Fiona Kane

It’s that time of year again in post-primary and secondary schools!  Exam season.  As educators, school leaders play a crucial role in shaping the academic experience and success of their students. The period leading up to public examinations can be particularly challenging for both students and teachers, but it’s also an opportunity for school leaders and teachers to make a positive impact.

Understanding Test Anxiety and Stress

It’s essential to recognise the impact of test anxiety and stress on students. Test anxiety, defined as a psychological condition, is where individuals experience extreme distress and anxiety in testing situations. While some stress before exams is normal, in fact I would argue a little stress in these circumstances is quite helpful for students, to help them improve their preparation and performance, as we all know, excessive anxiety can impair learning, recall and processing and as a result, ultimately damage test performance. As teachers and school leaders, understanding this phenomenon is crucial for creating a supportive and encouraging environment for all our students in the run up to the high stakes examinations.

Effective Communication

Clear communication is essential during the run-up to public examinations. School leaders can help to ensure that students, parents and carers are well informed and regularly reminded regarding information about exam preparation and revision tools, study resources and facilities available in the school as well as any other support and help available.   It helps to address any concerns or anxieties students may have and those pastoral teachers and staff have a particularly important role to play during this time.  It is also important I believe to continue to recognise and reward effort and hard work and to encourage students to maintain their equilibrium as much as possible.

Teaching Effective Study and Exam Techniques

School leaders can work with subject leaders and teachers to ensure students receive guidance, advice and practice on effective study and exam techniques.

This work might include:

• Revision Strategies: Teaching students how to organise their study notes and materials, create summaries and mind maps, and practice past papers.
• Time Management: Helping students manage their time in the run up to exams and to balance other commitments such as part-time jobs, sports, extra-curricular clubs, social life and family time; helping students during the exam season, emphasising the importance of pacing themselves and taking breaks, eating and sleeping well.
• Stress Reduction Techniques and well-being: Introducing pupils to relaxation techniques (e.g. deep breathing, mindfulness, physical activity) to help reduce anxiety.

Supporting Teachers

Effective school leadership involves supporting teachers during this very intense period also.

I believe a lot of this work comes from whole school planning which might include a refresher of the JCQ regulations as well as school policies around coursework submission and the school calendar shared in good time giving plenty of notice of standardisation and moderation dates for subjects with clear communication on coursework deadlines (with some internal deadlines to allow for some slippage/flexibility due to personal or other circumstances).  I also have Senior Teachers linked to Departments for support and guidance throughout the year who offer a listening ear and communicate reminders and key information in person in addition to the whole school communication.

Conclusion

This is the time for leaders to provide a lot of emotional and professional support to colleagues.  This flows best and naturally from having created a positive school culture and ethos based on core values of empathy, encouragement and compassion.  Whilst we continue to strive for the best outcomes for our students, there is also a real need to be a good listener who responds to the needs on the ground to ensure all teachers and pupils are supported and also feel they are supported during these busy weeks.  Important too is to keep on encouraging and praising effort and work throughout the exam season, both with students and staff – it really is, in a post-primary/secondary school an extremely intense time for everyone involved.  By supporting students, teachers, staff, parents and carers, school leaders can create and sustain an environment where everyone feels valued and motivated to succeed.