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Appendix 3 Interview Schedules
Strategies to address gender inequalities in Scottish schools
Interview Structure: staff in schools
This schedule should be used as a guide to the key areas to be discussed during the interview with individual members of staff in case study schools.
1. Outline of role:
- What has been your role in this work/project?
2. What is the problem/issue that you are trying to address through this project?
- Why did you begin this project?
- Who is involved in the project?
- How long has it been running - how long do you intend it will continue?
3. What has been the impact of the project so far?
- Why do you think it is having this impact?
- What have been the good aspects, the not so good aspects?
- What has been the impact on the wider school?
4. How has the project been managed in the school?
5. What support and guidance have you been able to draw upon?
- SMT/ LA
- Staff development
- development time
- materials/resources
6. Where would you like to see this project go (next)?
Thank you very much for answering my questions.
Focus group schedule: pupils
The themes for the focus groups have been taken from the aims of the research. Although most of the prompts are framed as questions, they are meant only to be guiding questions for the interviewer. The actual wording, and the number of questions or statements used, is at the discretion of the interviewer at the time of the visit.
Theme 1: | the extent of and key factors in gender inequalities |
Prompts: | Do you think that boys or girls do better in school? |
Why do you think this is? |
Theme 2: | current policies and strategies |
Prompts: | What do you do in your school to help girls/boys have a better experience? |
Tell me about 'programme X'. |
Theme 3: | impact of inequalities on self-esteem, confidence, aspirations and choice within and beyond school |
Prompts: | What subjects do you like best in school? |
Are girls or boys better at those subjects? |
Why are they/are they not better? |
Does it matter if you are a girl or a boy? |
What subjects are you looking forward to doing at secondary? |
Why do you want to do those subjects? |
What would you like to be when you leave school? Why? |
Do you think boys/girls would be better at that job and does it matter? |
Give me an example of a typical boy/girl job. |
What jobs could a boy/girl not do? |
Are there any of these jobs that you would like to do? |
Theme 4: | examples of effective strategies |
Prompts: | How well do you think that 'programme X' has helped girls/boys? |
What do you think would have been different if there had been no 'programme X'? |
What changes has 'programme X' made to the school? |
Thank you very much for answering my questions.
Interview structure: parents
The following questions should be modified in the light of the sector (pre-5, primary, secondary) and with regard to the specific strategies under discussion.
1. General
Can you tell me a bit about your son/daughter? What stage is s/he at? How is s/he doing at school?
What contact have you had in general with the school?
Are you happy with how the school provides for your child (for his/her learning, well-being, etc.)? Is your son/daughter happy?
2. Gender
There is interest in how boys and girls do in the education system. Do you think that there are particular issues affecting boys? Or girls? If so, what are they?
If you think that there are gender differences in education, how would you explain them?
What kinds of things might schools do to address gender differences?
3. Gender strategies
Are you aware of what this school is trying to do to address gender issues? What are your views of this initiative?
Were you informed about this project? How?
Can you describe what is involved for your child? And for you?
How long has the project been running? Do you intend to continue your own and your child's involvement?
4. Impact
Has the project made any difference to your child, for example, to his/her attitude or attainment?
What have you particularly liked about the project? Can you give me any examples?
Have there been any drawbacks?
How could this project be developed further, do you think?
5. Conclusion
Is there anything you would like to add to what you have already said?
Thank you very much for answering my questions.
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