"This pioneering survey offers a vital, real-time snapshot into the evolving landscapes of young people’s lives, from their digital interactions to their fundamental wellbeing. The data gathered will be instrumental in shaping evidence-based policies and enhancing services, ensuring our children and young people thrive in an increasingly complex world."
Statistics Jersey is set to launch a critical Children and Young People’s Survey this October, an initiative designed to gather invaluable data on the lives of students across the Channel Islands. This comprehensive and anonymous assessment, targeting individuals from Year 4 to Year 12, aims to illuminate key aspects of youth development, encompassing health, wellbeing, educational experiences, and, for the first time, delve into the intricate relationship young people have with social media and generative AI. The insights derived from this extensive data collection will serve as a foundational resource for governmental policy formulation and the continuous improvement of essential services tailored to the needs of the island’s youth.
The upcoming Children and Young People’s Survey, slated to run from October 5th to October 16th, represents a significant undertaking by Statistics Jersey to capture a holistic view of the younger population’s experiences. This voluntary and entirely anonymous online questionnaire is meticulously designed to elicit candid responses across a spectrum of crucial topics, reflecting a commitment to understanding the multifaceted challenges and opportunities facing children and adolescents today. The inclusion of questions pertaining to social media and generative AI marks a progressive step, acknowledging the profound impact digital technologies have on contemporary youth culture and development.
Ian Cope, the Chief Statistician, underscored the survey’s profound importance, describing it as providing "vital insight" into the lives of the island’s children and young people. This sentiment highlights the recognition that effective governance and social support systems hinge upon a deep, evidence-based understanding of the population they serve. For young people, whose lives are constantly in flux, such insights are not merely beneficial but essential for proactive policy-making that can adapt to their evolving needs and circumstances.
Exploring the Digital Frontier: Social Media and Generative AI
A landmark feature of the 2026 survey is its foray into the digital habits of young islanders. For the first time, participants will be asked about their engagement with social media applications and generative AI tools, including the frequency of their usage. This addition reflects a growing global recognition of the digital realm as a primary environment shaping young people’s social interactions, information consumption, and mental health.
The proliferation of social media platforms has introduced both unprecedented opportunities for connection and learning, as well as significant challenges related to cyberbullying, body image issues, screen time addiction, and exposure to misinformation. Similarly, the rise of generative AI tools presents new paradigms for education, creativity, and problem-solving, alongside concerns about critical thinking, academic integrity, and the ethical implications of AI use. By systematically collecting data on these areas, Statistics Jersey aims to equip policymakers with the necessary information to develop informed strategies for digital literacy, online safety, and the responsible integration of technology into young people’s lives. Understanding usage patterns can help identify potential risks, inform educational curricula, and guide the provision of mental health support in an increasingly digital world.
Core Pillars of Youth Development: Health, Wellbeing, and School Life
Beyond the digital landscape, the survey continues to address the foundational aspects of youth development: health, wellbeing, and school life. These longstanding categories are critical indicators of a child’s overall thriving. Questions within these sections are likely to delve into physical health, access to healthcare, mental health indicators, emotional resilience, peer relationships, experiences with bullying, and general life satisfaction.
School life, as a central component of a child’s daily existence, will also be thoroughly examined. This could encompass aspects such as academic performance, engagement with learning, relationships with teachers and peers, feelings of safety and belonging within the school environment, and aspirations for the future. The data collected will provide valuable feedback to educational institutions and the Department of Education, enabling them to identify areas for improvement in curriculum delivery, pastoral care, and overall school climate. By understanding how young people perceive their educational journey, the government can better allocate resources and implement programs that foster a positive and productive learning environment.
Addressing Fundamental Needs: Caring Responsibilities and Food Security
In a testament to its comprehensive scope, the 2026 survey will also explore whether young people have caring responsibilities and if they consistently have enough food each day. These questions delve into often-overlooked but profoundly impactful aspects of a child’s life, reflecting a commitment to identifying and supporting vulnerable populations.
Young carers, for instance, often shoulder significant responsibilities that can affect their education, social life, and mental wellbeing. Understanding the prevalence and nature of these responsibilities is crucial for developing targeted support services, ensuring these young individuals receive the recognition and assistance they need to balance their caregiving roles with their personal development. Similarly, inquiries into food security highlight a fundamental human right and a critical determinant of health and educational attainment. Food insecurity can lead to poor concentration, health issues, and increased stress, significantly impeding a child’s ability to learn and thrive. By gathering data on this issue, policymakers can better assess the extent of food poverty among young people and design interventions, such as school meal programs or family support initiatives, to ensure all children have consistent access to nutritious food.
A Participatory Approach and Methodological Rigor
Statistics Jersey emphasizes that the content of the survey has been shaped directly with students this year, ensuring it reflects "the issues that matter most to them." This participatory approach is vital, as it enhances the relevance and accuracy of the data by incorporating the perspectives of the subjects themselves. Such engagement fosters a sense of ownership among young people and increases the likelihood of honest and thoughtful responses.
The methodology behind the survey underscores its reliability. Being voluntary and anonymous, participants can feel secure in providing genuine answers without fear of judgment or consequence. The online format ensures accessibility and efficiency in data collection, catering to the digital fluency of today’s youth. The broad age range, from Year 4 (typically 8-9 years old) to Year 12 (typically 16-17 years old), allows for an understanding of developmental trends and how experiences change as children mature through their schooling years. This provides a rich, longitudinal perspective on youth development on the island.
Informing Policy and Improving Services
The ultimate goal of the Children and Young People’s Survey is to generate actionable intelligence. Statistics Jersey explicitly states that the results will be utilized across the Government of Jersey to inform policy and improve services. This means the findings will directly influence decisions in areas such as public health, education, social services, and digital policy. For example, if the survey reveals widespread concerns about mental health, it could lead to increased funding for youth mental health services, new school-based counselling programs, or public awareness campaigns. Insights into digital usage could inform new guidelines for schools on screen time or the development of digital citizenship curricula.
The publication of the final report, anticipated in Spring 2027, will be a significant event. Alongside a comprehensive report for government and academic stakeholders, a child-friendly version will also be released for schools. This commitment to accessibility ensures that the very individuals whose lives are being studied can understand the findings and their implications, fostering greater transparency and engagement within the community.
Building on a Legacy of Strong Participation
The success of previous iterations of the survey provides a strong foundation for the upcoming initiative. Statistics Jersey reported robust participation rates in the last survey, conducted in 2024. Response rates reached an impressive 87% for Years 4 and 8, 84% for Years 6 and 10, and 78% for Year 12, with a total of 4,360 children participating. These high rates demonstrate a strong willingness among young people and their schools to contribute to this important data collection effort. Such high participation is crucial for the statistical validity and representativeness of the findings, ensuring that the results accurately reflect the diverse experiences of the Channel Islands’ youth population. The consistency of these surveys over time also allows for valuable trend analysis, enabling policymakers to track changes in youth wellbeing and behavior, and to assess the long-term impact of various interventions.
In conclusion, the launch of the Children and Young People’s Survey by Statistics Jersey is a forward-thinking initiative poised to deliver profound insights into the complex realities faced by young individuals in the Channel Islands. By meticulously collecting data on critical areas, from digital engagement to fundamental wellbeing and socioeconomic factors, the survey will serve as an indispensable tool for evidence-based policy-making. This commitment to understanding and responding to the evolving needs of its youngest citizens underscores the island’s dedication to fostering a supportive and thriving environment for its future generations. The collaborative approach, strong methodological foundation, and a clear vision for impact ensure that the results of this survey will resonate deeply, shaping the future landscape of youth services and policies for years to come.
