EDUCATION
A Parent’ s Guide to
SURVIVING REVISION
THERE IS NO GETTING AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT UNDERTAKING EXAMS IS STRESSFUL AND DIFFICULT FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR YOUR CHILD TO GET THROUGH THEIR EXAMS AS CALMLY AND SUCCESSFULLY AS POSSIBLE.
BY ANTONIA BEARY
Preparation is all
At Mayfield School, we are strong advocates of independent learning alongside classroom teaching. While passing exams is not the be all and end all of education, it is important, so learning how to revise and prepare for exams, and practising‘ exam technique’ is essential.
Good foundations
Revision cannot begin without the original‘ vision’, so ideally your child has worked consistently throughout the course and has good notes. Confirming all the information is in place is a positive start.
Organising revision time
Supporting your child and encouraging them to plan realistic revision timetables that allow time for relaxation is key. Last minute cramming only serves to increase the pressure and anxiety that your child is already under. The better prepared your child feels, the less nervous they will be on the day.
Study leave and the last push to public exams
Some schools offer study leave, while others continue until the last minute. Study leave can be a good opportunity for students to take responsibility for their own learning and prioritise their revision. At Mayfield, when study leave begins, teachers remain available during lesson times for individual or small group tuition. Supervised study continues in school and most girls attend. Those who find being selfdisciplined difficult are expected to attend.
Healthy mind: healthy body
At Mayfield, we arranged a series of lectures for parents and teachers from the Self-Esteem Team – a trio of women aiming to promote positive mental health. The first lecture covered a range of issues impacting teenage mental health, including exam stress, and one of the key things we took away from the session was the importance of getting enough sleep.
Teenagers need nine hours sleep to function properly and screenbased activity in the hour before bed can negatively impact this. It makes sense to turn all devices off and relax before going to bed. Winding down with a bath, or reading a( non-school) book is good: Snapchat and the like less so!
Helpless parent syndrome?
As a parent, used to protecting and taking responsibility for your child, it is often difficult to accept that you cannot do the work or sit the exam for them. No matter how nervous you may be, don’ t allow your own experience of school exams to affect your child. Be realistic – not all students are going to achieve A * grades and nor should we expect them to. We must celebrate individual achievements and successes rather than measuring them against those of others.
Antonia Beary is Headmistress at Mayfield School, a leading Catholic independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18. She is also currently Chair of CISC and Hon Sec of GSA. www. mayfieldgirls. org
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