How to build confidence in children: nurturing generations of global change-makers

Confident students can achieve anything. We see this at OIC Brighton every day. 

What we witness in our classrooms, Learning Resource Centre, Science Forum, and across our campus is backed by research. Studies show that confidence is the most important predictor of academic success – even more so than intelligence. This is because young people with confidence tend to be more motivated and engaged in learning. They’re also better equipped to overcome a challenge and learn from their mistakes. 

So how do we, as a college, build confidence in our students? And how does confidence translate to academic and personal success?  

What is confidence? 

Confidence is about believing in yourself, your abilities, and your ideas. It’s having faith in your own decisions and goals. 

Confident people typically: 

• Have a strong sense of inner belief. 
• Feel secure in themselves. 
• Think ‘I can’ instead of ‘I can't’. 
• Know they can cope with difficult situations. 
• Are happy to take on a challenge, whether that’s an exam, performance, and competition. 

In college, confidence manifests itself in many ways. These range from volunteering an answer in a tutorial group to proactively organising and running a student society.  

It’s possible to be confident in some scenarios and not others. A young person who loves sport may show self-belief on the hockey pitch but lack confidence when dealing with a mathematical equation, for instance. 

Confidence is something that can be learnt 

Confidence isn’t something you’re born with; it’s a skill to be mastered, an art to be perfected over years of learning.  

However, many people still think that confidence is a fixed characteristic – that if someone is low on confidence, it’s just not one of their strengths. Yet, everybody can, and should, work on how to build confidence – and the benefits for students can be transformational. 

Why confidence is important for students

The role confidence plays in a young person’s life is highlighted by several science-backed studies. 

Research shows that students with higher self-confidence are more willing to learn and challenge themselves. In fact, confidence has been cited as the leading predictor of academic achievement. This is particularly true in subjects such as english, maths, and science, where confidence has long-term, positive effects on success.   

What are some of the benefits of self-confidence? 

• Better performance: whether it’s taking part in a Young Enterprise Competition or honing public speaking skills through the LAMDA qualification, having self-confidence improves student performance and enables further growth. 
  
  
• Better social skills: self-confidence helps our young people to interact more openly with others and develop meaningful relationships. 
  
  
• Health and happiness: confidence contributes to psychological wellbeing, and has health benefits, including reduced stress. What’s more, young people who are self-confident are more likely to be happy and have higher self-esteem. 
  
  
• Motivation and resilience: everyone experiences a lack of motivation from time to time. However, self-confidence helps young people to get out of ruts quicker and energises them to overcome challenging situations. 
  
  
• Fulfilment: perhaps most importantly, confident students are more likely to live fulfilling lives, achieve their goals, and feel content. 
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How to build confidence in our children 

So, how do we go about nurturing our students’ confidence – and make sure they reap the benefits outlined above?  

By creating an aspirational environment  

We know how important it is to provide an environment where every student can excel – a place where everyone feels comfortable and supported. Home to students from around the world, our diverse community supports and challenges each other to achieve great things. This creates a dynamic atmosphere where confidence blossoms and students truly believe in their abilities. 

By focusing on health and wellbeing

Our culture of excellence is underpinned by a firm commitment to wellbeing. From our OICB ROCKS ‘five ways to wellbeing’ programme to one-to-one pastoral care from a dedicated Strategy Tutor, our students have all the support they need to grow in confidence and develop a real sense of self.

By creating personalised pathways to success 

Being able to do what you love (and what you excel in) builds self-belief. And from the moment a student joins us, we make sure they’re doing exactly that. Following their own Global Strategic Pathway – which encompasses academic excellence, personal growth, and career preparation – our students enjoy an education that’s designed entirely around their needs.

By offering confidence building activities 

Our ground-breaking Supercurricular programme is specifically designed to help our students fulfil their long-term ambitions. Through six strands, our young people create a strong portfolio of experiences. This provides hard evidence of their talents and skills, increasing belief in their unique abilities. 

Confidence building activities range from career-specific work placements through our ‘Beyond the syllabus’ strand to preparatory courses as part of the university application process.  

Strategies for building confidence 

Want to boost your self-confidence? There are lots of things you can do to improve the way you feel about yourself and your abilities.  

Our pastoral team offer some suggestions below: 

• Act with confidence. Whenever you wish that you had a certain quality, try acting ‘as if’ you already have it. Try walking with your head high or talking to someone new. These things can seem scary at first. But after you’ve done it once, you’ll slowly gain the confidence to do it again and, eventually, it will come naturally.  
  
  
• Watch your words. Sometimes the way you say something can make a big difference to how you feel, and what others think of you. Take a few moments before you answer a question – this can help you feel more confident about what you’re saying. Try using words like 'yes' and 'no' instead of 'sort of' and 'not really'. This can make you sound clear and confident. 
  
  
• Try something new. It could be anything, from signing up for The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award to going for a short run around our beautiful campus. Each time you do something new, you’re stepping out of your comfort zone. The rush you’ll get from making these changes will boost your confidence.  
  
  
• Look after yourself physically. Eating healthily and doing exercise can make a big difference to your confidence. By looking after yourself this way, you’ll naturally feel better and have more energy. 
  
  
• Be kind. Help a friend or do a task for someone without being asked. Message a person who you haven't spoken to in a while. Helping others can make you feel appreciated and valued. 
  
  
• Recognise your achievements. Take time to notice when things go well and celebrate the little things. This can improve your self-esteem and make you feel better. 
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For more information on how to build confidence, please get in touch with us
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