Pupil information sheet: online survey
What is the Theatre in Education project?
It is a project to find out if using drama productions could help prevent young people trying or using illegal drugs. A theatre performance is part of your part of your school’s PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economics) education lessons. This research will find out more about the impact of the performance and lessons.
The project is being run by East Sussex County Council, the University of Brighton, and secondary schools. All secondary schools in East Sussex were invited to take part in the project. The research project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
What is the online survey?
The survey asks questions about your health and wellbeing and what you think about drugs. Your answers will help us understand the impact the theatre production Time Out has on your knowledge and attitudes to illegal drug use. The survey will help us to plan future activities that aim to promote young people’s health. Questions in the survey will ask about your:
- wellbeing
- knowledge about drug use
- motivation and experiences relevant to drug use.
We will ask you to complete two surveys; once before you see Time Out at school and again some weeks later. Each survey will take about 20 minutes to complete. The questions are multiple choice.
You will not be asked to tell us any information that identifies you (for example, your name or address). We will ask for your age, gender and school. We will also ask you to pick a favourite hobby, colour and number. You will be asked to note down and remember the responses to these three questions from the first survey until the second. This will help is to link up your responses in the first and second surveys. Linking responses helps us understand more about the impact that Time Out and the lessons have.
Who collects and sees the survey answers?
Your answers will be collected in a secure online survey. The answers will be stored on a secure, password-protected database by the University of Brighton. Only approved researchers at the University of Brighton and East Sussex County Council can see the answers. Your school will not store or receive any copies of the answers you share with us.
How is the information from the surveys used?
The information you give is anonymous. That means you cannot be identified. No-one will be able to find out who you are from the answers you give; your identity will therefore be confidential, and your answers will not be linked back to you in any reports or publications.
Your answers will be analysed by researchers at the University of Brighton to understand the impact of the Theatre in Education project. The results may be:
- written up as a report for other researchers
- shared in academic publications or meetings
- shared with schools as part of a toolkit about Theatre in Education
- presented in a short film which will be available to the public.
You will hear about the results of the research from your teacher, through future PSHE lessons. Reports will also be available on the East Sussex Joint Strategic Needs Assessment website in autumn 2025.
What are the risks of answering the survey?
There is a risk that the survey could bring up uncomfortable feelings or memories. If you experience this and need support, please speak to your teacher, the school’s safeguarding lead or an adult at the school who you trust. You can also visit the Talk to Frank website for honest information about drugs: www.talktofrank.com. If you are uncomfortable with a survey question, you can select ‘prefer not to say’ or skip the question.
What are the benefits of answering the survey?
There are no personal benefits to you for answering the survey. However, the more pupils who take part, the more information we will have to help us understand the impact of the theatre production. If you take part you will help shape future PSHE education.
Do I have to take part?
It is your choice whether you want to answer the survey. If you decide to take part, you will be asked to tick a box in the online survey to show you understand and agree to giving your answers. You can also change your mind at any time without giving a reason. If you decide to stop answering the questions, we may still need to use your responses provided so far. We will not be able to find your individual responses and delete them because your data is anonymous. We will therefore still use the information you have provided up to that point.
Can I say no to some questions?
Yes, you have the right not to take part or to decide not to answer any or all questions. This will not affect you seeing the in the Theatre in Education performance or any related school activities. If you have questions or concerns about the information collected, please discuss them with your teacher, ask your parent/carer/guardian, or contact the project research team.
How is my data protected?
We will follow data protection laws and only collect data that is needed for this study. All information will be stored securely. We will follow University of Brighton and East Sussex County Council data protection and information security policies.
For further details about the pupil survey please see the privacy notice at: Privacy Policy Pupil Survey
Who has reviewed the study?
The survey has been reviewed so that it is ethical and carried out professionally. The survey study has been approved by the Cross-School Research Ethics Committee A at the University of Brighton.
Contact details
If you have questions or complaints about the project please ask your teacher or parent/carer/guardian. You can ask them to contact Professor Jörg Huber or David Bishop. You can also contact the ethics committee that reviewed the project, the Cross-School Research Ethics Committee A, and the Chair, Dr Lucy Redhead.
If you need this information in an alternative format please ask your teacher or contact Gemma Faithfull by email or call 07922 574718.
What happens next?
If you are happy to complete the survey, please tick ‘yes, I agree’ in the electronic consent form (within the online survey).
Thank you for taking the time to read this information sheet and for considering being part of this important project. Your input will help improve education programs for young people like you.
