Supporting Young People Through GCSE and A Level Results Day

Results day can bring a huge mix of emotions for young people. There can be excitement and relief, but also anxiety, disappointment and a feeling that everything depends on the grades that appear on the screen.

I was really pleased to be featured in The Yorkshire Times to share my advice on how parents and carers can support young people through GCSE and A Level results day.

Having worked with young people and families for almost two decades, I know how much pressure can build around exams and results. One of the key messages I shared was that there is no single way a young person will react to their results, but how we respond as the adults around them can make a real difference.

Supporting them, whatever the result

When a young person doesn't get the grades they were hoping for, it can feel enormous in that moment. They may catastrophise and feel as though the path they had planned has disappeared.

As parents and carers, our instinct can be to immediately reassure them, solve the problem or start talking about what happens next. Sometimes, though, the most helpful thing we can do first is listen.

In my counselling work, I often talk about unconditional positive regard. Young people need to know that their worth isn't determined by their exam results and that they are accepted and valued regardless of the grades they achieve.

I also encourage parents and carers to think about their own emotions. Results day can be stressful for you too. Taking a moment to regulate your own response can make it easier to support your young person with theirs.

And if the results aren't what they hoped for, there is rarely only one path. Remarks, resits, different colleges or universities, apprenticeships and taking a year out can all offer alternative routes.

I shared more practical advice in the full Yorkshire Times article, including signs that a young person may be struggling with results day anxiety, ways parents can respond and why focusing on what we can control can be so helpful.

Read Full Article Here

If you're concerned about how your child is coping with exam pressure, results day, school or college, I offer counselling for young people aged 11+ in Leeds and online.

Find out more about counselling for young people.