Resilience is the capacity to ‘bounce back’ from adversity. Protective factors increase resilience, whereas risk factors increase vulnerability (shown in the diagram below). Resilient individuals, families and communities are more able to deal with difficulties and adversities than those with less resilience. Evidence shows that resilience could contribute to healthy behaviours, higher qualifications and skills, better employment, better mental wellbeing, and a quicker or more successful recovery from illness.

Schools and colleges have a key opportunity to help children and young people to build as well as measure resilience locally. Actions to increase resilience are varied. Examples include but are not restricted to: increasing the achievements of pupils; supporting pupils through transitions and encouraging healthy behaviours; promoting better interpersonal relationships between people - mainly parents, carers and children; and creating a schools or colleges that supports both pupils and the wider community.

In Torbay

Measuring resilience is complex and depends, in part, on the number of protective factors present in a child’s life. Protective factors which are collected nationally include: school readiness, educational attainment and estimates of wellbeing.

• Around 2 in every 3 children (64%) are meeting the expected level for good development;
• Just over half of young people (55%) achieve 5 or more GCSEs (A*C including English and Maths);
• Compared to England, 15 year olds in Torbay are estimated to have lower wellbeing.

Source: Torbay JSNA, 2018/20