Notification for One In A Million Free School: One or more pupils in Year 8 have been selected to take part in a national Department for Education study.

Growing Up in the 2020s is a new national study of young people in England attending secondary school, and their families. By following young people and their families over time, the study aims to provide a contemporary understanding of how young people’s school, home life and relationships shape their attainment, wellbeing, and post-16 destinations. The study focuses on the opportunities and challenges facing young people during an important time in their lives and when the effects of the pandemic are still being felt by some.

You do not need to do anything now – our interviewers will contact families directly.

For the first stage of the study, the research organisation Ipsos will be sending letters to the parents or guardians of the selected young people at their home address, from January 2025. Ipsos interviewers will arrange interviews with parents and young people at their home address, if they agree to take part. The information posted to families will list the various ways to get in touch with the study team, should they have questions about participating or opting out.

Understandably, families may also contact your school to verify the legitimacy of the research. If so, then we ask that you provide reassurance that this is an official DfE study.

Teacher survey in summer term 2025: To build a more complete picture of young people’s experiences it is really important that we also collect information from teachers. With permission from the young person and their parent/carer, we will ask a pupil’s form tutor or nominated teacher to complete a short online survey to get a more detailed picture about how they are getting on at your school. Ipsos will get in touch with the teachers directly later this year, explaining how they can take part in the teacher survey.

For more information, please read the letter for head teachers and school staff which includes more information about the study and an FAQs section. You can also visit the study website and find the study listed on the official DfE research page

You may wish to forward this communication to other staff at your school who interact with Year 8 pupils and their parents/carers.

If you have further queries, the Growing Up in the 2020s research team will be more than happy to discuss them with you. Contact: team.longitudinal@education.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Dr Ellen Ridley

Study Lead on Growing Up in the 2020s
Department for Education