To support this ambition, the secondary school for Mavo, Havo, and VWO collaborates with the Behavioural Science Institute (BSI) on the Kandinsky Longitudinal Study. Central to this partnership is the question: How are we doing in terms of social safety at our school? In this article, Horstman shares her experience of working with the BSI.
In a world that is growing increasingly harsh, young people must remember they are allowed to connect with others and should think critically before accepting things at face value
What does the collaboration with BSI look like?
“Our partnership with the BSI is intensive and carefully developed. The BSI takes care of everything: from questionnaires and communication with parents to analysis and feedback. They do this in consultation with us; we can suggest topics, which the BSI then explores. After the pupils complete the questionnaires, the researchers analyse the results at the individual, class and school levels. As the coordinator for social safety, I also receive feedback on which pupils indicated they would like to be contacted by our support team.”
The BSI knows how to make socio-emotional themes measurable
Why collaborate with the BSI?
“The BSI knows how to make socio-emotional themes measurable. They ask the right questions, even about topics students wouldn’t easily bring up in conversation. They are very receptive to suggestions; if we need to make any adjustments, it’s usually very doable. We truly appreciate that level of flexibility. Additionally, the feedback we receive at the class level plays a crucial role in shaping the overall social well-being within the school.”
What changes have you noticed in your field as a result of the collaboration?
“We now have much more insight into our students’ social well-being, which allows us to intervene preventively when necessary. Mentors also notice the difference. They now have a clearer understanding of their classes, allowing us to address many issues proactively or, at the very least, identify them sooner. On a school-wide scale, problems become apparent more quickly, especially in comparison to previous years. This allows us to implement policies more efficiently.”