From the Deputy Head of Junior School – Welllbeing

Happiness

The 2026 World Happiness report has just been released.

The Action for Happiness organisation has summarised the findings from the report:

· The Nordic countries retain the top spots in the world happiness rankings, Finland is No.1 (again!), followed by Iceland then Denmark; Costa Rica has jumped to 4th place.

· Young people’s happiness is falling in English-speaking countries. In places like North America and Western Europe, young people are significantly less happy than 15 years ago, unlike most of the world, where youth wellbeing has improved.

· Heavy social media use is linked to lower wellbeing. On average, those who use social media for longer periods report lower life satisfaction than light users.

· Not all screen time is equal. Activities like messaging, learning, and creating content are linked to higher wellbeing, while passive scrolling, gaming, and “browsing for fun” are linked to lower wellbeing.

· How social media is designed really matters. Platforms that encourage connection tend to support happiness, while those driven by algorithms, influencers, and comparison tend to harm it.

· Many people feel ‘trapped’ using social media. A lot of users say they’d actually prefer social media didn’t exist, but they keep using it because everyone else does.

· Connection in real life matters far more. Feeling a sense of belonging (e.g. at school or in community) has a much bigger impact on happiness than reducing social media use alone.

The research is clear – we need to prioritise connection and community over scrolling and disconnection.

It is very timely, then that tonight the Junior School is hosting our biannual Cardboard Challenge. This event is a wonderful way to build school community and House spirit within and between families and the School.

As a School we very much work to develop a sense of connection and belonging for each student. Year 4 to Year 6 participate in a Trustmapping survey to check the connections our students are making and Year 2 to Year 6 participate in the Social Emotional Wellbeing survey through the Australian Council of Educational research, which is non-identified, grade data that helps to inform our Pastoral Care programs and meet student needs and supports.

We are grateful for the partnership we share with families in nurturing these connections — encouraging real conversations, shared experiences and a strong sense of belonging both at school and at home. Together, by prioritising relationships and community, we can support our children to grow not only as learners, but as confident, connected and happy young people.

– Joanne Sharpe
Deputy Head of Junior School – Wellbeing