Friendships are beneficial for a young person’s social and emotional development. They contribute to feelings of belonging, connectedness and acceptance by peers, which are all key protective factors for a student’s wellbeing. Having friends has also been shown to increase a student’s social competence, self-esteem and self-confidence.

Being able to form and maintain friendships is a fundamental life skill that we need to nurture in our students. It has been shown that developing connections and relationships within classroom environments supports positive friendships and enhances students’ cognitive abilities.