The brief
Sport Wales is the national organisation responsible for developing and promoting sport and physical activity in Wales. They have run the ‘School Sport Survey’ – one of the largest per capita opportunities in the world for young people to have their say on sport – since 2013 and in 3 more iterations after this. The next iteration is scheduled to take place in 2026. The survey is anticipated to continue to run every four years.
In preparation for the 2026 survey, Sport Wales commissioned Shift to undertake a series of cognitive testing and qualitative research activities with pupils aged 7-16. The aim was to explore the key constructs, questions, response options and sports included within the participation component of the survey.
The approach
The overarching aim of this research series was to assess the questionnaire’s suitability for the target age group and to identify areas for improvement. It involved four phases of cognitive testing and qualitative research with children and young people aged 7-16 across Wales. This included testing key survey questions, attitudes to, and awareness and interpretations of different sports.
The research included representation from pupils with different backgrounds to ensure that survey questions and sports were considered by children and young people from a broad range of demographic characteristics – including gender, age, location, ethnicity, deprivation quartiles and disability status. Research was also conducted with both English and Welsh speaking participants (the survey is offered in both languages).
The value
- Over the course of the research series, Shift delivered several in-depth and clear report outputs presenting the voices of children and young people across Wales.
- The findings from the research have been hugely valuable to Sport Wales in the lead up to the School Sport Survey fieldwork launch in 2026.
- The research findings have fed into drafts of the survey, enabling Sport Wales to deliver a survey designed by young people, for young people.
