Sports Survey Results

Recently, a survey was conducted among MLC School parents to gather feedback on the School’s sports programs. Thank you to those who provided valuable insights into their experiences with sport at MLC School. The findings reveal a mix of satisfaction and areas for improvement, highlighting both the strengths and challenges faced by the Sports Department.

The infographic at the end of this article summarises the key findings and offers a glimpse into the overall sentiment of the parents, their appreciation for the variety of sports offered, and their suggestions for enhancing the quality of co-curricular sport at MLC School.

Survey Overview:

24% of parents responded to the survey.
Of those respondents, 87% had daughters who participated in sports

Satisfaction Levels:

53.8% expressed satisfaction with the current sports offerings
23.8% responded as neutral with their satisfaction rating
22.4% of parents were dissatisfied with the sports programs

Key Findings:

Goals for Sport:
It was pleasing to note that families shared the same goals for their daughters’ experience with sport as the Sports Department do. Above winning and results, parents believe that girls will want to keep playing sport if they find it fun and enjoyable. They were also interested in students being provided with opportunities to develop teamwork and leadership skills and improve their fundamental movement skills.

Compulsory Sport:
Many parents support the idea of making sports participation compulsory for students, particularly from Year 7 to Year 10. They believe that engaging in sport has numerous benefits, including physical health, mental well-being, and social skills development.

There were suggestions to allow flexibility in the types of physical activities that count towards compulsory participation. This includes recognising activities like martial arts, surfing, and dance, which some students are already committed to outside of school.

Positive Aspects:
Many parents appreciated the variety of sports available and acknowledged the positive impact of sports on their daughters.

Areas for Improvement:

Communication: There is a need for better communication between the Sports Department and parents.
Scheduling: Challenges with scheduling were noted as a significant issue.
Investment: Parents expressed a desire for the school to invest in better coaches, resources, and facilities.

Addressing the feedback from the survey requires a strategic plan that focuses on enhancing the areas of improvement.

In 2025, we will be implementing a new sports strategy with a focus on the following areas:

Enhanced Communication:

Accessible Communication:

We will continue to use various communication channels such as emails, newsletters, OMNIA app, and social media to reach parents through their preferred medium.

Regular Updates: We will continue to keep parents informed about sports events, schedules, and any changes through newsletters, OMNIA, emails and social media platforms.
Feedback Mechanisms: Your feedback is valuable in helping us provide an excellent program. We will provide both formal and informal channels for ongoing feedback from parents and students. We will be sending out surveys to students and parents at the conclusion of the season or semester to gather feedback on their sport experience. This will help address concerns promptly and improve transparency.
Timely response to emails: We will ensure that we respond to your emails within 24 hours during the working week so that any concerns or queries can are addressed in a timely manner.

Improved Scheduling:

Flexible Schedules: Develop a more flexible scheduling system to accommodate the diverse needs of students and parents. This might include avoiding clashes with other cocurricular activities and school events.
Advance Notice: Where possible, provide advance notice of schedules and any changes to help parents plan better.

Investment in Coaches, Resources, and Facilities:

Hiring Qualified Coaches: We will aim to invest in hiring well-trained and experienced coaches to provide quality training and mentorship to our students and younger coaches.
Upgrade Facilities: Allocate budget for upkeep of our sports facilities, such as fields, courts, and gyms, to ensure a safe and conducive environment for practice and competitions. Where this is not possible, we will look at alternative venues.
We are excited to announce that plans for our new Performing Arts and Sports Centre are well underway. We are currently in discussions with our architects regarding the two new indoor courts that will provide much needed training space, storage space and grandstand seating. Stage 2 will see an additional Learn to Swim pool, and additional strength and conditioning room and learning space.
Resource Allocation: Ensure that adequate resources, such as sports equipment and uniforms, are available for all sports programs equitably.

Promoting the Positive Impact of Sports:

Highlight Success Stories: Share success stories of students who have benefited from sports, both academically and personally. This can encourage more participation and support from parents.
Community Involvement: Foster a sense of community by organising events that involve parents, students, and staff, such as sports days, and attendance at inter-school competitions.
Explore the introduction of parent merchandise: The survey indicated that parents were interested in MLC School supporters’ gear. This will build a sense of community and belonging for our parents and families when they attend sports fixtures to cheer on our teams.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

Performance Measures: Establish clear performance measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the improvements. Regularly review these measures to make informed decisions, keeping parents informed.
Continuous Improvement: Keep referring to the sport strategy and reviewing it based on feedback and changing needs. Regularly update the plan to reflect new challenges and opportunities.

Implementing this strategic plan will require collaboration between the Sports Department, the School Leadership team, coaches, parents, and students. By focusing on these key areas, we can enhance the cocurricular sport program and create a more positive and supportive environment for MLC School students.

– Melissa Boyd – Lisa Filby
Deputy Principal Director of Sport

Click on the gallery below to view full infographic