Book Nook - Growing Minds: The science of raising thriving teens

 Today’s teenagers face exam pressure, social media, artificial intelligence and uncertainty about the future. The October 2026 UK BBC Bitesize Teen Survey¹ highlights these challenges: 37% of teenagers identified exams and grades as their main source of anxiety, while 39% wanted more support with stress management and mental health.

So how can we help young people feel better equipped to face the future?
 
Katy Granville-Chapman teaches at Oxford,UK, is a Senior Fellow of Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program and Deputy Head at Wellington College. As both an expert and a parent, she recognises the importance of understanding the teenage brain to help young people thrive.
 
In her new book, Growing Minds, Katy explores how understanding adolescent brain development can help parents and educators foster resilience, wellbeing and healthy development.
 
Adolescence brings significant change. Teenagers develop their identities, navigate relationships, manage emotions and take on greater responsibility. Understanding these changes helps adults respond with empathy, rather than mistaking every difficulty for poor motivation or defiance.
 
This doesn't mean lowering expectations. It means combining clear boundaries with an understanding of young people's needs. Teenagers need more than academic success. Supportive relationships, opportunities for independence and the confidence to ask for help all help them navigate uncertainty. Adolescence is not simply a difficult phase to endure, but a period of growth and possibility. By understanding teenagers better, we can help them build the foundations for a healthier, more confident future.

Katy’s interest in the brain, flourishing, and leadership began in high-pressure environments early in her career, where she saw how relationships, mindsets, and character shape whether people struggle or thrive. 

After serving in the British Army in Iraq, Europe, and the United States, she moved into school leadership roles focused on performance and development, and later, completed a Doctorate at Oxford University exploring leadership and flourishing.

She now teaches at Oxford, is a Senior Fellow of the Flourishing Network, hosted by the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard, and is a Deputy Head at Wellington College.