Herefordshire careers advice service reminding students of support available as they pick up GCSEs
Pupils across Herefordshire and Worcestershire will be finding out their grades throughout today (21 August)
Students across Herefordshire and Worcestershire getting their GCSE results today (21 August) are being told by a Herefordshire career guidance service parents can play a real role in helping them to not worry once they've got them.
It follows A-level results day last week, where the NSPCC revealed in 2024/25 the charity's Childline delivered 706 counselling sessions where the young person mentioned exam results worries.
Within that data, it also showed monthly counselling sessions about those issues peaked in August with 134 counselling sessions, followed by May with 116 counselling sessions.
Herefordshire's Youth Employment Hub coordinator Amy Tommey says it's important young people feel supported through what can be a difficult time and parents can help with that.
She said: "They can be stressful for different reasons, there can be a lot of expectation riding on the level of results that they might get, young people can feel pressured from their families, there can be uncertainty and fear about the future.
"It's just knowing though that it's actually it's ok to feel anxious or feel some uncertainty or a little bit of fear around results.
"For parents, it's just reminding your children that's really normal and promoting a balance for them, so making sure that they're not just completely focused on these results and there are always going to be options."
The service for people aged from 16 to 24 launched back in the city of Hereford in February this year and says it's holding advice sessions for anyone needing guidance.
Like the hub, the Heart of Worcestershire college is running advice style cafes to help offer support to any students.
Principal Michelle Dowse says the slightly more informal setting tends to be really useful to students.
"We know on results day that many people get the grades that they're hoping for, some do better, but some don't get those grades that they need and they need a little bit of additional support to be able to help them decide what to do next," she said.
"There are so many opportunities available for young people that it's important for us to be able to provide them with the support that they need in that informal environment.
"Also though, show them the various options and explain the different kinds of options and qualifications that they've got and making sure that they're clear on those options."
Last year, a survey commissioned by the NSPCC found that 91% of secondary school teachers believe students overly worry their exam results will determine their future.
The survey also found that 51% of secondary school teachers think social media negatively influences how students feel about results day.