About school climate

School climate is the learning environment and relationships in a school and school community.

A positive school climate exists when:

  • everyone in the school community feels safe, included and accepted
  • everyone actively promotes positive behaviours and interactions
  • equity and inclusive education are embedded in the learning environment
  • there is a culture of mutual respect

A positive school climate is a crucial component of preventing inappropriate or harmful behaviour.

Developing a more positive school climate

We all have a role to play in modelling positive, inclusive and respectful language and behaviour.

To help achieve a positive school climate, boards and schools should:

  • actively promote and support positive behaviours that reflect their board's code of conduct and equity and inclusive education policy
  • involve members of the broader community by inviting them in this effort as part of the school community

Characteristics of a positive school climate

In a positive school climate:

  • students, staff members and parents feel – and are – safe, included and accepted
  • all members of the school community demonstrate respect, fairness and kindness in their interactions, building healthy relationships that are free of discrimination and harassment
  • encouragement and support is given helping them become positive leaders and role models in their school community, for example, by speaking on issues such as bullying
  • students, principals, staff members, parents and community members engage in open and ongoing dialogue and all partners are actively engaged
  • principles of equity and inclusive education are embedded across the curriculum
  • strategies for bullying prevention and intervention and awareness-raising are reinforced for students and staff
  • the learning environment, instructional materials and teaching and assessment strategies reflect the diversity of all learners
  • every student is inspired and given support to succeed in an environment of high expectations

School climate surveys

School boards must administer school climate surveys to their students, parents and school staff at least once every two years. Boards must inform parents these surveys are voluntary and that they can choose not to have their child participate.

These surveys are anonymous and help schools:

  • assess perceptions of safety
  • make informed planning decisions about programs to help prevent bullying and promote safe and inclusive schools
  • determine the effectiveness of their programs on an ongoing basis
  • build and sustain a positive school climate
  • Schools must share survey results with the school’s Safe and Accepting Schools teams.

Data and results

Schools and school boards use data from the surveys. It assesses students’, parents’ and staff members’ perceptions of safety to make informed decisions to help prevent bullying and build on sustaining a positive school climate.

The results of the school climate surveys identify schools’ progress and the challenges that should be addressed.

Sample surveys

Sample school climate surveys assist schools and boards to meet these obligations. Surveys are available in English and French in many of formats, including:

  • a Word version that can be adapted to meet local needs
  • a PDF  that goes to students, parents or school staff who wish to complete the survey in written format
  • an online version, which includes a data roll-up function and report of summarized data – access the Online School Climate Survey Tool.

Word and PDF versions, plus information in other languages, are available from the Inclusive Education, Priorities and Engagement Branch, which can be contacted by email: IEPEB@ontario.ca.