Belfast Model
School for Girls

Exam time can be a struggle for both young people and parents. It is natural for parents to be concerned about their child's future and want them to do well in their education. It is also normal for young people to be less concerned about the future - seeing only the chore of revision - and instead want to focus on what is happening in their social lives.

Some teenagers become anxious about exams and experience stress symptoms such as tiredness, aches and pains, becoming tearful, having panic attacks or difficulty sleeping, developing stomach upsets or itchy skin rashes. A common stressor for young people is trying to live up to high parental expectations, so try not to put your child under too much pressure at exam time and be realistic about your expectations. Your child will have other chances in the future to develop skills and knowledge, so it's not the end of the world if they don't do as well as you hoped.

As a parent you can support your teenager in a number of ways during the exam time. Encourage them to get enough sleep, take study breaks and allow time for fun and relaxation will help thinking and concentration, and decrease your teenagers stress levels. Many teenagers are more alert during the evening so this might be a better time for them to revise. Find out what revision techniques are recommended by the school and any after-school revision sessions they are providing. Having the exam timetable on a notice board in the kitchen allows you to keep track of when and what exams are happening. Try to encourage your teenager in a calm and reassuring way and avoid criticising their efforts or style of studying, for example revising with music or the TV on. Try to support your child, rather than 'policing' them. Understand lost tempers and try to stay calm if they're a bit moody, and remember the exam period won't last forever.

Bribes conditional on getting high grades aren't the best way to help, it is more helpful to encourage young people to just try their best. On the day of the exam you can organise a special breakfast; later ask your child how they felt about the exam. You can mark the end of the exams with a small celebration and reassure your child that you support them whatever their exam results are.

If you would like to discuss a concern that you may have contact Parents Helpline Freephone on 0808 8010 722 or e-mail info@parentshelpline.org.uk.

For further information on the range of services which Parents Advice Centre offers, including parenting courses such as Parenting UR Teen log onto: www.parentsadvicecentre.org.

The Good Relations Forum launched its Challenge Paper "Ensuring the Good Relations Work in our Schools Counts" on Thursday 29 April 2010 at the Belfast Model School for Girls in front of an invited audience from a wide range of bodies from all over N. Ireland.

Speakers included our own Principal Mr Graham, Bob Collins Chair of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Denis Rooney Chairman International Fund for Ireland and Tony McCusker Chair NI Community Relations Council. This was extremely relevant as part of Community Relations Week and the recommendations in the paper will be used to influence change through active engagement with government and other key stakeholders.

The guests were extremely complimentary about the new school and were taken on a tour after the launch. The photos show the speakers and Richard Cory-Wright from the Equality Commission Northern Ireland