Childline

For confidential advice and support from someone you can trust, call ChildLine on 0800 11 11, or click the image above

With exams looming for many young people, the NSPCC is calling on primary and secondary schools to help show pupils they always have someone to turn to for support. Schools in Leicestershire are being asked to help remind children and young people that the ChildLine service is there for them, whatever their worry, big or small.

A new ChildLine poll shows that children often don’t know how to talk to their parents and other adults about their personal problems.

Over half (54%) of the 1024 children surveyed said they would feel too embarrassed to talk to an adult about a private or personal problem. Forty-nine per cent said they would not be able to find the right words.1

Local schools are being asked to display contact information for the ChildLine service on school intranet sites and in email messages to pupils. Additional online support including a guide called Beat the Exam Stress will be available this month via the new ChildLine website.

Figures for calls to ChildLine (07-08) so far show that just over 175,000 children were counselled by ChildLine last year. Of these, around 480 mentioned exam stress during their call.2

Denise Robertson, ChildLine assistant director in the Midlands, said: “This additional advice and information for young people is particularly timely with SATS and exams approaching across the country. It is clear from calls to the ChildLine service that exams can lead to feelings of stress and pressure to perform.

“It’s vital that all children and young people feel that they can call ChildLine about anything that’s concerning them. Schools play a vital role in supporting children and providing information so we appreciate their help in promoting ChildLine to their pupils.”

The new look ChildLine website will provide more advice about typical problems children worry about and information on what would happen if they get in touch with ChildLine. www.childline.org.uk will now be a site solely for children and young people to access help, advice and information about the helpline. Any adults who visit the site will be re-directed to the NSPCC website.

Denise added: “If you or someone you know is concerned about exams coming up, help is at hand and ChildLine is there for you. Visit the website for information, or give us a call on 0800 1111.”

Exam stress tip box

Dos

• Have your own revision timetable and start planning well before exams begin. Your teacher should be able to help with this.
• Make your books, notes and essays user-friendly by using headings, highlighting and revision cards. You can also get tips on other revision techniques from teachers and friends with experience of exams and you could buy revision guides if needed.
• Take notes of the important points when revising. Try to answer the questions of past exam papers, explain answers to tricky questions to someone else to help you get your head round them.
• Find out what routine suits you best as everyone revises differently. This could be alone or with a friend or parent/carer; early morning or late at night; short, sharp bursts or longer sessions; with music or without noise.
• Ask for help from your teacher/learning mentor, parent/carer or a friend if there are things you don't understand.

Don'ts

• Don't leave revision to the last minute.
• Don't avoid revising subjects you don't like or find difficult.
• Don't forget that there is life beyond revision and exams.
• Don't cram all night before an exam – you'll be really tired in the morning and a good night’s sleep is important.

On the day of the exam

• Have a good breakfast if you can.
• Make sure you know where the exam is being held and what time it starts, and give yourself plenty of time to get there.
• Take all the equipment you need for each exam, including extra pens and pencils.
• Take in a bottle of water and tissues.
• Go to the loo beforehand!
• If you feel really anxious, breathe slowly and deeply while waiting for the exam to start.
• Read the instructions before starting the exam.
• Ask the teacher or exam supervisor if anything is unclear.
• Read through all the questions before starting writing, and make sure you are clear how many questions you are required to answer.
• If there is a choice, start by answering the question you feel you can answer best.
• If you are stuck on a question, go on to the next. You can always come back to it later. If you are really stuck, try to have an intelligent guess anyway.
• Leave time to read through and check your answers before the exam finishes.
• Plan how much time you'll need for each question.