Social-Emotional Skills Matter: Helping Teens Thrive Beyond Grades

Success in school isn’t just about exam results — it’s also about how students manage emotions, build relationships, and overcome challenges. At Fuel Education, we know that developing social-emotional skills (often called SEL) helps students thrive both inside and outside the classroom. This post explores what SEL means, why it matters, and how parents can help build these lifelong strengths at home.

What Is Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)?

SEL is about learning to:

• Understand and manage emotions

  
  

• Set goals and stay motivated

  
  

• Build positive relationships

  
  

• Make responsible decisions

  
  

Why It Matters

Students with strong SEL skills often perform better academically, show improved focus, and have healthier relationships. Employers are also now looking for teamwork, empathy, and problem-solving as key career skills.

How Parents Can Help

• Model positive communication: Show how to handle frustration calmly or talk through disagreements respectfully.

  
  

• Encourage reflection: Ask questions like “What made you proud today?” or “How did you solve that problem?”

  
  

• Support resilience: Remind your teen that mistakes are part of learning — help them see setbacks as opportunities.

  
  

• Prioritise empathy: Discuss others’ feelings when conflicts arise — it builds compassion and self-awareness.

• 1. A national study found that the average standardised score for socio-emotional skills (ages 15/16) in England was -0.12 in 2022, which is below the OECD average (0.0) — highlighting that many young people need stronger support in areas like emotional control and teamwork. NFER

     
     

  2. In the Nottingham City area, 24.6% of children and young people with SEN support (aged 0-19) had a primary need of social, emotional and mental health in January 2023. Nottingham City Council

     
     

  Useful Links

  • Education Endowment Foundation – Social and Emotional Learning — Evidence summary of how SEL impacts academic progress and well-being. educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk

    
    

  • YoungMinds – Parents’ section: Practical tips and advice on children’s mental health. https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/ YoungMinds

    
    

  • Mentally Healthy Schools – Social and emotional learning (SEL) explanation and resources. https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/targeted-support/targeted-support-tool/social-and-emotional-learning/ Mentally Healthy Schools

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  How Fuel Education Can Support Your Child

  
  

  At Fuel Education, we are committed to helping every student reach their full potential — academically, socially, and emotionally. If your child has additional needs or you have any concerns about their learning, well-being, or progress, our SENDCo, Kathryn Warren, is here to support you.

  
  

  Please give us a call anytime to discuss your concerns or to explore strategies that can help your child thrive. We are happy to work together with families to ensure each student receives the guidance and support they need to succeed.

  
  

  Contact reception and ask for: Kathryn Warren, SENDCo & Teaching & Learning Manager.