Your son or daughter might be experiencing anxiety, stress, frustration and perhaps even anger if they feel their exams and other assessments have not gone well.
Encourage them to come to you if they want to discuss any concerns they might have and reassure them that they shouldn’t be worried about telling you if their grades are lower than expected. Being able to have open and honest conversations is vital for your child’s mental wellbeing.
They might also need specific support from you if they go through clearing or have to change their future college or work plans. You might find it useful to reframe the situation and discuss other opportunities that might arise. Universities and colleges might be flexible about their offers and there might be other avenues to explore, such as apprenticeships. Could you tell them about your own experiences of school, college or university and their impact on your career/life? What obstacles or disappointments did you face and how did you overcome them?
If they are struggling with anxiety, Good Thinking’s free NHS-approved wellbeing apps, including Clear Fear, might be helpful at this time.