Education On Fire - Sharing creative and inspiring learning in our schools podcast

Pupil Voice Surveys That Actually Change a School — Jamie Moseley-Sarsfield, Fairfield Prep

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Jamie Moseley-Sarsfield is the Deputy Head Academic at Fairfield Prep School, part of the Loughborough Schools Foundation. He focuses on enhancing pupil experience and academic engagement, recently leading initiatives such as adapting IAPS pupil voice surveys for younger years and implementing STEAM-based enterprise education.

Key Takeaways

  • High engagement changes what a survey means — a 90%+ response rate across 31 schools and 4,500+ children gave Fairfield genuine confidence in the results, not just a token gesture.
  • Reading came out lower than expected nationally — prompting Fairfield to design their own follow-up survey, tailored by age, to understand why.
  • Children who saw fewer adults reading at home still valued and enjoyed reading just as much, challenging an assumption the school expected to confirm.
  • AI and screen-time debate is polarising schools — Fairfield's approach is deliberately cautious: gather evidence, avoid rash decisions, keep tradition and innovation both on the table.
  • STEAM grew from a single enrichment week into a whole-school strategy — including a standalone DTE (Design, Technology & Engineering) subject and a staff-led STEAM committee.
  • Parent-led Engineering Days work because they're personal, not prescriptive — asking parents "how did your passion begin?" builds far deeper buy-in than a generic "come and help" request.
  • Careers work shifted from academic to practical — pupil feedback drove a redesigned careers fair connecting children with real workplace journeys, not just university pathways.

Chapters:

  • 00:02 - Interview: Jamie Mosley Sarsfield — Deputy Head Academic, Fairfield Prep
  • 00:35 - Podcast Welcome & Show Overview
  • 07:09 - Unexpectedly Low Reading Scores in the Survey
  • 13:25 - Building a Reading Culture: Library, Librarian and Survey-led Initiatives
  • 23:50 - Broadening the Curriculum: Integrating STEAM and the Arts
  • 30:39 - Engaging Parents and Community in STEAM and Careers
  • 37:12 - Introducing FIRE: Feedback, Inspiration, Resilience & Empowerment
  • 42:27 - Getting Involved: How to Find Out More About Fairfield Prep

https://lborofairfield.org

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