The Educator Magazine U.K. May-August 2026 issue. - Magazine - Page 63
What schools can do
Individual conversations matter enormously, but they need to sit
within a broader framework. Every school should have a
whole-school wellbeing approach that is proactive rather than
reactive.
during exam periods. The link between sleep and cognitive
performance is well established, and no amount of last-minute
revision will make up for a chronically exhausted brain. Helping
students revise smarter and not harder is one of the most
valuable things educators can do.
In other schools, this might look like assemblies that address
mental health openly, or weaving emotional conversations
naturally into subject teaching, for example discussing the
mental health of historical figures in a history lesson. Some
subjects this is harder to weave in, but you can always create
related conversations.
Every teacher encourages students to start early; that's a given.
But helping them build an actual structure around their revision
makes a genuine difference. Promote spaced revision over
cramming as the latter is well-documented as being less effective.
Building an emotionally literate environment is especially
important because teenagers often find it genuinely difficult to
articulate how they're feeling, and they need normalised spaces
in which to do so.
Practically speaking, consider what additional structures can be
offered during exam periods. Breakfast clubs, where resources
allow, can make a real difference as a hungry student is rarely
a focused one. Quiet after-school study spaces are valuable for
students that might not have access to space like this at home.
Try not to add to the pressure, scaring students with grand
warnings about the impact of failure will only deepen anxiety.
Keep the focus on preparation, progress and the material itself.
Finally, bring parents and carers into the conversation. Make clear
that supporting a child through exams isn't only about revision;
it's about protecting sleep, encouraging physical activity and
allowing time to socialise and decompress. Give them helpful
information via school newsletters and emails. Also make sure
they know that scaling back extracurricular commitments during
intense periods is reasonable but removing them entirely will feel
like punishment rather than support.
Practical revision tips worth sharing with students
A third of students are getting fewer than six hours of sleep
In lessons, many teachers already revisit past papers, which is
excellent practice. Students can build on this independently
through earlier papers, flashcards and retrieval techniques,
actively testing themselves rather than passively re-reading
notes.
One underused strategy worth championing is verbal
explanation. Studies show that articulating a subject out loud
to someone reinforces learning. Encourage students to explain
a tricky topic to a sibling or parent or create opportunities for
peer teaching in class.
Equip students with stress management tools such as simple
breathing techniques, suggest journalling, or point them towards
apps like Headspace - and remind them regularly that rest isn't
wasted time.
Looking forward
There’s plenty that educators can do to support teenagers as they
go through their exams. It’s important that we give them the right
tools that they can use for the rest of their lives.
If we get this right, we’re not just helping them through their
GCSEs, we’re enabling them to become people who know how to
look after themselves. That is fundamentally worth far more than
any grade.
