New study to be “barometer” for the wellbeing and education of teens in England

A landmark study that is following thousands of young people in England throughout secondary school has been launched by leading mental health charity, Anna Freud, in partnership with the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies and Ipsos. The study has been commissioned and funded by the Department for Education (DfE).

Growing Up in the 2020s is the country’s first comprehensive long-term study tracking adolescents’ development and educational outcomes following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Building a picture of young people’s lives

The research team aims to understand how factors like school, home life and relationships shape young people’s lives and futures including their mental health, wellbeing and academic achievement. This data is designed to help inform government policies and strategies to support those identified as at risk of poorer outcomes.

Just under 8,000 young people from across England will join in 2025. Ipsos will collect data about their experiences across secondary school and into post 16-provision, covering a wide range of topics from family life and interactions with the digital world, to sense of belonging in school and aspirations.

The project is also exploring young people’s cognitive abilities, academic achievement and school attendance. Parents, carers and school staff are involved to help build a more complete picture of young people’s lives nationally.

A time of challenges

While the study will be broadly representative of young people in England, some groups often underrepresented in research – such as those from deprived backgrounds – will be overrepresented.

The study will also take steps to ensure young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are well represented in the sample. This will help researchers analyse how factors including financial insecurity, neurodivergence and disability impact young people’s personal, social and educational progression in more detail.

The study – announced during Mental Health Awareness Week – comes at a time of challenges for young people across England, with data suggesting one in five have a probable mental health disorder.

The impact of growing up during the Covid-19 pandemic, anxieties around climate change, racial inequalities and the cost-of-living crisis are just some of the difficulties faced by this generation that researchers hope to shed light on.

“A landmark study”

Study director, Professor Jess Deighton (Director of Applied Research and Evaluation at Anna Freud and Professor in Child Mental Health and Wellbeing at UCL) said: “Our landmark study will be a national barometer for the wellbeing and educational progress of young people in England, providing a detailed lens into their lives throughout secondary school and beyond. Listening to young people is vital and this study will provide an important platform for thousands to share their experiences.

“A key aim of the research is to help close the attainment and mental health gap young people from low-income and other underrepresented backgrounds often face. By capturing a wide range of experiences, circumstances and expectations from young people and the adults in their lives, we’ll build a much clearer picture of how social inequalities can impact a young person’s chances of academic success and their wellbeing.

“Data from the study has the potential to inform prevention strategies to help identify those at risk of poorer outcomes early and ensure they are supported accordingly. Insights will be shared with those who impact young people’s lives – from the government and schools to parents and carers – to enact change and ensure the next generation thrives.”

“Today’s adolescents face unique challenges compared to previous generations… This new study is essential for understanding how they navigate this evolving landscape.”

Study co-director, Professor Emla Fitzsimons

Study co-director, Professor Emla Fitzsimons (Principal Investigator of the Millennium Cohort Study at the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies) said: “Adolescence is a key stage of life that shapes education, health, and future prospects. Today’s adolescents face unique challenges compared to previous generations, growing up amid rapid technological advancements, shifting social norms, and global crises like climate change and rising mental health issues. This new study is essential for understanding how they navigate this evolving landscape and for providing evidence to guide policies that support their development and success.”

Bridget Phillipson (Education Secretary) said: “As part of our Plan for Change, this government is breaking down the barriers to opportunity that hold children back.

“We’re delivering on our manifesto commitment to give every child access to vital in-school mental health support teams to catch problems before they reach crisis point, with 3 in 5 pupils set to be covered by the end of this year.

“But the challenges facing children continue to evolve, and this study will be hugely important in giving voice to young people to understand better how we can support them to achieve and thrive.”

“You need to listen to young people if you want to understand how best to support them.”

James Johnson, Anna Freud Young Champion, 16

James Johnson, a 16-year-old Anna Freud Young Champion from Lochmaben, believes young people growing up in the 2020s face more uncertainty than previous generations. Young Champions help to shape Anna Freud’s work through their experiences of mental health challenges and as young people.

He said: “I think a lot of parents and carers try to compare their childhood with the experiences of young people today but we’re living in a completely different world. It’s hard to relate. While older generations lived through events like the Cold War, I’d say there’s even more uncertainty now, for example, with politics, the economy and the climate. It makes me question what I’m going to do with my life and whether I’ll be successful.

“My generation is also contending with the unique experience of growing up during the Covid-19 pandemic. In March 2020, I was in my final year of primary school, and I never went back. Starting secondary school was like being thrown in the deep end. Since the pandemic, I think pressures around attainment and attendance in schools and colleges have increased too. It can feel like getting good grades is the only thing that matters, and it forces staff and students to function like robots.

“It would be great to see schools and colleges building a more supportive and positive culture, where the different needs of individual students are acknowledged. Speaking to students directly about what’s happening in their lives and why they’re struggling with things like attendance or school generally is a really important step. You need to listen to young people if you want to understand how best to support them.”

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.