More than nine in 10 Year 8 pupils say they are satisfied with life (94%) and have positive relationships with family (98%) and friends (95%), according to the first findings from the Growing Up in the 2020s study.
However, one in four (25%) report symptoms of mental ill-health in adolescence. Pupils who receive special educational needs (SEN) support are particularly at risk of mental health issues. This is also the case for those from less well-off homes.
The findings come from the first survey of Growing Up in the 2020s, the latest nationally representative study of school pupils in England.
The study was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE). It is managed by Anna Freud, a mental health charity for children and young people, the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies and Ipsos.
Growing Up in the 2020s draws on data collected in 2025 from almost 8,000 young people and their parents and carers. This first report provides evidence on their mental and physical health, friendships, family life and sense of belonging at school.
Friendships and family
- Young people’s feelings about life, their family and friendships were broadly positive no matter their sex, SEN status and socioeconomic background.
Mental health and wellbeing
- A quarter (25%) of young people had mental health issues, according to reports from study participants, their parents and carers.
- Pupils with SEN support were more than twice as likely as their peers to have symptoms of mental ill-health (54% v 17%).
- Teens from less well-off homes were at greater risk of mental health issues than their more advantaged counterparts (36% v 20%).
- Most young people perceived themselves as resilient. Almost three quarters (71%) agreed or strongly agreed that they keep trying when they find something difficult.
School
- Almost two thirds of pupils (63%) agreed they felt a sense of belonging at school.
- However, girls were less likely to feel a sense of belonging compared to boys (57% v 69%). This was also the case for young people receiving SEN provision (54% vs. 66%).
- One in five (19%) Year 8 pupils were persistently absent from school. Rates were higher among those from less well-off homes (34% v 13%).
Physical health and sleep
- A quarter (25%) of young people reported a longstanding health condition or illness. Rates were higher among SEN pupils (58%) and those from less well-off homes (33%).
- Nine in ten (90%) pupils reported getting at least eight hours of sleep on a weekday.
- Only one in six (17%) met the recommended guideline of at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
Study Director, Professor Jess Deighton (Anna Freud and UCL) said: “The findings from this study – which gives us the richest snapshot so far of what life is like for this generation – are incredibly nuanced. On the one hand, they show that mental health problems in this age group are very high, underscoring the importance of prevention and early support for reducing levels of distress. On the other hand, it’s encouraging that most Year 8s report positive relationships and good wellbeing, along with high levels of resilience.
“However, what’s really clear is that many of the inequalities that shape young people’s lives are well established by the start of secondary school. Differences linked to, for example, a child’s special educational needs, sex, ethnicity and attainment levels, along with their family’s income and education levels, are linked to mental health, sense of belonging, relationships with peers, attendance and much more. These disparities don’t just impact pockets of a child’s life, but span their lives at home, school and in the wider world.”
Co-director, Professor Emla Fitzsimons (UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies) said: “This study provides much needed evidence on the experience of Year 8 pupils today, and it paints a stark picture. The findings, which are based on young people’s own reports of their mental health and wellbeing, suggest that a substantial proportion are experiencing a mental health problem. This underlines the importance of understanding and supporting mental wellbeing in early adolescence and contributes to a growing evidence base on mental health across different stages of young people’s lives.”
Further information
Read the full report: Growing Up in the 2020s: first survey of young people and their families at age 12 and 13
Growing Up in the 2020s is part of a series of national studies funded by DfE about different stages of childhood and adolescence in England. This includes Children of the 2020s, which is focused on the development of children in their first five years, and Five to Twelve which is following children throughout primary school. Find out more about the study on the Anna Freud website.
