Supporting young people in a complex world: Wellbeing, belonging and the social media debate

Children and young people today are growing up in a world of extraordinary opportunity – but also unprecedented complexity. As educators, we are seeing first-hand the cumulative pressures our pupils face: academic expectations, social comparison, uncertainty about the future, global news cycles that never switch off, and the ever-present influence of digital life. 

At Beaulieu Convent School, our response has been rooted in a simple but demanding principle: wellbeing is not an add-on; it is foundational to learning, character formation, and long-term flourishing. 

Across our school – from Early Years through to Sixth Form – we see common themes emerging. Anxiety remains a significant concern, particularly around assessment, friendships, and self-image. Many pupils struggle with perfectionism, fear of failure, or a sense that they are constantly being evaluated, whether academically or socially. For older pupils, this is often amplified by social media, where curated online identities can distort perceptions of success, popularity, and “normality”. 

At the same time, many children are remarkably articulate, socially aware, and compassionate. The challenge for schools is not to shield them from the world entirely, but to equip them with the emotional literacy, resilience, and moral compass to navigate it well. 

At Beaulieu, wellbeing is woven deliberately into the fabric of school life. Structurally, we have invested in pastoral leadership at every phase, ensuring that pupils are known, listened to, and supported by adults who understand their developmental stage. This includes form tutors, heads of year, safeguarding leads, and senior leaders working in close partnership. 

Our approach combines preventative education with responsive support. Pupils benefit from a carefully sequenced PSHE and RSE programme that addresses emotional regulation, healthy relationships, online safety, and self-worth. Alongside this, we provide access to counselling and external specialist support when needed, working closely with families to ensure continuity of care. 

Crucially, we also focus on belonging. Co-curricular life – sport, drama, music, outdoor education, service, and leadership opportunities – plays a vital role in helping pupils discover their strengths and form positive peer relationships beyond the classroom. 

We are acutely aware that schools cannot, and should not, do this work alone. Beaulieu works in partnership with local mental health professionals, charities, and island-wide initiatives to strengthen support for children and young people in Jersey. These collaborations allow us to draw on specialist expertise, provide staff training, and signpost families to wider services where appropriate. 

At sector level, we also engage actively with professional networks through the Independent Schools Council and the Independent Schools Association, sharing best practice and contributing to national conversations about child wellbeing, safeguarding, and digital life. 

Children’s Mental Health Week provides a valuable focal point for reflection and dialogue, but at Beaulieu we are careful to ensure it builds on year-round practice rather than standing alone. 

This year, we are marking the week through assemblies, tutor-time activities, and age-appropriate classroom discussions centred on connection, self-understanding, and help-seeking. Pupils will be encouraged to reflect on what supports their own wellbeing, how they can look out for others, and when – and how – to ask for help. Staff are also using the week as an opportunity to model healthy conversations about mental health and reinforce the message that no one needs to struggle in silence. 

Recent calls for a ban on social media for under-16s reflect very real concerns, many of which resonate strongly with educators. There is clear evidence that excessive or unregulated use of social media can contribute to anxiety, sleep disruption, reduced attention, and unhealthy comparison – particularly for younger adolescents. 

At the same time, I believe this is a nuanced issue that resists simple solutions. Social media is not going away, and for many young people it is a space for creativity, connection, activism, and belonging. A blanket ban risks driving use underground, widening the gap between adult understanding and young people’s lived experience. 

At Beaulieu, our position is one of education, partnership, and proportionality. We place clear boundaries around device use in school, teach digital literacy explicitly, and work closely with parents to promote age-appropriate, healthy habits at home. Rather than just asking, “How do we restrict?”, we also ask: “How do we teach discernment, self-control, and critical thinking in a digital age?” 

I welcome the ISC’s decision to host a range of perspectives on this debate. It is only through open, evidence-informed discussion – listening to pupils, parents, educators, and mental health professionals alike – that we will arrive at solutions that genuinely serve young people’s best interests. 

Ultimately, supporting children’s mental health is a shared endeavour. Schools like Beaulieu Convent School play a vital role, but so too do families, policymakers, tech companies, and society as a whole. Our responsibility is not only to educate minds, but to form confident, compassionate young people who know they are valued – not for how they appear online, but for who they are. 

If we keep that truth at the centre of our work, we will be moving in the right direction.