Morna International College PTA Wellness and Safeguarding · Community Survey 2026
Independent Community Survey

The Prevalence Survey *

An independent community survey to complement the school's wellbeing data and support a shared, evidence-based picture of pupil experience at Morna.

4
Survey instruments
45%
Uplift in accuracy using behavioural itemisation vs self-label
169
Pupil responses needed at 95% CI
70%
Target parent response rate

Why we use behavioural itemisation

Our instruments describe specific observable behaviours rather than asking pupils whether they have "been bullied". This reflects two well-evidenced principles: self-reporting is unreliable, and some forms of unkind behaviour are so common in school settings that pupils no longer recognise them as unusual — meaning they would not be captured by a yes/no self-label question.

Why this matters: Behavioural itemisation gives a more complete picture of pupil experience. It is the established best-practice approach in peer victimisation research (Sjögren et al., 2025) and is the foundation of validated instruments used internationally including OBVQ-R, MPVS, and PSH-C.
Instrument 1A
Primary Pupils

Ages 7–11 · 23 items · 4-point scale · Adult read-aloud. OBVQ-R + MPVS + PRQ bystander.

Instrument 1B
Secondary Pupils

Ages 11–18 · 45 items · 5 sections including sexual harassment (PSH-C) and definitional T/F.

Instruments 2 & 3
Parents

Prevalence + school confidence + community views on how incidents are handled. Plus standalone VbE awareness survey (2 min).

What we are measuring

Target populationSurveyKey measuresAdmin model
Primary pupils (7–11)Instrument 1APhysical, verbal, possessions, social exclusion, discriminatory targeting, onlineParent completes on behalf of child at home
Secondary pupils (11–18)Instrument 1BAll of the above + sexual harassment, perpetration, bystander roles, reporting trust, definitional comprehensionParent forwards link; child self-completes
All parent householdsInstrument 2Child experience (proxy), school confidence, trust in school data, VbE readinessDirect to all parent households via PTA channels
All parent householdsInstrument 3 (VbE)VbE awareness, community readiness, participation willingnessDirect — runs alongside or independently of Instrument 2
Instruments · June 2026

Community Survey *

Four instruments built on validated behavioural itemisation methodology. Each survey describes specific behaviours in plain, age-appropriate language — no leading questions, no use of the words "bullying" or "bully". Designed to complement the school's own wellbeing data. Click any instrument to explore the full item bank.

Why this matters
Why we use behavioural itemisation
SHOW

Research consistently shows that asking children "have you been bullied?" produces lower prevalence estimates than behavioural itemisation. Children do not share a uniform understanding of the word, and adolescents are less likely to self-identify as victims. Behavioural itemisation — describing specific acts and letting researchers classify them — is the established best-practice approach in peer victimisation research.

Our instruments use behavioural itemisation — describing specific observable behaviours and letting the researcher classify bullying analytically after data collection.

Wrong: "Have you been bullied about your appearance?"
Right: "Has someone made fun of the way you look, your weight, or your hair?"
Sources: Sjögren et al. (2025) PMC11874513 · Kubiszewski et al. (2015) PubMed 25938336
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Instrument 1A
Primary Pupil Survey
Ages 7–11 · Read aloud by trusted adult · Not self-administered
OBVQ-R + MPVS

Designed for younger children. Every question describes a specific behaviour in plain language — no "bullying" or "bully" wording, no leading questions, no emotionally loaded phrasing. The child simply says how often something has happened. Read aloud by a trusted adult at home, not administered in school.

Items
23
Scale
4-point
Sections
3
Age range
7–11
OBVQ-R adapted MPVS items PRQ bystander No bully label
Section A — Things that have happened to you · Never / Once / Sometimes / A lot
1Has someone hit, kicked, or pushed you on purpose when you did not want them to?
2Has someone hurt you in another physical way — like scratching, pinching, or throwing things at you?
3Has someone called you names or said things to upset you?
4Has someone laughed at you or made fun of you in front of others?
5Has someone made comments about the way you look, your weight, or your hair?
6Has someone made comments about your skin colour, where you are from, or your religion?
7Has someone made fun of the things you like or the way you act?
8Has someone taken your things — like your bag, lunch, or stationery — without asking?
9Has someone broken or damaged something that belongs to you on purpose?
10Has someone hidden your things so you could not find them?
11Has someone told other children not to be your friend?
12Has someone left you out on purpose when everyone else was included?
13Has someone spread untrue stories or lies about you to other children?
14Has someone sent you an upsetting message, or said unkind things about you in a game or online?
15Has someone shared something about you online or in a message without you wanting them to?
Section B — When you see it happen to someone else · Never / Sometimes / Often / Always
16When you see someone being treated meanly, do you try to help them or stand up for them?
17When you see someone being treated meanly, do you tell a grown-up or report it?
18When you see someone being treated meanly, do you walk away and do nothing?
19When you see someone being treated meanly, do you join in because other children are doing it?
Section C — Telling a grown-up · Probably not / Maybe / Probably yes / Yes, definitely
20If something like this happened to you, would you tell a grown-up at school?
21If you told a teacher, do you think they would help?
22Is there a grown-up at school you trust and could talk to if you had a problem?
23Have you ever not told a grown-up about something because you were worried about getting into trouble or something bad happening?
Download DOCX Print-ready · Word document
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Instrument 1B
Secondary Pupil Survey
Ages 11–18 · Self-completed · 5 sections
OBVQ-R + PSH-C

Self-completed survey using validated item banks. Each question describes a specific behaviour — pupils are never asked to label their experience as "bullying". Includes a section on sexual harassment (PSH-C), bystander roles (PRQ), and definitional comprehension (True/False items to assess awareness of what constitutes a problem behaviour).

Items
45
Scale
5-point + T/F
Sections
A–E
Age range
11–18
OBVQ-R PSH-C sexual harassment PRQ bystander MDS3 climate No bully label in A–C
Section A — Victimisation (20 items · Never / 1–2 times / 2–3x month / ~Once/week / Several/week)
1Someone hit, kicked, or pushed me on purpose
2Someone hurt me physically in another way (punching, tripping, spitting, throwing things)
3Someone called me hurtful names or swore at me
4Someone made nasty jokes or comments about me directly
5Someone made comments about my appearance, weight, or body
6Someone made comments about my race, nationality, or where I come from
7Someone targeted me because of my religion or culture
8Someone targeted me because of who I fancy or my sexuality
9Someone made fun of me for not fitting their idea of how boys or girls should behave
10Someone took my belongings without permission
11Someone broke or damaged something that belongs to me on purpose
12Someone hid or moved my things without permission
13Someone deliberately excluded me from a group or activity
14Someone told others not to be friends with me or to stay away from me
15Someone spread lies or untrue stories about me
16Someone sent me mean or hurtful messages (text, social media, gaming chat)
17Someone shared photos, videos, or information about me without my permission
18Someone made sexual comments about me or my body
19Someone touched me in a sexual way that I did not want [PSH-C · Safeguarding note included]
20Someone threatened to hurt me or used threats to make me do something I did not want to do
Section B — Perpetration (7 items · same frequency scale · Optional / ethics sign-off required)
21I called someone names or said unkind things to upset them
22I made comments about someone's appearance or body to hurt them
23I made unkind comments about someone's race, nationality, or religion
24I deliberately left someone out of a group or activity
25I spread stories or rumours about someone that were not true
26I sent mean or hurtful messages to someone
27I threatened to hurt someone or used threats to make them do something
Section C — Bystander (5 items · Never / Rarely / Sometimes / Often / Always)
28When I see someone being targeted like this, I try to help or stand up for them
29When I see someone being targeted like this, I tell a trusted adult
30When I see someone being targeted like this, I ignore it and walk away
31When I see someone being targeted like this, I join in because others are doing it
32When I see someone being targeted like this, I comfort them afterwards
Section D — Reporting & Trust (6 items · Strongly disagree → Strongly agree)
33If I told a teacher about something like this happening to me, they would do something about it
34At this school, students who report these incidents to teachers are supported for doing so
35I know who I would go to at this school if I needed help with a problem like this
36I have felt worried about speaking up about something because of what might happen to me
37The school deals with incidents like these fairly, regardless of who is involved
38I feel safe at this school
Section E — True or False? (7 items · definitional comprehension)
39For something to count as bullying, it has to happen more than once to the same person Correct: True
40If someone hits you once in a fight, that is the same as bullying Correct: False
41Bullying can happen through messages and social media, not just face to face Correct: True
42Leaving someone out of a group on purpose is a form of bullying Correct: True
43Making racist comments to someone at school is a form of bullying Correct: True
44There has to be a physical act for something to count as bullying Correct: False
45Making sexual comments about someone at school is against school rules Correct: True
Download DOCX Print-ready · Word document
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Instrument 2
Parent & Community Survey
All parent households · Online distribution · NCSSLE-based
NCSSLE + MDS3

Covers child experience (proxy reporting), parents' confidence in how the school handles incidents, and community views on Values-Based Education. Q13 invites parents to reflect on the school's communication about wellbeing data.

Items
24 + open text
Scale
Yes/No + Likert 5-pt
Sections
A–D
Audience
All households
NCSSLE base MDS3 climate School confidence items VbE section included
Section A — Your Child's Experience (Yes / Not sure / No)
1Has your child ever told you they were targeted, teased, hurt, or excluded by another pupil at this school?
2Has your child told you this kind of treatment has happened more than once? Answer if Yes to Q1
3Has your child told you they were treated differently because of their race, nationality, religion, or appearance?
4Has your child told you they experienced sexual comments or unwanted physical contact from another pupil?
5Has your child experienced harassment through messages, social media, or online games related to this school community?
6Has your child experienced physical violence or threats from another pupil at this school?
7Did you report any of the above experiences to the school? Answer if Yes to any of Q1–6
8Were you satisfied with how the school handled your report? Answer if Yes to Q7
Section B — Confidence in the School's Handling (Strongly disagree → Strongly agree)
9I am confident that the school would handle a bullying complaint involving my child seriously
10I know how to make a formal complaint to the school about bullying or harassment
11When I have raised concerns with the school, I felt listened to
12I believe the school applies its policies consistently, regardless of who is involved
13I trust the school's own reported data on bullying prevalence Community confidence in school communication
14I feel that concerns raised by parents are treated confidentially
15I believe the school takes incidents of racism and discrimination seriously
16I believe the school takes sexual harassment among pupils seriously
Section C — Community Values & VbE
17I am aware that the school has a stated anti-bullying policy
18I believe the school currently has a clearly communicated set of shared values that pupils, staff, and families understand
19Have you heard of Values-Based Education (VbE) before? Yes / I've heard the term / No — precedes VbE explanation
20After reading the description, I would support the school formally adopting a Values-Based Education approach
21I believe a shared values framework would reduce bullying and improve school culture
22I believe the school currently has the culture and leadership needed to implement VbE effectively
23I would be willing to take part in a community workshop to help define the school's shared values
24I would feel comfortable signing a Parental Code of Conduct aligned with agreed community values
Section D — Open Response
25Is there anything about your child's experience or your own experience as a parent at this school that the questions above did not cover? (Please do not include names.) Free text field
Download DOCX Print-ready · Word document
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Instrument 3
VbE Awareness Survey
Standalone · 2 minutes · All parents · Analytically separate
2 MINS

Lightweight standalone survey on Values-Based Education community readiness. Analytically separate from the prevalence data — keeps a safeguarding investigation distinct from a strategic initiative. Can run simultaneously with Instrument 2 or independently.

Items
8
Scale
Agreement + Yes/Maybe/No
Sections
3
Est. time
2 minutes
VbE readiness Community participation Standalone
Q1 — Awareness (Yes I know it / I've heard the term / No, new to me)
1Have you heard of Values-Based Education (VbE)? Precedes 4-sentence VbE explanation
Section A — Your Views on VbE (Strongly disagree → Strongly agree)
2I would support the school formally adopting a Values-Based Education (VbE) approach
3I believe a shared values framework would reduce bullying and improve school culture
4I believe the school currently has a clearly communicated set of shared values
5The school's current approach to values and behaviour is working well
Section B — Willingness to Participate (Yes / Maybe / No)
6I would attend a community workshop to help develop the school's shared values
7I would feel comfortable signing a Parental Code of Conduct aligned with agreed values
8I would encourage my child to actively engage with a values programme at school
Section C — Open (optional)
9What values do you believe a school community should share? Free text · optional
Download DOCX Print-ready · Word document

Sample Size Calculator

Enter the number of responses received to see what confidence interval and representativeness claim you can make.

Pupil Responses (out of ~300)
Parent Responses (out of ~250)
Report language
Interpreting methodology differences in the report
SHOW

Use this framing in the final report when the school objects that our prevalence findings are higher than their own data:

"Where our findings differ from the school's own data, this is consistent with well-documented differences in survey methodology. Behavioural survey instruments — which ask about specific acts rather than asking whether someone has been bullied — are established in the research literature as producing more complete prevalence estimates. Any difference in findings should be understood in this context and used as a starting point for constructive dialogue with the school."
Sjögren et al. (2025) PMC11874513 · Kubiszewski et al. (2015) PubMed 25938336
Validated Instruments · Key References

Research Basis *

All four instruments are built on peer-reviewed, validated measurement tools. This page documents the source instruments and key methodological references.

Source instruments

InstrumentWhat it coversUsed in
OBVQ-R (Revised Olweus)Verbal, physical, social exclusion, property, racial, sexual, cyber1A & 1B (core)
MPVS (Mynard & Joseph)Physical, verbal, social manipulation, property attacks1A (primary)
PRQ (KiVa Bystander)Bystander roles — defender, outsider, reinforcer, assistant1A & 1B Section C
PSH-C (Valik et al.)Peer sexual harassment, ages 10–12, validated1B sexual harassment items
MDS3 School SafetyReporting culture, school climate, bystander behaviour1B & 2 reporting/trust
NCSSLE CompendiumParent school safety, communication, confidenceInstrument 2
BVF-KPrimary age (4–10), validated1A age-appropriate language reference
Core methodology
Sjögren et al. (2025) — Definition-Based vs Behavior-Based Scales
Journal of Interpersonal Violence · PMC11874513
Behavioural instruments produce more complete prevalence estimates than self-label instruments. The difference reflects measurement approach rather than actual incidence levels. Providing a definition before the question reduces responses by up to 45%.
Explains why behavioural instruments produce more complete prevalence estimates. Essential context for interpreting any differences in findings.
PMC11874513 →
Question order effects
Kubiszewski et al. (2015) — Impact of question order on bullying victimisation prevalence
Aggressive Behavior · PubMed 25938336
Question order significantly affects prevalence estimates. Self-label questions placed early reduce subsequent behavioural item responses — a key consideration for any survey instrument design.
Useful methodological context for understanding how question order and framing affect prevalence estimates.
PubMed 25938336 →
Instrument validation
Gaete et al. (2021) — Validation of OBVQ-R, Chile
Frontiers in Psychology · PMC8072054
Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire validated in Spanish-speaking population. Strong psychometric properties for victimisation and perpetration subscales across primary and secondary ages.
Validates use of OBVQ-R items in Spanish school context (Morna is in Spain).
PMC8072054 →
Spain validation
Useche et al. (2021) — CIE-A validation, Spain
PLoS ONE · PMC8575267
Spanish validation of cyberbullying and victimisation instrument. Confirms appropriateness of behavioural item approach in Spanish school population.
Additional Spanish-context validation supporting our instrument choice.
PMC8575267 →
Spain 2026
Bartolomé-Gutiérrez et al. (2026) — ZBBS Spanish validation, ages 11–17
Psychiatry International · doi:10.3390/psychiatryint7010020
2026 Spanish validation of brief bullying victimisation and perpetration scale. Confirms current relevance of behavioural measurement in Spanish adolescent populations.
Most recent Spain-validated instrument. Confirms approach is current and contextually appropriate.
Sexual harassment
Valik et al. (2023) — PSH-C Peer Sexual Harassment — Children scale
Journal of Social Issues · SPSSI Wiley
Validated scale for peer sexual harassment in children ages 10–12. Strong criterion validity. Designed specifically for the age group where sexual harassment is most underreported.
Direct source for sexual harassment items in Instrument 1B. Essential for measuring an incident type specifically documented by the PTA.
Sample size
Cochran (1977) / Yamane (1967) — Sample size for finite populations
Statistical methodology
Standard formula for calculating required sample size from finite population at given confidence interval and margin of error. At 95% CI, ±5% margin: n = N / (1 + N·e²). For N=300 pupils: n=169 (56%). For N=250 households: n=152 (61%).
Underpins all sample size claims in the report. Use these figures when asserting "representative sample".
School climate
MDS3 School Safety and Bystander Behaviour
PubMed 35444357
Validated school climate instrument measuring reporting culture, safety perceptions, and bystander behaviour. Widely used in peer-reviewed bullying research.
Source for Section D (reporting/trust) items in Instrument 1B and school confidence items in Instrument 2.
PubMed 35444357 →
Parent survey
NCSSLE School Climate Survey Compendium
safesupportivelearning.ed.gov
US Department of Education compendium of validated school climate survey instruments including parent batteries covering safety, communication, and confidence in school response.
Base instrument for Instrument 2 parent confidence items. Widely replicated and well-established in school wellbeing research.
safesupportivelearning.ed.gov →
Downloads · All Versions

Document Set *

All survey instruments and supporting documents produced by the PTA Wellness and Safeguarding Team. Survey instruments are print-ready Word documents.

Survey instruments (June 2026)

Primary Pupils · DOCX

Instrument 1A

Primary Pupil Survey · Ages 7–11 · 23 items · Adult read-aloud. No "bullying/bully" wording. OBVQ-R + MPVS adapted items.

Secondary Pupils · DOCX

Instrument 1B

Secondary Pupil Survey · Ages 11–18 · 45 items · 5 sections. Includes PSH-C sexual harassment items and definitional T/F.

All Households · DOCX

Instrument 2

Parent Survey · 24 items + open text · Child experience, school confidence, VbE community readiness.

Standalone · DOCX

Instrument 3 — VbE

VbE Awareness Survey · 8 items · 2 minutes. Community readiness for Values-Based Education adoption.

Foundation documents

Foundation · PDF

Values Working Paper V28

Vision, mission, five values, behaviours table, and workshop proposal. The foundational document of the initiative.

Accountability · PDF

Accountability Framework V4

School-facing policy aligned to LOPIVI. Covers the Coordinator obligation, digital bullying, 4 behaviour categories, and annual review.

Policy · PDF

Anti-Bullying Policy V1

Child and family-facing policy. Covers definitions, expected conduct, and a 5-step graduated response framework.

Roadmap · DOCX

VbE Adoption Pathway V1

Step-by-step pathway for school adoption of Values-Based Education. Six foundational documents in preparation.

Parental · DOCX

Parental Code of Conduct V4

Legally binding annex to the enrolment agreement. Sets expectations for parents and covers process for breaches.

Legal note · PDF

CoC Enforceability Note

Legal analysis of enforceability mechanisms for the Code of Conduct under Spanish and international law.