Friendship and confidence are amongst the most valuable lessons learnt at school according to parents in Plymouth

Friendship and confidence are amongst the most valuable lessons learnt at school according to parents surveyed in Plymouth – and 78% of parents have found school to help with their child’s confidence. 

School is where lifelong friendships begin, and nine out of 10 (90%) parents said their child’s school friendships extend beyond the classroom, helping to boost their confidence and sense of belonging. Additionally, eight in 10 (80%) said the social skills their child develops at school have positively influenced their behaviour at home too. 

The new research from the Department for Education shows that 80% of Plymouth parents believe children learn valuable social skills at school. Parents highlighted the life lessons children gain beyond traditional subjects, with the top five being: 

• Making friends (61%) 

• Confidence (54%) 

• Problem solving (51%) 

• Teamwork (34%) 

• Self-motivation (34%) 

More than half (51%) of parents in Plymouth said their school years were the best years of their lives, and nearly three in five (56%) are still in touch with friends from school — highlighting the long-term value of positive experiences and strong relationships built at school. 

Gemma, local parent from Plymouth says:  “I think any parent worries about how their child will enjoy school. What put me at ease was building a rapport with the school, being consistent in my communication, and letting them know mine and my child's worries and concerns. It really helped to put us both at ease knowing my child was being supported. 
“From my experience, I've found that school is about a lot more than just classes, it’s where children gain important social skills. They learn how to make friends, sort out the little fallouts, and feel like they’re part of something.” 

Georgina Reid, Headteacher of Marine Academy Primary says:  “Every day I see examples of school being about far more than academic achievement. For pupils, it’s an opportunity to build a community, learn how to build friendships, navigate disagreements, and feel a sense of belonging. Through daily interactions with peers and staff, they develop empathy, social skills, and confidence. These skills are just as important as what’s learned in the classroom and stay with children long after they leave school.”  

School absence can impact a child’s opportunity to learn these valuable social skills and benefit from these life lessons.  

To ensure more children have this opportunity, a high-performing school in Plymouth has been selected by the Department for Education to run Attendance and Behaviour hubs. These are networks of schools that share effective practice on attendance and behaviour through collaboration, with the aim of delivering better outcomes for children. 

They will be supporting thousands of children and families by working closely with other schools in the area to help identify absence early, build strong routines and create positive environments where children feel supported. To find out more about the hubs and government's wider reforms to support belonging at school visit - What every parent can expect from our reforms.