoolwork too challenging ........................................... 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Lack of knowledge of Irish educational system ............. 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Assessed special educational needs ............................. 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Little or no previous schooling experience .................... 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
Psychological difficulties/trauma .................................... 1 ............................... 2 .................................... 3 .......................... 4
25. Do newcomer students from any particular countries experience greater difficulties in settling in?
No ...............
Yes .............
1
2
IF YES, which countries? _____________
26. Do newcomer boys or girls tend to experience greater difficulties?
Newcomer boys ..............
1
Newcomer girls ....
2
No gender difference .........
3
27. (a) Does your school have a particular approach to helping newcomer students settle into the school?
Yes .........
1
No ....................
2
(b) If Yes, please describe as fully as possible the approach taken.
(c) Are any of the following used to support newcomer students: (please tick all that apply)
Breakfast club.................................................................................
Provision of books/learning materials ............................................
Homework club...............................................................................
Financial assistance for trips/outings .............................................
Extra tuition outside school hours ..................................................
Extracurricular activities (incl. Sports) ............................................
Summer camp/project ....................................................................
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
(d) Who is mainly involved in providing general support to newcomer students? [Please tick all that apply].
Language support teacher(s) ......................................................... 1
Resource teacher(s) ....................................................................... 2
Learning support teacher(s) ........................................................... 3
Guidance Counsellor(s).................................................................. 4
Principal .......................................................................................... 4
Year head/class tutor ..................................................................... 6
Home School Community Liaison Co-ordinator ............................. 7
Student mentors ............................................................................. 8
Chaplain ......................................................................................... 9
Subject teachers ............................................................................. 10
Other, please specify __________________ ................................ 11
5
28. What (other) supports, if any, would you like to see in place for newcomer students?
29. (a) Compared to other students in your school, do you think newcomer students are:
More likely to experience bullying
1
As likely to experience bullying
(b) Does your school have a written policy on bullying?
Does this policy explicitly deal with racial harassment
(including use of racist language)?
2
Less likely to experience bullying
Yes
1
No
2
Yes
1
No
2
3
PART IV: LANGUAGE SUPPORT FOR NEWCOMER STUDENTS
For many newcomer students, English or Irish is not their first language. We are going to ask you some questions
about language support provision for these students.
30. Do you have access to translation services for communicating with parents and/or students?
Yes .............
1
No ...............
2
31. Does your school provide language (or other) courses for parents of newcomer students?
Yes .............
1
No ...............
2
32. In your assessment, what proportion of newcomer students in your school have English language
difficulties to the extent that they significantly impact on their participation in school? What proportion
of their parents have English language difficulties? Please tick one box on each line.
Nearly all
More than
Less than
Only a few
Difficulties with:
half
half
Spoken English among students
1
2
3
4
Written English among students
1
2
3
4
Spoken English among parents of newcomers
1
2
3
4
33. (a) Please indicate whether or not the following approaches are used in providing language support for
newcomer students? [Tick Yes or No in respect of each]
Yes
No
1. Intensive immersion course
.................................................... 1
2
2. Withdrawal for certain class periods .................................................... 1
2
If yes, which ones? ____________________________________________________
3. Newcomer students are assigned to a separate base class................. 1
2
4. Students’ needs are addressed by regular subject teachers ................ 1
2
5. Students are helped by other students in their class .......................... 1
2
6. Other (please specify) ______________________________
1
2
(b) At the moment, how many newcomer students in your school receive formal language support? _______
(c) How satisfied are you with the English language support which the school is able to provide to
newcomer students? [Please tick one box on each line]
Very
Satisfied
Neither
Dissatisfied
Very
satisfied
satisfied nor
dissatisfied
dissatisfied
No. of students receiving help
5
1
2
3
4
No. of hours given to each student
5
1
2
3
4
Availability of trained teachers
5
1
2
3
4
34. Is there any other issue related to newcomer students on which you would like to comment? Please feel
free to continue on a separate sheet.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COMPLETE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE.
PLEASE RETURN TO THE ESRI IN THE ENCLOSED PRE-PAID ENVELOPE.
6