As students across the country began sitting their examinations this week, the NSPCC’s support service has raised concerns about the impact on many young people.
Figures from Childline show that it delivered 3,135 counselling sessions on exam stress in 2016/17, up 11 per cent in two years.
And while 12 to 15-year-olds were still the most likely to be counselled about exam stress, there was a spike in calls from 16 to 18-year-olds in 2016/17.
One teenage boy who contacted Childline said: “I’m really feeling the pressure of A levels, I’ve been having panic attacks and difficulty breathing. I’m so afraid of not getting the right grades and I’m stressed about the future. My life could turn out so differently depending on what I get.”
Register now, read forever
Thank you for visiting SecEd and reading some of our content for professionals in secondary education. Register now for free to get unlimited access to all content.
What's included:
-
Unlimited access to news, best practice articles and podcast
-
New content and e-bulletins delivered straight to your inbox every Monday and Thursday
Already have an account? Sign in here