Although this might sound obvious, many young people do struggle to make and keep friendships, and this is not just limited to year 7s or other new starters. There are many ways we can encourage the development of friendships. For example, introducing students who may seem lonely to classmates who stand out as being particularly friendly and responsible can be a really good start. In fact, many of my longest-lasting friendships are with people who a teacher introduced me to when I was a student.