As a children’s mental health charity, Place2Be understand the pressure that pupils may feel around exams and results, and have seen first-hand the anxiety this can cause. They currently provide an embedded mental health service in 500 primary, secondary and high schools across England, Wales and Scotland, supporting a school community of around 243,000 children and young people.
Last year, 36,565 pupils accessed a support service from Place2Be. 76% of primary school children and 86% of secondary age school children come to Place2Be because of feelings of anxiety, making it the main issue presented.
As such, they have put together a series of guides aimed at helping young people to navigate exam season and manage their emotions throughout this period.
You can find them on their website, alongside other information around supporting children and young people’s mental health: https://www.place2be.org.uk/exams.
These guides contain useful advice and practical tips for students, school staff, and parents/ carers, such as:
- Preparing for every possibility and making plans to help distract themselves;
- Being kind and not comparing results;
- Spending time reflecting on other skills outside of academic attainment;
- Helping young people to talk about and acknowledge their feelings.
