What does the evaluation involve for my school?

The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) member responsible for overseeing the programme will be invited to take part in a short online survey during the first term of the programme and again at the end of the programme.

They will also be asked to circulate short online surveys to school staff and pupils at their school so we can gather their perspectives. This may involve arranging for pupils to have access to devices to complete the survey during non-teaching time.

Some schools who agree to take part in further research will also be invited to take part in case study visits where IFF Research will speak with teachers, pupils and parents about attendance and behaviour at the school. Participation is entirely voluntary.

IFF Research will analyse your school’s attendance and behaviour data that DfE already holds. There is no need for schools to prepare or send additional data.

How are the findings used?

The results of this evaluation will be used by DfE to understand how the RISE Attendance and Behaviour Hubs programme is working and being delivered, what impact it is having on schools, what could be improved, and whether the programme is good value for money.

Findings from the research will be published in winter 2029.

Will my responses be kept anonymous?

Yes. Everything you share with us, including survey answers or information given in interviews, will be kept anonymous and used for research purposes only. Findings from the evaluation will be reported to DfE in aggregate form, meaning your responses to questions are presented in a way that they will not directly identify you or your school.

For more information on how your data will be handled see our privacy notice.

Who is IFF Research?

IFF Research is an independent social research company. Our role is to gather evidence about how the programme is being delivered. We are impartial and follow strict data protection and ethical standards to ensure that all findings are reliable, robust and reported anonymously. We are experienced in carrying out evaluations with school leaders, teachers, and pupils. You can find out more about us on our website here.

Where did you get my details from?

DfE have shared the contact details of the individuals responsible for overseeing the programme at each school with us, solely for the purposes of carrying out the evaluation. Your school may have forwarded you information about the evaluation and asked you to participate in the research, but they have not shared your contact details with us directly.

How much time will the surveys take?

SLT and staff surveys will take around 15 minutes to complete. Student surveys have been designed to be quick and accessible and will take no longer than 5 minutes to complete.

How do I complete the survey?

The SLT member responsible for overseeing the programme at each school will be sent an email with a link to complete the survey. They will also be sent links for the school staff and student surveys and asked to circulate them. To complete the survey, just follow the link you have been sent.