GCSE Results day for thousands across Kent
Experts warn to give children space to process the outcome
As thousands across Kent get ready for GCSE results day, we've been hearing from the NSPCC, who warn that calls about exam stress are increasing year upon year.
Rebekah Hipkiss, who works within the South East of England at Childline, told us:
"I think exam stress can start to affect young people from May onwards that's when we would see a significant rise in the number of young people getting in touch.
"They have lots of anxiety about their futures and I think particularly now we are looking at a generation who are unsure of their future plans.
"Things that they might have thought they wanted to do, are now being impacted by the introduction of AI. So I think it's more difficult for them to be able to see their way forward.
"One of the other concerns that young people have is disappointing people, disappointing their parents, disappointing their school, their friends.
"And I think that has quite a big impact on how they feel about exams in general and the reliance on comparing themselves with their peers, with obviously social media and feeling that they, if they didn't get the grades that they wanted, aren't up there, aren't competing."
On how to tackle this issue Hipkiss had this advice for parents:
"I'd saylisten to it, don't fix it just yet.
"Give space for the young person to process what's happened to them.
"It may be good or bad. "And without putting pressure on them to make an immediate decision, to change their pathway immediately.
"There are lots of options and I think that is the biggest thing for parents to think about is the world's not going to end tomorrow. We don't need to rush into this. And I think for me, young people need that space if they haven't lived up to their own expectations, because they will be disappointed in themselves as much as parents would have wished for things for them.
"So it's about making sure that they feel supported and that they haven't let anybody down. And then I think giving space to let them think about their options and then being supportive of what they think about that they could do.
"Exam results don't define you as a person."
Meanwhile there were words of confidence from Sir Ed Davey on his visit to Dover yesteday. Speaking to Hits and Greatest Hit Radio Kent he said:
"Believe in yourself. I mean, so many of you will have done incredibly well.
"So huge congratulations to all those who've got great results. Well done.
"And you know, if you didn't get quite what you hoped for, I'm sure you will still find a pathway forward.
"Talk to your teacher, talk to your parents, talk to your friends. There'll be a a great future for you. You'll have to work a bit, but do that, and you'll get great results."