Surviving the exam season

Ah, the time has come again. The season we all love to dread… exam season. The time of year when caffeine becomes your best friend, and the word "revision" starts to make you twitch involuntarily. The good news is you're not alone.  So, before you find yourself hiding in a cupboard somewhere with a bag of chocolate, let’s talk about how to survive exam season with a smile (and maybe a few less grey hairs).

Managing stress

Stress. It’s part of the package. There will be students in tears, students who believe they have studied enough to pass the entire GCSE in a day, and students who can’t remember how to spell their own name when under pressure. Make sure you take some steps to look after YOU and build some stress-relieving strategies into your week. That might be some yoga, an hour or two with a good book or a park run, the important thing is to do what works for you. 

One of the most stressful things about exam season is the feeling of lack of control. If only we could hold our students’ hands during the exam and reassure them that they’ve ‘got this’! But we can only control ourselves, so take some time to reflect on your outstanding pre-exam preparation. Remind yourself that you’ve done all you can with those extra revision sessions, amazing resources and comforting words. 

Also, remember that calmness is contagious. The more you maintain your cool with students, the more they’ll follow your lead. You’re like a yoga instructor for exam nerves, guiding them through the storm. And when all else fails, hand them a tissue and a chocolate bar. It’s the teacher’s way of saying, "You’ll be fine."

The bigger picture

But, most importantly, amid the chaos, it’s easy to forget why we’re here. We’re not just handing out grades and ticking boxes. We’re shaping futures. The exams, the marking, the endless questions, these are all a means to an end. But at the heart of it, we’re preparing students for life beyond the classroom. They will take what we teach them and use it in ways we’ll never fully know.

When the pressure feels unbearable, take a step back and remind yourself: that what you do matters. You’ve made a difference, even if it’s just by helping a student understand a tricky topic or calming them before the exam. That impact lasts far longer than any exam result.