Flourish survey

Background 

Public Health deliver the Flourish Survey in partnership with the Children and Young People Strategic Alliance (CYPSA)..

The survey gathers views from Norfolk children aged 8 and above. It covers the eight Flourish areas through multiple-choice questions. It is carried out by the Schools and Students Health and Education Unit (SHEU) .  

The latest Flourish Survey took place in 2024.   

Why it matters  

The survey helps us:  

• Understand how young people feel about their lives, health and wellbeing 
• Identify the support young people receive and the decisions they make   
• Plan services and strategies with partners across Norfolk 

Benefits of being involved

For the children and young people:  

• An opportunity to take part in active citizenship  
• A positive influence on their school and wider community  
• Their needs listened to and understood by adults  

For schools:  

• Insight into pupil wellbeing  
• Empower schools to meet pupils' needs and aspirations  
• Evidence for OFSTED and governing bodies around personal development, behaviour and welfare  
• Help assess staff training needs  
• Support curriculum decisions based on gaps in the current offer  
• A starting point for wider discussions with governors and communities  

Key findings from the Flourish Survey 2024   

9,347 school pupils in Norfolk took place in the Flourish Survey 2024. The pupils were from: 

• 28 primary schools 
• 17 secondary schools/ further education colleges 

Recent years have brought significant changes for young people, shaped by the pandemic, technology, and new ways of connecting. Most children and young people have good outcomes in most areas of their lives but key insights include:   

• 1 in 10 lack a trusted adult to turn to 
• 1 in 12 in relationships report being hit and 1 in 5 wouldn't seek help  
• More pupils think regular school attendance isn't important  
• Vulnerable groups face poorer outcomes  
• Vaping among young people is rising  
• An increase in poor mental health   
• Confidence, happiness and optimism have declined   
• 80% feel safe locally by day and only 44% at night.   

How to access the reports

We have collated surveys and sent the results to participating schools via individual reports. 

You can download thematic reports from the Norfolk Insight Document Library. Topics include: 

• Smoking and vaping 
• Drug and alcohol use 
• Diet 
• Physical activity 
• Relationships 
• Sexual health 

What happens next

The 2024 Flourish Survey results have informed strategies and service design. We have added young people's voices to how we measure the impact of our work and ensured they shape future decisions.   

Looking ahead, we're introducing 'deep dives'. These are short surveys or face-to-face engagement focused on specific topics identified in the latest survey and other areas of evidence. This approach will help us explore issues in greater detail and reach young people beyond schools.  

• First deep dive: 2026  
• Next full Flourish Survey: 2027-2028