School head hopes tackling GCSE exam stress teaches skills for life
His thoughts come as GCSE and A-level exams started this week
A school head in Cambridgeshire hopes that helping students tackle stress ahead of this year's GCSE and A-level exams will benefit them in later life.
Chris Tooley, principal of The Netherhall School and Oakes College in Cambridge, said students have been spoken to by staff about how to deal with exam pressures this summer.
The exams, which start this week, come after a headteachers union said a recent SATs paper left children upset.
“Whilst there is that degree of stress, it’s not necessarily a bad thing because it allows us to respond to it and prepare for skills for life, and that’s what education is about,” said Mr Tooley.
“We haven’t just been preparing in terms of content of the course, but preparing in what methods of revision work and how you deal with stress, which are the sorts of lessons that are useful throughout life.”
The National Association of Head Teachers raised concerns while SATs exams took place last week after children were reported to be upset following an English reading paper.
How difficult the paper was for children to complete was one of the issues raised by teachers and parents.
The concerns have prompted schools minister Nick Gibb to look at the paper.
"There is no change in difficulty"
Mr Tooley said the difficulty of GCSE and A-level exams this summer will not be different compared to last year.
“There will be a broader range of questions, but it doesn't affect the learning or preparation compared to last year, so there is no change in difficulty,” he said.
“All students taking GCSEs and A-levels this year have had specific input on revision techniques, exam techniques, what you do if you feel panicking during exam, how you deal with brain freeze.”
Guidance meetings for pupils taking their exams this year also take place to help address exam fears and other worries.
But Mr Tooley feels this period of the academic year can help lead students on a path to success.
“It’s an ongoing development of students whether they’re taking exams this year or not,” he added.
“(It’s a case of) how can we build their resilience and self-knowledge so that when they leave school, they can be successful individuals.”