A sense of belonging and safety at school: PISA 2022 insights

The PISA 2022 results revealed a correlation between feeling safer at school and better academic outcomes, and the World Health Organization has highlighted the importance of building individual and community resilience for global wellbeing. Schools play a vital role in this, by helping to build resilience in children and adolescents and enhancing their ability to overcome challenges.

Factors influencing the perception of safety in schools

In OECD countries, perceptions of pupil safety vary by school type and demographics. Urban schools, public schools and those with larger immigrant populations often report less security compared to rural schools, private schools and those with fewer immigrants.

Yet in over 60% of systems, pupils feel equally safe in different school types and immigrant mixes, but differences emerge: pupils from a disadvantaged socioeconomic background or with an immigrant background tend to feel less secure, and girls feel less safe than boys, particularly in Belgium, Czechia and France.

Home support improves pupil attitudes to learning

According to PISA, most pupils can count on support from their families. However, pupils from advantaged socioeconomic families, girls and non-immigrants tend to receive more family support in education. Pupils who enjoy more support at home showed more positive attitudes towards school and learning, and a stronger sense of belonging at school and life satisfaction.

In OECD countries, the association between feeling safe and a sense of belonging at school is more closely linked than in non-OECD nations. This suggests that different cultural and social norms may affect how students perceive violence and bullying, and whether such behaviour is more accepted socially.

Identifying elements of wellbeing

PISA’s Happy Life Dashboard compiles data on nine key aspects of pupil wellbeing. The initial findings of its insights report show no country excelling in all areas. High-performing countries like Singapore show high fear of academic failure, while lower-scoring countries like Spain prioritise sports. The dashboard serves as a valuable tool for policymakers to identify areas for improvement and promote holistic pupil happiness and readiness for the future.