Firstly, we would like to thank the children and staff of Burnham Upper School for their co-operation in this project. The questionnaires were filled in during class time, under the supervision of teachers, by the children themselves, and were of high quality and contained much useful information and suggestions.

Much of the information was remarkably consistent across the classes in the same year and across the years. Indeed, question 3, which depends entirely upon reporting personal observation is so remarkably consistent, revealing the highest degree of reportage, that we have given the figures in detail. This question, alone, reveals what a highly valuable and reliable source of community information these age groups can be.

All the children in years 7 to 10 inclusive were involved i.e. ages 12 to 15 years, but we were particularly interested in two groups. The largest group consisted of children who live in the Burnham electoral parish numbering 224 persons, and a second group who live in the adjacent part of Slough to whom Burnham Park is the main recreational area. This second group is covered by postal areas SL1 6E, SL1 6H, SL1 6L, SL1 6N, SL2 2N and SL2 2P, which correspond roughly, to the Priory Estate, Burnham Lane and Lower Britwell Road areas.

We have information on 60 of these children who live in these adjacent areas. All of them live within half a mile of the Five Points, a road junction on the Burnham/Slough, Bucks/Berks boundary at the southeastern corner of Burnham Park.

The major part of this survey is concerned with the 224 children who live in the Burnham electoral parish but we have included some relevant information regarding the 60 non-Burnham residents who live in the adjacent areas, particularly regarding Burnham Park and these children's attitude towards its safety and amenities.

This survey, therefore, covers a high proportion of 12 to 15 year olds who live, or spend most of their lives, in Burnham and its recreational facilities.

As in the primary school survey a lottery element was introduced. Much more important, however, was the wish of many pupils to have their feelings and opinions expressed in this unusual and public way and to have a say in the way in which their wishes might be realised.

As in the primary school survey, pupils filling in questionnaires were advised that if they felt they were unable to answer a question they should leave it blank.

Some of the answers we anticipated, but there were many surprises and not a few wise comments. There was virtually no evidence that the pupils responded with anything but great responsibility and took the whole thing seriously. As commented on before, out of the hundreds of questionnaires we have analysed there has been, perhaps, only two or three spoiled papers unsuitable for use. The pupils and staff of Burnham Upper should be commended for this and feel very proud of their efforts.

Unlike the Primary School Survey we have broken up many answers into years and gender, because opinions change as maturity develops. Nevertheless we have totalled all answers to get the overall view.

To make this easier we have called the four years surveyed A, B, C and D

A = Year 7 (mainly 12 year-olds)

        B = Year 8 (mainly 13 year-olds)

        C = Year 9 (mainly 14 year olds)

        D = Year 10 (mainly 15 year-olds)

PUPIL NUMBERS

        Year A 24 female 18 male

Scoring on this was determined by 1 point, for the most frequent attendance, 2 for the next, 3 for the next through to 4 points for "Never". The total sum of points for each area was then divided by the number of entries to get a mean figure. The lower that figure the more visited the recreational area. For example, if everyone visited Burnham Park every week then its overall score would be 1.00, if nobody ever visited the Minniecroft/tarmac area its overall score would be 4.00

As in the Primary School survey it was decided to assess the proportion of children who NEVER visited a particular recreational area.

Q 2a and Q 2b were marked on the number of specific replies

For an all round comparison, the unsafe score was deducted from the safe score giving a final table…

As perceived by the pupils in this survey, Burnham Park though visited the most frequently, is considered, by far, the least safe recreational area in Burnham. The second most commonly visited recreational area, the Stomping Ground, is viewed as, incomparably, the most safe. This is exactly the same result as in the Primary School survey.

The popularity of the Stomping Ground with this age group may be somewhat surprising as it is, more than anything else is, a younger children's play area. The small remaining grassy area on which one can sit or meet with others is, however, situated in a busy area, in full view to passers-by, near the school, other houses and the police station and these facts all together may explain its popularity. The need to feel secure, as in the Primary School Survey becomes more and more of a priority the further one looks into the results of this survey.

Both Burnham Park and the Stomping Ground are visited by more pupils in this age group than by the younger group in the Primary Schools Survey (96% of the pupils aged 15 in this survey visit Burnham Park at some time).

The St Peter Close play area is the third most popular area and just on the positive side of being thought safe though few express an opinion one way or the other.

The Minniecroft/tarmac area is the next to least popular area visited and with a nil score is classed as neither safe nor unsafe. There is more information regarding attendance at the Youth Centre in Minniecroft Road later in this survey.

As in the Primary School survey the George Pitcher Memorial Ground does not figure large in the recreational lives of these Upper School pupils. More of these older pupils do go, however, with 31% visiting at some time but few express any particular views on its safety factor. As in the Primary School survey the George Pitcher Memorial Ground is not perceived, or used, as an informal recreational area much by the secondary school age group for kickabouts, or as a meeting place, or games area, in spite of the grass being cut regularly, and such facilities as changing rooms and toilets being available, but as a sports ground where organised games are played.

Results of survey of 60 Burnham Upper pupils, non-Burnham residents, living in areas adjacent to Burnham Park.

Comment…

The "never, sometimes, often" schedule was not used here, though it was apparent, from peoples comments, that some activities were seen often, some less so. A mark was given each time an activity was noted so that their comparative frequency of activities at that play area could be ascertained. Only in relative frequency of activity can each be compared to the figures of Burnham Park above or to each other

This question was marked by adding up all the scores for each section and dividing by the number of answers to get an average. Thus if everybody put down "Park warden" as their number one choice that section would score 1. If everybody put down "grass cut at regular intervals" as their least favourite option that section would receive 5.

The most noticeable feature is that the pupils seem remarkably socially and environmentally conscious. Litter droppers, broken glass and unsocial dog-owners are noticed by them and, presumably, matter to them. People drinking alcohol in the recreational area is a common sight - this ties in with the frequency of seeing broken glass.

As in the Primary School Survey, vandalism and bullying or violent behaviour are not uncommon though, fortunately, evidence of drug misuse, or discarded needles, are not frequently seen, slightly less, indeed, than the rare experience of seeing a policeman on foot. Theft of a mobile phone is, obviously, much less common than in urban areas.

The consistency, and quality of the replies, to question 3, might be an encouragement to other organisations and authorities to actively seek the opinions of this age group. Most surprising was the insignificantly small number, perhaps two or three out of three hundred, who did not take it seriously, who mucked about, who gave silly answers or who deliberately spoiled their papers. These were responsible young citizens indeed.

Activities and things seen at the Stomping Ground and St Peters Close play area differ very little from each other, from Burnham Park and from the findings of the Primary School Survey. Dog fouling is less common than in Burnham Park (it is more visible, owners can get away with it less easily) and, as in the other survey, St Peters Close play area is where you are most likely to see alcohol being consumed, presumably because of its proximity to the off-licenses in the High Street. Seeing a policeman is a rarity at both, even though one area is only a very short distance from the police station. Once again, no activity, with a single exception, was more than one position in the league table away from the Primary School Survey.

What was requested to make Burnham Park more attractive was nearly all about straight environmental and safety issues. More facilities headed the list, but what facilities? Totally impractical, Disneyworld ideas from these young people? Not at all. There were requests for more rubbish bins, better lighting at night, more police presence, CCTV, more seats, a graffiti clean up, "not to be harassed", a toilet, a drinking fountain, removal of broken glass, cut back trees so area is safer, more gardeners.

It is unlikely that there is a sensible adult in Burnham who would not make the same requests. A toilet near to Burnham Park, though only mentioned once, would be a tremendous boon to older inhabitants. When Burnham Park is closed, the only other toilet is a long way off, behind the Budgens car park. We are trying to encourage older people to walk more. A lot of elderly people could use the park for this, and the idea of a toilet nearby becomes even more attractive.

Once again, the need to have dog mess dealt with in an aggressive fashion, as was the case in the Primary School survey, comes high on the list. To achieve this, to increase security, to decrease vandalism -particularly if a toilet was provided at some time in the future - a park warden as suggested in this and the primary School survey would seem a very good idea.

The request for goalposts is echoed further on in this survey. According to locals the George Pitcher Memorial Ground becomes something of a white elephant when the goal posts are taken down at the end of the football season. The pitches, of course, do have to be rested but children, as do their professional seniors, now play football all the year. The relative inaccessibility of the George Pitcher Memorial Ground is enough of a discouragement in itself to put young people off going there. Some provision of goal posts, all the year, would be most acceptable in Burnham Park, more than one ideally so that competition for their use would not be an aggravating factor.

A play area and an obstacle course also appear on the wish list. There are, of course, large play areas not too far away but it could be argued that both small play areas and obstacle courses appear in many parks similar in size and character to Burnham Park without particularly detracting from the generally sylvan atmosphere. The recreational facilities this age group would like to see in Burnham are dealt with later.

(Figures for Primary School Survey YES 96% NO 4%)

Just over 75% of 12 and 13 year-olds would go to Burnham Park, by themselves, during the day. By the age of 14 years, however, 90% or so will go.

Year C, the fourteen year-olds, seem more nervous of the park than the thirteen year-olds. This is reflected in other figures in this part of the survey. Could it be that this is a maximum year for bullying?

Burnham Library is seen as, somewhat, more safe to visit in the evening than Burnham Park, about half the children surveyed would go there alone.

Burnham High Street, in the evening, would not be visited alone by the majority of 12 year-olds, although a majority of 13 year-olds would go. Once again, Year C, the fourteen year-olds, is different, in that less than half would go to the High Street by themselves in the evening, less, proportionately than the thirteen year-olds. The majority of fifteen year-olds are quite happy to go there. Overall the Secondary School survey shows 57% of the pupils happy to go to Burnham High Street by themselves in the evening, nearly twice as many who would go to Burnham Park at the same time.

In spite of anecdotal evidence that Burnham High Street is less safe for pedestrians at night since the recent road changes there are no figures in this survey to support this view, the great majority of the pupils noticing no difference.

Nearly half of the secondary school pupils surveyed had never seen a policeman on foot in Burnham High Street and 81% would feel safer if there was a more obvious police presence in central Burnham. Once again, Year C the fourteen year-olds, were "out of synch" wishing for an increased police presence more than the thirteen year-olds below, and the fifteen year-olds above.

First figure average number of hours per week per pupil, second figure, the percentage having 4 or less hours of physical activity per week.

YEAR A m 6.1 f 10.9    m 55% f 60%

YEAR B m 16.4 f 14.9  m 0% f 51%

YEAR C m 11.9 f 7.7    m 40% f 42%

YEAR D m 8.7 f.7.2      m 27% f 37%

Playing on the computer in the evening is not as common as one would have thought in these secondary school pupils. 1 to 2 times a week is the most common habit and as many children play not at all as play the maximum 6-7 nights a week.

The total score for average number of hours exercise a week is almost identical for boys and girls at just over ten hours a week. The spread is uneven, however and almost half the girls only have four hours or less exercise a week.

About one in six of these children participate in organised sports in Burnham, one in five outside Burnham.

Once again the leisure facility sought above all others is a swimming pool. Football stands a clear second. Tennis courts and a skateboard area would also be quite popular, the latter almost exclusively amongst 14 year-olds.

A majority never go to the Youth Centre though the same number are aware of the opening times. A few are aware of Cyphers at Cornerstone.

There is, apparently, no expressed overwhelming need for a youth advice centre or a special meeting place for 13-15 year olds in the village, though a large majority would be interested in a teenage, part-time job registry.