Belfast Model School for Girls

Dealing with exam stress – Parenting NI

Mrs L McKeever — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:48:09 +0000

There is a lot of pressure on young people to do their best and get good results and the stresses and strains of school life can sometimes get on top of them. Exam time is a major cause of stress for young people and their parents. Young people are often anxious and irritable and can have trouble concentrating, revising and sleeping. Parents get anxious about how much their children are working, whether they are revising enough, and whether they will get the results they need.

When dealing with exam stress it is helpful to find out, as early as possible, the exams dates, when coursework needs to be handed in and what revision techniques are recommended by the school. This will help you and your daughter to prepare for the exams and limit the stresses ahead. Try not to rigidly police your daughter’s revision as this can cause friction. It is better to encourage, support and work alongside her.

Young people have different ways of revising – some may prefer to be alone, others work best surrounded by noise and family.The important thing is that they revise. If you notice your daughter avoiding particular subjects that she finds more difficult, encourage her to ask the teacher for more revision support. Some teenagers are more alert at night and find this may be the best time for them to revise. This needs to be balanced with getting enough sleep, especially the night before an exam. Encourage your daughter to have regular breaks from revising to do something enjoyable, even if it’s just half an hour of watching their favourite soap. Exercise is also a good way to relax. Try and plan something nice for when the exams have finshed and reward them for trying their best.

If you are worried that your daughter is becoming stressed about exams, encourage her to talk to you about how she feels. If she is worried about not getting the expected grades, reassure her that there will be other opportunities ahead and she should just do her best. It’s really important to reassure your daughter that she has your support and you are happy with her best effort regardless of the results. If you continue to feel concerned about your daughter it is important to talk to her teacher, as they should be able to tell you if there are any areas she needs specific help with.

The Parenting NI helpline offers a freephone and appointment service in Belfast city centre and throughout Northern Ireland, including Armagh, Ballymena, Coleraine, Craigavon, Derry, Enniskillen, Magherafelt, Newry and Omagh. If you would like to talk through a family problem or make an appointment, contact freephone on 0808 8010 722 or e-mail help@parentingni.org

For further information on the range of services which Parenting NI offers, including parenting courses log onto: www.parentingni.org

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P6 Visit Photo Album 5

webmaster — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:11:49 +0000

On Tuesday 8th May a number of P6 girls from local primary schools visited the Girls’ Model to have a sneak preview of the facilities and activities on offer before they make their choices during next year’s transfer procedure.