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Supporting Student Wellbeing During GCSE Exam Stress: Tips for Parents and Teachers in the UK
- Justine
- Mar 31
- 3 min read
Exam season marks the end of a long journey for many students. While it can be a time of stress and anxiety, it is important to remember that exams do not define a person's worth. By finding the right balance between motivation and acceptance, and providing support and understanding, we can help our students navigate this challenging time and emerge stronger and more resilient.
The End of a Long Journey: Exam Season
As we enter the last phase of the school year for many students, the looming exams can be a time of uncertainty and apprehension. The idea of finishing years of education accumulated by a set of exams that seem to judge whether we are worthy or not can start to evoke many thoughts and feelings.
The notion that our worthiness is based on the results of these exams can be an unconscious message that teachers and parents alike send out, often with the best intentions. These messages that students need to work hard, do well, and achieve the best results possible can often send signals of not being good enough. The belief that is often internalised is that if I do not do well, I am letting my teachers and family down. This can be a heavy toll for some but for others, just the motivation they need to do well and stay focused.
Balancing Motivation and Acceptance
As a parent, you are caught between the need to keep your young person motivated and on task with their studying and the need to accept their challenges and limitations. Parents need to find the right balance and send out the right messages consciously and unconsciously. If, like me, school was a difficult place, your message might be that your young person needs to do better than you, work harder than you, and achieve more than you did because you have personal regrets that you did not work hard enough or achieve enough. We can transfer our own beliefs about school and education onto our children so as parents we should be mindful of how we approach conversations around achievement, failure and success.
High achievers never feel like they are working hard enough, comparing themselves to others daily and believing that they are not going to achieve their dreams and desires if they don’t get straight A’s. The students that find school academically and socially difficult already embody failure and devalue themselves and their strengths when they have so much character and resilience to make it into school each day and do their very best.
Understanding Exam Anxiety
It is evident that many find taking exams and the anxiety around the build-up to the exam overwhelming, but it does not determine someone's worth. There are many who are extremely dynamic, free thinkers who struggle to do just this. We cannot set limitations on intelligence; we must see beyond the current school system while doing our very best to support our students.
Finding Balance and Support
Here are a few strategies to help students and parents navigate exam season:
Encourage Self-Compassion: Remind students that their worth is not determined by their exam results. Encourage them to be kind to themselves and recognize their efforts and strengths.
Create a Supportive Environment: Foster a supportive and understanding environment at home. Celebrate small achievements and provide reassurance during stressful times.
Promote Healthy Study Habits: Help students develop healthy study habits, including regular breaks, balanced nutrition, and adequate sleep. These habits can improve focus and reduce anxiety.
Open Communication: Maintain open communication with your young person. Listen to their concerns and provide emotional support. Let them know that you are proud of their efforts regardless of the outcome.
What you don't heal you pass on.
Be well,
Justine
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