Teenagers ‘unhappy by the time they leave school’
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A study by think-tank Demos says some pupils feel school is just preparing them for exams. It urges the government to help schools and colleges explore how self-belief, perseverance and resilience can help their students.
The Mind Over Matter report is based on interviews with experts and a survey of 1,000 students, and from this, it is suggested that there is a steady decline in children’s self belief between the ages of 14 and 18.
33% of final-year students are half as likely to feel happy as 14 year olds (60%), it says. These 18-year-olds feel as though there is too much focus on exams rather than learning life skills and preparing for life outside the classroom.
This is understandable, as stress from exams can have adverse effects on a student’s life. With so much focus being on grades and schoolwork, it is hardly a shock to see why these students are feeling down. The report also highlights some gender discrepancies, as only 39% of girls surveyed said they were happy, as opposed to 50% of boys.
There is an increasingly large body of research detailing how non-academic factors such as resilience, grit and empathy have a profound impact on young people and their ability to succeed. It calls the adoption and practice of this approach ‘a growth mindset’, claiming the ideas behind it are simple.
“If we believe our intelligence and abilities are not fixed at birth, but can be developed through effort – if we have a ‘growth mindset’ – then we are more likely to look for challenges, to see failures and setbacks as learning opportunities, and ultimately to achieve more personally and professionally,” it says.
So in practice, those with ‘fixed mindsets’ conclude they will never be able to achieve certain goals when faced with setbacks, big or small.
Report author Louis Reynolds said: “Mindsets matter – they can hold us back or propel us forward to achieve more. This insight needs to be applied more systematically in our education system.”
“That’s why we have invested £5m to fund projects that will help young people to develop positive character traits, recognize excellent practice through the character awards and support research into what works best.”
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