Supporting student wellbeing during exam season: a shared responsibility
- anisha003
- May 8
- 3 min read
As the exam season approaches, schools begin to feel the rising pressure - not just academically, but emotionally and mentally as well. For students, this can be one of the most challenging and stressful periods of their school career. For parents, teachers, DSLs and pastoral teams, it’s a vital time to strengthen the support systems and ensure that student health and mental wellbeing remain front and centre.
The hidden weight of exams
While exams are a measure of academic progress, they often carry emotional weight far beyond the exam paper. Students may experience anxiety, self-doubt, sleep problems, or physical symptoms like headaches or stomach aches. In extreme cases, these pressures can contribute to serious mental health concerns, including depression or thoughts of self-harm. Recognising these risks early is crucial for effective intervention.
Why this matters for safeguarding
Safeguarding extends beyond protection from harm, it includes fostering a culture where students feel safe, heard and supported. During the exam period, students can be especially vulnerable. DSLs must remain vigilant to signs of emotional distress: changes in behaviour, withdrawal, perfectionism, overworking, or disengagement may all indicate a student is struggling.
The role of the safeguarding lead involves:
Being visible and accessible.
Encouraging students to seek help.
Working with pastoral teams, teachers and parents to monitor and respond to concerns.
Making sure mental health resources are well signposted and easily accessible.
The role of teachers
Teachers play a unique role during this period, not just as educators, but as trusted adults who students see every day. Teachers are often the first to notice when a student is not coping well.
They can:
Recognise signs of stress early and respond with empathy.
Set realistic expectations for revision and performance.
Embed wellbeing into their classroom routines, even through small check-ins or mindfulness practices.
Remind students that learning is a journey and that exams are only one part of the story.
Through calm guidance and reassurance, teachers can help students feel grounded and capable amid the pressures of exams.
The role of parents
At home, parents provide the steady encouragement and routine that students need during stressful times. During the exam period, students benefit enormously from:
Regular routines with time for sleep, exercise and proper meals.
Encouragement to take breaks and step away from books or screens.
The creation of a calm, distraction-free study environment.
A listening ear, free from judgement or added pressure.
Parents also benefit from being in regular communication with the school. If there are concerns at home, such as high anxiety levels or withdrawal, DSLs, pastoral teams and teachers can work together to coordinate a response. See our parent workshops here.
A whole-community approach
Supporting students through their GCSEs and A Levels is not the job of one person or role; it requires everyone working together. When safeguarding leads, pastoral teams, teachers and parents operate as a team, students are far more likely to feel supported, resilient and empowered.
Exam season should be about more than just academic outcomes. While exams assess performance, they also reflect how much we value students' wellbeing. Success lies not only in the results achieved, but also in the wellbeing protected, the confidence nurtured and the resilience built.
Written by Kristy Pascoe.
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