RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PUPILS’ PERCEPTION OF THE SCHOOL AS A CARING COMMUNITY, SCHOOL SATISFACTION AND SOME ASPECTS OF QUALITY OF SCHOOL LIFE

The aim of this research was to explore the correlation between the pupils' perception of the school as a caring community, school satisfaction and some aspects of the quality of school life (assessment of academic competence, learning at school and the importance of education for the future). A total of 433 elementary school pupils from fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade participated in the research (203 males and 230 females). The data were collected by the mean of questionnaire. The analysis of the results indicates the existence of a positive correlation between the pupils' experience of school community and school satisfaction. The pupils who experience school as a place of caring community are more satisfied with the school. There is also a positive correlation between the pupils' perception of school as a caring community and some aspects of the quality of school life. Pupils who experience greater care both by other pupils, teachers and other people in school feel more competent in what they do at school, feel more motivated to perform school obligations and positively evaluate the role of the school for their future.