Appendix Five – Case Studies
Appendix Five – Case Studies
| Local authority type | Large urban area |
|---|---|
| Level of deprivation | Not in 15% most deprived areas |
| School roll | 180 |
| Received training on Your Call | Yes |
| Year Groups using Your Call | S1 |
Planning
The school was first introduced to the Your Call resource by a Road Safety Officer who came to school to deliver a training session with all the guidance staff. This session spent time going through the different materials and aspects of the resource, with the Road Safety Officer showing staff how it could be used. The guidance staff reported that the session they had with the Road Safety Officer was "really helpful" and their views on the resource were positive.
Usage
The resource has only been in school since the start of the term in August 2012. It has currently only been used with S1. The resource forms part of the PSE class, which pupils attend once a week. They spent three lessons on Your Call. This included watching Matt's Story and Donnie's Story on DVD. The pupils also undertook the Risk Quiz and held a discussion using the cards from the resource.
Views on resource
The teacher and pupils agreed that the materials were appropriate for the S1 age group. The feedback from the pupils was positive in terms of the DVD; which they liked because it contained relevant characters, (particularly because they were Scottish). The pupils also commented positively on the style of the DVD. They particularly liked that the camera followed the pupils about school (using the CCTV footage). The pupils also commented on the risk cards that they had used. They suggested that the activity was a "good way to learn about road safety".
Impact
The teacher commented that the resource had the potential to change the pupils' behaviour and attitudes to road safety. The pupils however, stated that they had not learned anything new necessarily from the resource; but the styling of the DVD, with the characters and strong story line meant that it resonated with this age group.
"It was the same stuff, but it got into our heads more." (Why?) "The way it was styled, rather than a teacher just telling you."
(S1 pupil)
Suggestions for improvements
The pupils suggested ways in which they would like to see the Your Call resource developed:
- Statistics – The pupils suggested that they would like to see more statistics included in part of the DVD, but also in the activities. These would be in relation to the number of young people killed in road accidents, etc. The pupils felt that this type of information was more likely to stay with them and make an impact.
- Consequences– Although the characters were praised for being relevant and Scottish, the pupils wanted to find out more information about what happened to them after the crash. The pupils wanted more details about the extent of the injuries the young people sustained, and how it affected their relationships with one another.
"I want more about after (the accident) about what can happen and the doctor saying 'you'll never walk again' to get the message across."
(S1 pupil)
- Celebrities– The pupils suggested that the inclusion of celebrities talking about road safety would be more likely to resonate with them, and make them take notice. Suggestions such as One Direction, and Brian Blessed were made.
"Brian Blessed would be a good voice over to have in the DVD, talking about statistics because he has a booming voice and this would make it sound more serious."
(S1 pupil)
Future use of the resource
Your Call is now part of the curriculum and will continue to be taught in S1 with the possibility of using the resource with S2. Different strands of the resource were thought to be appropriate for different age groups, with the teacher commenting that many of the S6 pupils were now learning to drive and bringing their cars to school, and so there were elements of Donnie's Story that would also be relevant to them.
Acknowledgements
The researchers would like to thank the guidance teacher and seven S1 pupils who took part in a discussion for this case study.
| Local authority type | Remote Rural Area |
|---|---|
| Level of deprivation | Not in 15% most deprived areas |
| School roll | 372 |
| Received training on Your Call | Yes |
| Year Groups using Your Call | S1-S3 |
Planning
The school was first introduced to the Your Call resource in 2009 by a Road Safety Officer who came to school to deliver a training session. The teachers commented that the session was useful, but found the easiest thing was to take time to go through the resource in detail in their own time. Initial views were that the resource was hard to navigate, but this became easier the more familiar the staff became with the resource.
"Teachers just have to sit down and go through the content, which can be hard to navigate at first, but it's ok once you're familiar with it."
Class teacher
Since receiving the resource in 2009, this school had not used it as part of the curriculum. Instead, their focus was on internet safety which was the topic covered in PSE. No road safety was taught as part of the curriculum at all. However, during the fieldwork period for this research, a road safety incident took place at the school involving a pupil. A decision was then taken to bring forward the use of Your Call (which had been scheduled for the summer term 2013/14) to June 2013.
Usage
This school had not used Your Call since its introduction in 2009, until summer 2013. The resource has been used with pupils in S1, S2 and S3 during their PSE class. Your Call has now replaced the topic on Internet Safety and takes place for one period a week over three or four weeks. Matt's Story is used with S1 and S2 and Donnie's Story with S3.
Views on resource
The teacher and pupils in the S3 group taking part in this discussion had different views on the resource. The teacher thought that the road safety messages were the right ones and were 'hard hitting'. The S3 pupils however did not agree. They indicated that the characters were neither appealing nor relevant to them; the story of the DVD did not capture their attention and it was described as "boring".
Impact
The teacher commented that the resource was better than others they had used in the past (Crash Magnets), and as such would challenge the pupils to think about their own behaviour and responsibilities as road users. However, the teacher found it challenging to say whether the resource would have any ongoing impacts.
"Once young people are out on the roads, it is hard to say how they will behave. As teachers, all we can do is raise awareness."
(Class teacher)
The pupils stated that they had not learned anything new from the resource and indicated that most of the messages it was trying to convey were "common sense". In this respect, they did not think the resource had made any impact on their attitude or behaviour.
"(Has it changed your attitude?) No; you know not to wear headphones when crossing the road. It's common sense."
(S3 pupil)
Suggestions for improvements
The pupils suggested ways in which they would like to see the Your Call resource developed:
- Interactive – The pupils suggested that they would like to the resource used more interactively on the White Boards in their classrooms. This would allow them to 'play games' and take control of the resource themselves.
- More shocking images– The pupils suggested that for the resource needed to be more hard-hitting and so suggested the inclusion of a car that had been in an accident that the pupils could visit on a field trip to see firsthand the results of an accident. Some of the pupils had undertaken a similar fieldtrip in the past and suggested this was a more appropriate way to learn.
"There was this safety thing in X. We learnt about safety and how to react if someone gets knocked down. It was good because you got to interact and you weren't in a classroom; you were outside."
(S3 pupil)
"I would rather see a wrecked car. It's scary and it shocks you more and it's not just the teacher preaching."
(S3 pupil)
Future use of the resource
Your Call is now part of the curriculum and will continue to be taught with S1-S3. There are also plans in 2014, to use the resource further up the school with S4 pupils before they go into S5 when they are more likely to be passengers in cars with friends who are driving.
Acknowledgements
The researchers would like to thank the guidance teacher and seven S3 pupils who took part in a discussion for this case study.
| Local authority type | Other Urban Area |
|---|---|
| Level of deprivation | Not in 15% most deprived areas |
| School roll | 1,476 |
| Received training on Your Call | Yes |
| Year Groups using Your Call | S1-S2 |
Planning
The school was introduced to Your Call when a Road Safety Officer contacted them directly and offered a training session. This included a session for staff during which the Road Safety Officer went through all the materials in the pack and explained the teacher notes. The Road Safety Officer then conducted a lesson with the pupils, with the teachers present as part of a training exercise so the staff could see the resource 'in action'. The feedback from staff was that this was 'very useful' and it meant the staff had a readymade lesson plan to use.
The school does not use any other road safety materials and this was part of the reason for the adoption of Your Call. They found there was nothing else specifically for this age group.
"We knew the 11-14 year olds were an 'at risk' group so we decided to use it."
Class teacher
Usage
The resource is used in school with S1 and S2 pupils only. It is part of the PSE programme. S1 spend two class periods using the resource. It is also the intention to spend two class periods with S2, but admittedly 'other commitments can get in the way' with this year group.
Both S1 and S2 use Matt's Story, including the DVD and the Risk Quiz. The classes then watch the 'consequences' element of the DVD and use the discussion cards to prompt discussion. The second lesson uses the risk cards and the 'what if' cards.
The teacher said that she did use the lesson plans to "get the most out of the pack."
Views on resource
The pupils had a good recollection of the content of the pack; particularly the DVD of Matt's Story. However, their views on the resource were mostly negative. They reported that they found the characters "cheesy" and "predictable". Similarly, their views on the cards were also negative, with the pupils stating that they had not learned anything new from these activities.
"The people (in the DVD) didn't seem realistic; it was like an adult had written it, but got it wrong."
(S1 pupil)
"Most of the road safety lessons are just repeating it over and over."
(S2 pupil)
Impact
The teacher commented that the pupils seemed engaged when watching the DVD and that it was an appropriate resource for their age group. The pupils did not agree with the target audience for the DVD; when told that the resource was aimed at S1- S4 they suggested that it would be more appropriate for "primary 5 to 7".
"I don't think S4 would like it. They wouldn't appreciate it. It is pretty rubbish."
(S2 pupil)
Some elements of the resource had not worked with the pupils, according to the class teacher. She had shown the DVD of the head teacher talking about an accident at his school, but this "didn't work" and the pupils "were not interested".
Suggestions for improvements
The pupils suggested ways in which they would like to see the Your Call resource developed:
- Updating– The pupils suggested that they would like to see the DVD updated to include more relevant technology, such as the latest mobile phones and iPods.
- Online – The class teacher suggested that the resource would be better if there were more web resources and videos. The school only has two copies of the pack, which means they have to photocopy materials. Online would make a difference as every classroom has a smart board which would also make it more interactive.
- Different story line – The pupils also commented that the DVD "needs a different situation" to make it more relevant for them. The story was not convincing.
- More shocking images– The pupils suggested that the resource had to contain more shocking images to have any impact. Even the consequences aspect of the DVD was not hard-hitting enough.
"You didn't see anything in the DVD about the crash. You need to see the crash and the injuries."
(S1 pupil)
"It needs to be hard-hitting, to show you the funeral and parents crying."
(S2 pupil)
Future use of the resource
The teacher felt that Your Call sits well within the curriculum for PSE and they will continue to use it towards the end of the year (May).
Acknowledgements
The researchers would like to thank the guidance teacher and seven S1 and S2 pupils who took part in a discussion for this case study.
| Local authority type | Accessible Small Town |
|---|---|
| Level of deprivation | Not in 15% most deprived areas |
| School roll | 1,201 |
| Received training on Your Call | No |
| Year Groups using Your Call | S1 |
Planning
The teacher we spoke to for this case study was unclear as to how Your Call came to school, but suggested it could have come via the Police in 2009. At that time, the teacher responsible for safety took the resource and adapted the lesson plans into three sessions.
The staff did not receive any training on how to use Your Call; instead they relied on the teacher's notes. The class teacher suggested that some training 'might have been helpful' initially, but now the staff were all used to using the resource. In saying that, this teacher was not aware of Donnie's Story or the relevant associated activities.
"My first impressions were that it was great and the kids like it; it's quite current."
Class teacher
Usage
The school has one copy of the pack, but all the resources have been uploaded onto the computer so that there is no need for photocopying.
The resource is used in school with S1 pupils only. It is part of the PSE programme. S1 spend three class periods on it. In the first week, the pupils watch Matt's Story on DVD. Weeks two and three are used to talk about risks and risky behaviour using the appropriate resources.
The pupils use Your Call as part of their 'safety' topic in PSE which is part of "safe routes to school" and it comes at the end of the year.
"The resource is used at the end of the year when the pupils have had more independence and this is a good introduction to risk, peer pressure and consequences."
Class teacher
Views on resource
The pupils had a good recollection of the content of the pack; particularly the DVD of Matt's Story. They were positive about this element of the resource. They stated that they found it realistic and the characters were believable. They liked that there was a 'build up' so that you could get to know the characters. They also liked the style in which the DVD had been filmed.
"It was a bit cheesy but it was good to see the lead up to the event so that you could get to know the characters."
(S1 pupil)
Impact
The pupils suggested that although the DVD was engaging, they had not learned anything new from its contents. They did appreciate the consequences element of the DVD and felt that this was important to show, but they felt that it could have been more shocking.
"It was quite good in that we saw it (the accident) actually happening. It looks a lot better."
(S1 pupil)
"It would be better if it was a lot more scary – it would make you safer."
(S1 pupil)
The class teacher agreed with the inclusion of the consequences aspect, stating it was important to see "what happens after".
Suggestions for improvements
The pupils suggested ways in which they would like to see the Your Call resource developed:
- Updating– The pupils suggested that they would like to see the DVD updated to include more relevant technology, particularly to reflect changes in social media from blogs to Facebook or twitter.
- Different story line – The pupils commented that they liked the fact the characters discussed the crash at the end and how it had affected them. However, they suggested that Matt, the boy who has the accident did not seem "too upset" that he was in a wheelchair. The pupils thought this character "should have been more devastated"
- More shocking images– The pupils suggested that the resource had to contain more shocking images to have any impact. Even the consequences aspect of the DVD was not hard-hitting enough.
"Matt didn't seem too upset to be in a wheelchair – he was talking positively about how he could still get out and meet his friends. It showed you that being paralysed isn't that bad."
(S1 pupil)
"It would be better if there was more blood."
(S1 pupil)
Future use of the resource
Your Call is now part of the curriculum and will continue to be used with S1.
Acknowledgements
The researchers would like to thank the guidance teacher and seven S1 pupils who took part in a discussion for this case study.
| Local authority type | Other Urban Area |
|---|---|
| Level of deprivation | In 15% most deprived areas |
| School roll | 766 |
| Received training on Your Call | Yes |
| Year Groups using Your Call | S1-S3 |
Planning
The teacher we spoke to for this case study was unclear as to how Your Call came to school. The school had been using another road safety resource; Crash Magnets since its inception. This resource had been brought to school by a Road Safety Officer and the teacher suggested that Your Call 'probably' arrived at school in the same way.
The staff did not receive any initial training on Your Call, but felt that their working knowledge of Crash Magnets helped them to understand how to use the pack. However, in November 2012 the school received an offer of a refresher training course from the local authority Community Safety Partnership in both Crash Magnets and Your Call. This involved a session with guidance staff, talking them through the different aspects of the pack. This was met positively by staff.
"Anything professionally produced is good for use at school."
Class teacher
The teacher commented that road safety is a priority topic at this school. It has a wide catchment area, with pupils travelling from neighbouring towns and villages to attend. Most travel by bus, which creates a need to have road safety as part of the curriculum.
"We are the only Catholic school in the area, so lots of the children are bused into school. This creates problems with road safety. There have been several incidents of children being knocked over or one pupil fell off the top deck of the bus."
Class teacher
Usage
There are three copies of Your Call at school; one for each guidance teacher. The school uses the resource with S1, S2 and S3. In S3, the pupils also use Crash Magnets, so this year group overlaps both resources. Road safety is taught as part of the PSE curriculum.
In first year, the pupils receive four class periods of Your Call. This includes watching both Matt and Donnie's Stories on DVD and then moving onto the different activities contained in the pack.
The S2 class also watch both Matt and Donnie's Stories on DVD and undertook the relevant activities, but this takes place over two class periods. In S3, the pupils also watched both DVD's over two class periods of Your Call.
The road safety element of the curriculum takes place in September, but is then revisited in May, before the summer holidays as a refresher for the pupils.
Views on resource
The teacher felt that having a 'professionally produced' resource was beneficial to them, as it meant everything is ready to use. The teacher suggested that the pupils also perceive a resource to be more important if it is professionally produced.
"The style is good – anything that avoids us having to use our own resource or do photocopying makes a huge difference. It's already there for you."
Class teacher
The teacher also suggested that the variety of activities contained in the resource was beneficial to keep the pupils engaged.
"I like that there is a variety of activities, that's how you engage with pupils. Getting textbooks out and doing exercises is not what they want – they need to be entertained."
Class teacher
Three different age groups of pupils were involved in a discussion at this school. All pupils had a good recollection of the DVD and particularly enjoyed the section on 'consequences'. They agreed the characters were realistic and they could relate to them.
"I liked it when he takes the blame for her. I feel sorry for him and then when she asks him to meet, then you think 'that's good' but then you feel bad that it didn't turn out the way he planned."
(S1 pupil)
Impact
The pupils suggested that the resource had made them think about road safety in a different way. Getting to know the characters in the DVD, made the pupils feel more empathy towards them. Showing the consequences afterwards was something new for the pupils which they described as "a little bit different".
"When you look back, you don't associate some things with road safety – like being pressurised by friends or spending time on the internet."
(S3 pupil)
"You kind of got to know the characters, so you knew who he was, so it was more effective when he got hit."
(S2 pupil)
The pupils were more likely to agree that they had changed their attitudes to road safety since watching Your Call, than their behaviour (although some young pupils stated that they do now remove their headphones when crossing the road). The pupils agreed they were more cautious if they were on their own, or changed their behaviour if they were in a crowd."
"You are always influenced by people around you."
(S1 pupil)
Suggestions for improvements
The pupils suggested ways in which they would like to see the Your Call resource developed:
- Updating– The pupils suggested that they would like to see the DVD updated to include more relevant technology, particularly updated versions of mobile phones and the use of twitter instead of blogs.
- Online – both the pupils and teacher mentioned an online resource spontaneously. The pupils would like to see more games and activities online, so that it could also be used at home, while the staff who had already put the Your Call information onto their internal directory so that it could be used on the whiteboards agreed that an online version would be beneficial.
- Inclusion of statistics – The teacher suggested that having statistics relating to road safety incidents can have a more profound impact on pupils. Also in the past, the school has invited local police officers along to give talks about their experiences of road safety – having more real life examples included in the pack would be useful.
- More shocking images– The S3 pupils suggested that they would have liked more graphic images which would be more likely to stay with them. The pupils were all talking about local CCTV footage of a pupil being knocked down by a bus at another local school – this was available to view online. Because of its graphic nature, all the pupils were able to recall the detail of the incident.
"We could've handled it if it was a bit more grown up and more dramatic."
(S3 pupil)
"If it was slightly more shocking, it'd be more likely to stay with us."
(S3 pupil)
Future use of the resource
Your Call is now part of the curriculum and will continue to be used with S1-S3 every year.
Acknowledgements
The researchers would like to thank the guidance teacher and the fifteen pupils from S1-S3 who took part in a discussion for this case study.
| Local authority type | Large Urban Area |
|---|---|
| Level of deprivation | In 15% most deprived areas |
| School roll | 904 |
| Received training on Your Call | Yes |
| Year Groups using Your Call | S1 |
Planning
This school uses Your Call as well as Crash Magnets and 'Safe Drive, Stay Alive'. Staff had changed in the school since the initial launch of Your Call in 2009, and the current guidance teacher with a remit for safety, had not been aware of the resource, or that the school had a toolkit until she was contacted by the local Road Safety Officer and offered a presentation on the toolkit.
"My first impressions were that it was a great resource and looked like it was really easy to use."
Class teacher
The Road Safety Officer came to school to give a lesson to the pupils, which was also attended by the guidance staff. This allowed the staff to see the pack being used. This was their only training, but staff were happy with their understanding of the pack.
"It was pretty self explanatory, and we knew how to use it from Crash Magnets."
Class teacher
The teacher felt that Your Call was a better resource in comparison to Crash Magnets as it was more up-to-date and its use of social media was appealing to the pupils.
Usage
The resource is used as part of the PSE class with the S1 year group only. They had two lessons in total. The first with the Road Safety Officer, where the pupils watched Matt's Story and did some of the activities and the second lesson included more of the activities suggested in the lesson plan.
"We did the things that you should do and the things that you shouldn't while driving, like texting and going through an amber light – even the teachers were admitting they did it."
Class teacher
The pupils also saw local CCTV footage of accidents that was prepared by the Road Safety Officer.
Views on resource
The teacher was positive about Your Call. She praised the fact that there was no need to prepare any materials – the lesson plans in the pack were more than sufficient. The teacher commented that the resource was appropriate for the age group of the pupils in terms of content and style. It was also thought to be very easy to slot Your Call into the curriculum as fits all Curriculum for Excellence outcomes.
"It was pitched just right at the pupils; the lessons about distractions and consequences were best for this age group."
Class teacher
The pupils were also positive about the Your Call resource. They remembered the content of the DVD and were able to recall the main messages from the resource. The pupils particularly liked the 'real life' aspect of the story and the style of the filming which included aspects of social media. The pupils commented specifically on the fact that the DVD included all the character's viewpoints after the accident.
"There was a short film and there was a boy away to meet a girl and he was crossing the road, and she texted him and he looked at his phone, and the girl's brother ran him over. It was good because it showed you everybody's point of view."
(S1 pupil)
These pupils were in agreement that the content was aimed correctly for their age group and were happy that it was not "too violent" – the only pupil group to say so from all of the fieldwork.
"It wasn't too violent – I don't like seeing an arm on the other side of the road."
(S1 pupil)
Impact
These pupils were in agreement that their attitudes to road safety had changed since using the Your Call resource. Some stated that they were now "more cautious and aware" and agreed that they were able to look at situation from "other's point of view."
"It has changed my attitude (how?) I don't want to be like him in a wheelchair."
(S1 pupil)
During a role play activity as part of our discussion, the pupils suggested what they thought each of the characters should have done differently, to avoid the accident such as "own up to detention" and "pay attention to the road and stay on the pavement." The pupils commented that some of the information they learned from Your Call was new – this was specifically in relation to distractions and consequences.
"I learned stuff that I hadn't learned before – like consequences and distractions"
(S1 pupil)
The teacher agreed that the resource "makes them think about consequences" and agreed also that the pupils were engaged with the DVD; however she thinks that while the resource might have an immediate impact – this would not be long-lasting.
"The pupils have asked 'what happened to him?' but I think they are only careful for a few days and then they go back to their old ways of jumping about."
Class teacher
Suggestions for improvements
The pupils suggested ways in which they would like to see the Your Call resource developed:
- Activities – The pupils praised the risk cards and the wild cards which they said "made you think" and "test your knowledge". The pupils would like to see more statistics and facts in the activities and more "tests of their knowledge."
Future use of the resource
Your Call is now part of the curriculum and will continue to be used with S1 every year.
Acknowledgements
The researchers would like to thank the guidance teacher and the twelve pupils from S1 who took part in a discussion for this case study.
| Local authority type | Other Urban Area |
|---|---|
| Level of deprivation | Not in 15% most deprived areas |
| School roll | 740 |
| Received training on Your Call | No |
| Year Groups using Your Call | S1 and S4 |
Planning
The guidance teacher at this school first heard of the Your Call resource when contacted by the local Road Safety Officer. A copy of the resource was delivered to the school and on receiving the resource, the guidance staff spent time together going through the pack. They did not receive any formal training on how to use its contents, although the teacher suggested this might have been useful.
"The teachers selected bits from the pack to use in a pick and mix style, but it might have been useful if someone had shown us how to use the pack."
Class teacher
The school was already engaged with the 'Safe Drive, Stay Alive' road shows run by the local authority which involved a half day event including drama and real life stories. The staff decided that Your Call would tie in with this event and was included in the curriculum under the 'citizenship' element of PSE.
Your Call was also thought to link well with Curriculum for Excellence outcomes, in terms of focusing on risk taking, decision making and personal safety.
Usage
The resource is currently used by S1 pupils. It was felt that this age group was experiencing independence for the first time (many travelling independently to school) and so it was appropriate for their use. Your Call is also used by S4, as it fits with their citizenship subject area (although Your Call is recommended for use only with S1-S3). S1 used the resource over two class periods and S4 used the resource in their PSE class once a week, for three weeks.
Different elements of the resource were used by each year group. S1 used Matt's Story and the related activities, while the S4 class watched Donnie's Story.
The school received only one copy of the Your Call pack and so the teacher had to photocopy the activities so that PSE classes could use the resource simultaneously.
Views on resource
The teacher felt that the resource was generally aimed at the right level for the age groups, although some of the S4 pupils had reported that Donnie's Story was a "bit young" for them and had described it as "cheesy". The S1 pupils were more receptive and had reacted to the resource well. The teacher commented that some of the pupils found there were too many characters in the DVD for the pupils to remember.
We gathered pupil feedback from both S1 and S4 pupils as part of this case study. The S4 pupils had a good recollection of the resource and particularly liked the different perspectives from each of the characters. However, they criticised the DVD for being "outdated" and "overacted".
"The classes doing road safety were laughing at the characters rather than listening to the main messages."
(S4 pupil)
The S1 pupils we spoke to had no recollection of the resource at all. We reminded the pupils about Your Call by showing them the DVD of Matt's Story – but none of the pupils could recall watching it before.
However, as a result of watching the DVD during our discussion, the S1 class did have positive comments about the DVD and made some suggestions for how it could be improved.
Impact
The S4 pupils suggested that Your Call was more in-depth than any road safety resource they had used before, and was praised because it did not just focus on one character. However, the S4 pupils suggested that the messages from Your Call might have resonated with pupils for the 'wrong reasons' such as the "unrealistic characters and localised accents".
"It's really overacted."
(S4 pupil)
The S1 pupils could not recall watching or using any of the Your Call resources, but had fairly positive comments based on what they saw or used during our focus group session.
"The video was quite good as it was a real life story and you could actually see it."
(S1 pupil)
Suggestions for improvements
The pupils suggested ways in which they would like to see the Your Call resource developed:
- Updating– The pupils suggested that they would like to see the DVD updated to include more relevant technology, particularly updated versions of mobile phones and the use of twitter or Facebook. There was also a suggestion that the characters were not relevant to older pupils as it was felt the character's speech was 'stereotyping' teenagers.
- More shocking images– The S1 pupils suggested the DVD would be more powerful if it contained images showing the crash scene and to include Matt's family to see their reaction to the accident.
"It would be a good idea to see the crash, not in too gory a way, but to show where the boy landed."
(S1 pupil)
"They should talk more like adults – we wouldn't talk like that (in relation to Donnie's girlfriend uploading videos) – they are stereotyping teenagers a bit."
(S4 pupil)
Future use of the resource
Your Call will continue to be used with these year groups in the same way.
Acknowledgements
The researchers would like to thank the class teacher and the eight pupils from S1 and S4 who took part in a discussion for this case study.
| Local authority type | Large Urban Area |
|---|---|
| Level of deprivation | In 15% most deprived areas |
| School roll | 90 |
| Received training on Your Call | No |
| Year Groups using Your Call | S1 |
Planning
The teacher we spoke to for this case study was unclear as to how the Your Call resource came to be in school but had discovered it "in a cupboard". There was no formal training on the resource, but time was spent going through the pack and planning how it could be used with the pupils. This school is for pupils with Additional Support Needs.
"I wasn't sure at first, but started going through it and there's a lot to do. Very often materials are not differentiated for Additional Support Needs schools."
Class teacher
The teacher felt that the contents of Your Call suited their pupils well, although some activities had to be tailored to suit the pupils' level of understanding. For example, the teacher reported that the 'freeze frame' was a useful activity as it helped pupils think about their responsibilities and tested their observational skills, while 'first on the scene' was more difficult.
The teacher commented that training would have been useful on the resource, but with a change in personnel, they were unsure where the resource had come from initially.
Usage
Your Call has been used as part of the PSE programme. There have been three lessons to date. The resource has only been in use since May 2013.
The DVD and the majority of the activities were used with the pupils and discussion was encouraged.
So far, the resource has been used as a stand-alone lesson, but the teacher acknowledges that it does have links to the topic of safety, in a wider context within the curriculum.
Views on resource
The teacher reported that the pupils were engaged with the DVD particularly and enjoyed the discussion around the Risk cards.
The pupils had a good recollection of the DVD, while some struggled to remember the risk cards. During the session with the pupils, they had the chance to spend time with the cards and discuss in small groups what they thought of them. It was agreed that the risk cards were "useful" for learning about road safety.
Pupils were asked what they liked about the Your Call resource. They suggested that the risk cards and the DVD were their favourite aspects.
"I like it because of the risk cards; it made me think a lot."
(S1 pupil)
"We saw the bit at the end where the boy crossed the road texting and got knocked over. "
(S1 pupil)
Other positive aspects of the resource were from the DVD. Pupils had a good recollection of the story and stated that they particularly liked the "part in detention", the "bit where Matt took the blame for the phone ringing in class" and the parts of the DVD featuring Matt's best friend.
Future use of the resource
The school plans to continue using the Your Call resource.
Acknowledgements
The researchers would like to thank the class teacher and the seven pupils who took part in a discussion for this case study.
| Local authority type | Remote Small Town |
|---|---|
| Level of deprivation | Not in 15% most deprived areas |
| School roll | 1,060 |
| Received training on Your Call | No |
| Year Groups using Your Call | S4 |
Planning
The teacher we spoke to for this case study had come to post in recent months and was not clear how the Your Call resource came to be in school. The school does not have a full copy of the toolkit, and the teacher had not been aware of the activity cards or exercises. The school has a copy of Donnie's Story on DVD (no copy of Matt's Story) and photocopied teacher notes.
The teacher had not received any training on the use of the resource and stated that she did not believe it was necessary – perhaps however because of the limited version of the resource she had access to.
Usage
Your Call has been used with S4 pupils (aged 15 and 16 years) during their PSE class. Your Call is incorporated into a unit about personal safety. The S4 pupils used the resource for two class periods in total.
The pupils watched the DVD (Donnie's Story) and then as a class, discussed the consequences and the risks of what they had seen. The activity cards or exercises were not used as these were not available in school (and the teacher was not aware of them).
Views on resource
The teacher felt that the resource was aimed "slightly off the mark" for the S4 age group and she reported that she thought the content was "too young for them".
"Fifteen; sixteen year olds today are much more technologically savvy and found the video blogging unrealistic and out of date."
Class teacher
However the teacher reported that the pupils did enjoy talking about risks and their different perspectives on what constitutes 'risky' behaviour.
The pupils liked the element of the DVD where the characters talked about the consequences of the accident and its impact on their lives.
"The consequences were a good idea...seeing how they dealt with life after the accident and how it impacted their friendship."
(S4 pupil)
"The aftermath of the accident and its effects on the characters was detailed and informative."
(S4 pupil
However, many of the pupils commented on the DVD being 'outdated' and 'unrealistic' and there was a suggestion for including real-life footage of accidents to really engage with this age group.
"The way the characters talk is cheesy and unrealistic."
(S4 pupil)
Impact
Overall, the pupils did not think the resource had made a great impact on their attitudes or behaviour in terms of road safety. Comments related to the need for the resource to be more 'realistic'. These pupils were soon to attend the 'Safe Drive, Stay Alive' event which they were looking forward to – this includes real footage from road accidents and presentations from those involved in road traffic accidents. In comparison, the pupils felt that Your Call was not realistic enough.
"I believe that the video doesn't have a big effect on me because it is unrealistic, but if it was a true story and we saw the crash site it would have had a much larger impact."
(S4 pupil)
"It needs to be more shocking so people remember it better."
(S4 pupil)
Most pupils did not think they had learned anything new from the resource, stating that it was similar to road safety materials they had used before. Although some pupils did say that it had made them think about distractions while crossing the road.
"It was more of the same."
(S4 pupil)
"This video was similar to others and didn't really change anything on my thoughts on driving. It did make me think more about being careful when crossing a road and not to be so glued to the phone."
(S4 pupil)
The teacher agreed stating that it was difficult to gauge the longer term impact of the resource on the pupils as it "reinforces a message that has already been heard."
Suggestions for improvements
The pupils suggested ways in which they would like to see the Your Call resource developed:
- Updated– The pupils suggested that they would like to see the DVD updated to include more relevant technology to make it more appealing. Video blogging was felt to be outdated and unrealistic "nobody blogs".
- Interactive – There was a suggestion that the resource could be made more interactive with a game in which the pupils could choose the consequences that shape each character's path, helping them to make better decisions.
- More shocking images– The pupils suggested that the DVD failed to capture their attention because the characters were unrealistic and outdated. They suggested a need for more realistic footage (preferably from real accidents) to engage them in the resource.
"I would probably pay more attention if it was real."
(S4 pupil)
Future use of the resource
The school will continue to use the Your Call resource which the teacher reported fitted well with the personal safety topic and the introduction to 'Safe Drive, Stay Alive'.
Acknowledgements
The researchers would like to thank the guidance teacher and the 33 pupils from S4 who took part in a discussion for this case study.
| Local authority type | Remote Rural area |
|---|---|
| Level of deprivation | Not in 15% most deprived areas |
| School roll | 683 |
| Received training on Your Call | No |
| Year Groups using Your Call | S1 |
Planning
This school has been using Your Call since 2009 when it was introduced to the guidance staff by a Road Safety Officer. The school has one copy of the toolkit, and chooses to photocopy the activities to allow classes to use it simultaneously. The pupils had not seen the resource in toolkit form, and were not aware that it was entitled 'Your Call'.
Delivery
Your Call has been used with S1 pupils during their PSE class. Your Call is delivered by S6 pupils who volunteer to become Peer Supporters. This school uses Peer Supporters to deliver elements of the PSE programme to the S1 classes.
The S6 pupils work with guidance staff in advance to prepare their lesson plans and a teacher sits in on the lesson to offer help or support. Teachers felt that this method of delivery helped the S1's engage more with the resource and to build relations with the S6 pupils; while the older pupils gain confidence and skills such as time management, preparation and public speaking.
Usage
Your Call is only used with S1 pupils. The pupils watched the DVD (Matt's Story) and then as a class, discussed the consequences and the risks of what they had seen – for example, the pupils are asked 'what is he doing wrong?' They also spent time doing the Risk Quiz. One class had undertaken a mind map exercise relating to the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt. Your Call is used over three lessons – all are delivered by the S6 pupils. The resource is used in September when S1 pupils are new to school and is the first time they are allowed out of school during their lunch-hour.
The resource is not used with any other age group. Older pupils receive Cut It Out from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Views on resource
The S1 pupils spoke at length about 'distractions' being one of the key messages coming out of the DVD. They were able to list the different distractions that contributed to the accident.
"Texting, the music was on, and he was probably thinking about the girl he fancied."
(S1 pupil)
The S1 pupils particularly liked the characters which featured in the DVD. They commented positively on their acting abilities and praised the fact that the characters were of a similar age to them.
"The age they were; the driver was a bit older than the rest of them which made us believe it."
(S1 pupil)
"It's important that they are the same age as us, so that it gets the message across at the end. If they were older, they would all be drivers and wouldn't do things like hide their helmet in a hedge."
(S1 pupil)
This case study school was the only one which felt the resource was up-to-date. They particularly liked the style in which the DVD was filmed with video-blogs and different types of cameras. None of the pupils felt that the DVD needed to be updated to reflect any changes in social media, as suggested by some other case study schools. This view was also shared by the S6 pupils who delivered the resource.
"The CCTV was very good and the use of things like user-names and video-blogs made it seem more modern."
(S1 pupil)
The S6 pupils also gave their views on Your Call. They suggested that it was also a good refresher for their age group, particularly as they were soon-to-be drivers. The S6 pupils also found the process of working with the S1s useful, in that it highlighted their lack of knowledge and awareness about road safety, that as drivers, the S6 pupils would need to be aware of.
"When you get to S6, you've forgotten all this stuff, or I mean that you know not to do it, but you're complacent."
(S6 pupil)
"Teaching S1 about road safety shows how little they know – they didn't know that cycling on the pavement was illegal, so if we're driving soon, it shows that as drivers, we need to be more focussed."
(S6 pupil)
Impact
The S1 pupils commented that although they had been learning about road safety since primary school, Your Call showed them a different element through the distractions and consequences.
As a result, the pupils felt that they had changed their behaviour in that they would not have their headphones in while crossing the road, or use their mobile phones.
"You kind of realised how serious it was, with the fact that he got paralysed – you get a bit of a shock by it."
(S1 pupil)
"We know now not to walk about with our headphones in."
(S1 pupil)
The S6 pupils commented that they felt Your Call had had an impact on their class after only two lessons; but the class teacher suggested that this was more to do with the format of delivery; with S6 having more of an effect on the S1 than the teacher.
"They picked up quite a lot – especially about mobile phones being a distraction."
(S6 pupil)
"The class talked about seatbelts and wearing them on the school bus, and they had a conversation about why it is bad not to wear them. I think hearing S6 say it made them think; more so than a teacher."
(Teacher)
Suggestions for improvements
In general, the S1 and S6 pupils did not think there was the need for Your Call to be updated or revised in any great detail. They were happy with the content and described the style as 'modern', compared to some other case study schools who believed the resource needed updating. Their suggestions included:
- Consequences– The S1 pupils suggested that they would like to see more in the DVD about the consequences of the accident and what happened to all the characters after the event.
- More resources – S1 pupils wanted to have more videos included in the pack, perhaps having the other characters from Matt's story taking the lead role, including Leanne, Scott and Kate. These S1 pupils had not watched Donnie's story.
"It would be good to see him in hospital – what would've happened straight after the accident, like the driver being questioned by police and when the parents found out."
(S1 pupil)
The S6 pupils also reported that the S1 pupils in their classes struggled to understand the Risk Quiz. This was specifically because some of the questions were not related to Road Safety. The S6 pupils also reported that to work out how 'risky' the pupils were as a result of their responses to the Risk Quiz, required the use of negative numbers - which the S1 pupils struggled with.
"They couldn't understand what unwashed fruit had to do with road safety – they didn't get that it was about risks in general."
(S6 pupil)
Future use of the resource
The school will continue to use the Your Call resource with S1. There are currently no plans to use the resource further up the school; the teacher reported that they had no time to go through the resource to plan its use with S2 or S3.
Acknowledgements
The researchers would like to thank the guidance teacher and the 9 pupils from S1 and the 4 pupils from S6 who took part in a discussion for this case study.