I am writing this from Zurich, where I am about to meet a range of Felsted families, including current parents, former parents, former pupils and some prospective families as well!  We are also hosting representatives of Cricket Switzerland, before they bring a side to play at Felsted next week.  Tomorrow, I will be in Munich, catching up with more Felsted friends, before rushing back for a Sixth Form Open Morning back at Felsted on Saturday.

At this stage of the year, a lot of focus falls on public exams.  For our IB Diploma students, they are already a significant way through their final exams.  With six subjects to cover, this is a highly intense period for them, and I have been very impressed with how they have coped so far.  GCSE exams have started with language orals, although the first written papers will be starting next week, alongside A Levels which are also starting to get underway with Art students tackling their fifteen hour practical exam this week.

With the current Upper Sixth having been one of the year groups that did not take GCSE papers due to the pandemic, this summer brings that additional challenge.  Last year, students were given help and guidance in terms of what would be tested in most subjects, but that has not been provided this year, and we are told that grades will return to the standards of 2019, after some 'inflation' of grades over the past three years.  Personally, I think that this is a mistake, and that an opportunity has been missed to reduce the number of written papers and make use of ongoing assessment.  However, we have what we have, and everyone taking exams this summer is in the same position.

So, what can we do in order to help to make the exam season manageable?  Clearly results do matter, and it is wrong to say that they do not.  However, we do need to keep this in context.  A grade here or there will not define our futures, and everyone is trying to do their best, rather than trying to beat anyone else.  If results do not go the way that you want there will still be a pathway forward, and it might prove to be a better one in the long term.  If one paper does not go well (and with 25-30 GCSE papers, that is almost inevitable), that does not have to affect all of your exams.

Preparation is key for success whatever we do.  Revise, test yourself, take advantage of revision sessions, work with friends, and be organised so that you can give each subject the best chance of success.  Unlike mocks, there is often time between exams that can be used really well, so plan that time as well.  Remember that sleep is really important for your brain, and getting to bed at a sensible time can be more important than last minute cramming.  Similarly, diet, exercise and hydration all contribute positively to our ability to think effectively and recall efficiently, so do not underestimate the need to get these areas right as well.  

The press love to tell us about grade inflation and 'dumbing down' (such a dreadful phrase) of the exam system, but the reality is that this generation works far harder than those of us who went to school in the 1980s and 1990s ever did.  They fully deserve the success that they get, and my advice to parents would be to celebrate with your children the effort that they put into the preparation and exam period much more than the results that come out in the end.

For those with exams coming up, the very best wishes to you all.  Do your very best but remember that you will not be defined by your results as much as by being kind, hard working and thoughtful.

Chris