Week 8 — Belonging
A sense of belonging (feeling accepted, valued and connected to others) is increasingly recognised as one of the most important factors influencing young people’s wellbeing, engagement and success in school.
For pupils, belonging is about more than simply attending school. It’s about feeling that this is a place where I fit in, where I matter, and where people want me to succeed.
Taskmaster Club, perhaps surprisingly, is a powerful space for nurturing this sense of belonging. Through teamwork, shared tasks, laughter and collaboration, pupils develop connections not just with each other but also with their school community.
In this post, we explore why belonging matters in education and how Taskmaster Club helps to build it.
What Do We Mean by “Belonging”?
In educational research, belonging is usually defined as the feeling of being accepted, respected and included within a group or community.
Professor Kathryn Riley from the UCL Institute of Education describes belonging as:
“The sense of being somewhere you can be confident you will fit in and feel safe in who you are.”
Her research argues that schools need to become places where young people experience this kind of connection and community.
Full source:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2022/apr/new-book-examines-importance-school-belonging
When belonging is prioritised in schools, pupils are more likely to build friendships, develop confidence and engage positively with learning.
What the Research Says
Research across UK education contexts consistently shows that belonging plays a major role in pupils’ wellbeing and academic success.
A literature review led by Professor Kathryn Riley at the UCL Institute of Education found that pupils who feel they belong in school tend to be happier, more confident and perform better academically.
Similarly, the National Children’s Bureau’s “Belonging Matters” programme highlights that a strong sense of belonging is linked with improved wellbeing, better mental health and stronger engagement with learning.
Full source:
https://www.ncb.org.uk/belongingmatters
The programme also notes that belonging can reduce disengagement, absenteeism and school-related distress while improving pupils’ attitudes towards learning.
Research is also beginning to show that belonging influences wider outcomes in education. A current project supported by the Nuffield Foundation is exploring how school climate and pupil belonging relate to attendance and academic achievement in England.
Full source:
https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/project/school-climate-and-pupil-belonging-attendance-and-achievement
Taken together, this research suggests that belonging is not just a wellbeing issue but also central to how young people experience education itself.
How Taskmaster Club Builds Belonging
Taskmaster Club creates an environment where belonging can develop naturally.
1. Shared Experiences
One of the fastest ways to build connection between people is through shared experiences – particularly ones that involve challenge, humour and teamwork.
In Taskmaster Club, teams plan together, solve problems together and laugh together. Those shared moments create social bonds and group identity.
2. Working Towards a Common Goal
Belonging grows when people feel they are contributing to something larger than themselves.
Taskmaster tasks require pupils to collaborate, combine ideas and work towards a shared goal. Success depends on everyone contributing something – whether that’s creativity, logic, leadership or encouragement.
When pupils feel their contributions matter, their sense of belonging increases.
3. Celebrating Diverse Strengths
One of the most powerful aspects of Taskmaster Club is that success can take many different forms.
Some tasks reward creativity.
Others reward logic.
Others reward performance or communication.
Because the tasks vary so widely, contestants who may not normally shine in traditional classroom settings can find opportunities to succeed.
That recognition (from teammates and from the wider group) reinforces the feeling that everyone has something valuable to contribute.
4. Building Community Through Play
Playful activities are powerful social connectors. When pupils laugh together and overcome challenges together, barriers between them begin to dissolve.
Taskmaster Club creates a culture where collaboration, humour and creativity are celebrated. Over time, this helps pupils feel more comfortable expressing themselves and engaging with others.
5. Strengthening Connection to School
Extracurricular activities often strengthen pupils’ connection to their school environment.
When young people feel involved in meaningful activities beyond the classroom, they are more likely to feel pride in their school and attachment to their community.
This sense of connection is a key ingredient in belonging.
Why Belonging Matters
Belonging is not simply about feeling good – it has real educational benefits.
Research shows that pupils who feel connected to their school community are more likely to:
- participate actively in learning
- develop stronger relationships with peers and teachers
- maintain higher motivation and engagement
- experience better wellbeing and mental health
Perhaps most importantly, belonging helps young people develop a sense of identity within their community.
School becomes not just a place they attend, but a place where they feel valued and recognised.
Final Thoughts
Taskmaster Club might look like a simple series of creative challenges, but beneath the surface something deeper is happening.
Pupils are building relationships.
They are discovering how to collaborate.
They are finding moments where their ideas matter.
Through these experiences, they begin to feel that they belong – not just to their team, but to their school community.
And when young people feel that they belong somewhere, everything else – confidence, engagement, learning and wellbeing – becomes easier to build.
Taskmaster Club materials:
- Information Pack — https://taskmastereducation.com/sites/default/files/2025-10/TM%20Education%20Information%20Pack.pdf
- Benefits — https://taskmastereducation.com/sites/default/files/club-assets/Taskmaster%20Club%20Benefits.pdf
- FAQs — https://taskmastereducation.com/sites/default/files/club-assets/Taskmaster%20Club%20FAQs.pdf
- Educators talk about the impact Taskmaster Club is having on their learners – Teachers Talk Taskmaster Club
Further posts in the ‘What’s So Good About Taskmaster Club series:
- Teamwork – What’s So Good About Taskmaster Club? TEAMWORK | James Blake-Lobb’s Blog
- Creativity – What’s so good about Taskmaster Club? CREATIVITY | James Blake-Lobb’s Blog
- Oracy – What’s So Good About Taskmaster Club? ORACY | James Blake-Lobb’s Blog
- Problem Solving – WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT TASKMASTER CLUB? PROBLEM SOLVING | James Blake-Lobb’s Blog
- Leadership – WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT TASKMASTER CLUB? LEADERSHIP | James Blake-Lobb’s Blog
- Self-esteem – What’s So Good About Taskmaster Club? SELF-ESTEEM | James Blake-Lobb’s Blog
- Wellbeing – What’s So Good About Taskmaster Club? WELLBEING | James Blake-Lobb’s Blog
- Belonging – What’s So Good About Taskmaster Club? | James Blake-Lobb’s Blog