“Keeping an Eye Out”: Students’ Experiences of School Personnel’s Noticing in Shaping or Hindering a Positive School Climate

Silvia Edling (), Ylva Bjereld, Robert Thornberg, Peter Gill, Maryam Bourbour and Davoud Masoumi
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Silvia Edling: Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Business Studies, University of Gävle, SE-80176 Gävle, Sweden
Ylva Bjereld: Department of Social Work, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
Robert Thornberg: Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, SE-58183 Linköping, Sweden
Peter Gill: Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Business Studies, University of Gävle, SE-80176 Gävle, Sweden
Maryam Bourbour: Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Business Studies, University of Gävle, SE-80176 Gävle, Sweden
Davoud Masoumi: Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Business Studies, University of Gävle, SE-80176 Gävle, Sweden

Social Sciences, 2025, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: A positive school climate is characterized by a higher degree of well-being among students, reduced bullying, and improved academic performance. While many initiatives are aimed at creating a positive school climate, discussions in both research and theory frequently fail to acknowledge the essential role of school personnel. This study examines a purposeful sample of Swedish middle-school students (4th to 9th grade) of school personnel’s noticing in fostering or hindering a positive school climate. Fifteen (15) focus groups and 19 semi-structured interviews were analyzed, covering 133 participants selected from three schools (age range 10 to 16 years) in a Swedish municipality. Drawing on a framework of professional noticing and positive school and classroom climate, the investigation was conducted using a case study approach and analyzed with the help of content analysis. The results highlighted the importance placed by students on school personnel noticing appropriate things/events and responding accordingly. For this to happen, personnel need to (a) notice and make themselves visible; (b) be actively observing as a prerequisite to their noticing; (c) be receptive to noticing; (d) notice and grasp a full picture, including students’ perspectives; and (e) connect their noticing with appropriate actions.

Keywords: school climate; school safety; bullying; supervision; noticing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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