The coming weeks are going to be a very stressful time for many children and young people, and their teachers and parents, as they begin the very busy exam season.
I recently had the opportunity to address students at Windsor High School, and to wish them well for their exams and for what they go on to do after. Those sitting their GCSEs and A-levels this summer have faced unprecedented challenges on their education, but the students I met recently showed no sign of letting that affect their enthusiasm or desire to succeed.
Many of our teachers and academic staff worked really hard during the pandemic to ensure that our young people were educated, and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude, as so too for parents who often had to juggle working from home with ensuring their children had what they needed for school.
The exam season will bring with it the familiar stress in many households, and for many young people there is often a fear of underachieving and not getting the results they need for their next step. No one wants to be the seen as the one who fails, whilst all their friends get into their first-choice college or university. At times like these, it’s important our young people have a support network they can depend on, and to reassure them that there are other options if things don’t go to plan.
There are so many exciting options available now to those completing school or college, and new technologies open up new opportunities, as I saw for myself when I opened Halesowen College’s new Esports and Cyber Security Suite last year.
Finally, I send my best wishes to all our youngsters across Halesowen & Rowley Regis who are taking exams, and I’m sure there will be plenty of local academic success to celebrate in the summer.
This article first appeared in the Halesowen & Dudley News on 5th May 2022.
