How to support your child on results day

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With thousands of students receiving their A-Level results today, here is a handy guide for parents, from online tutoring business, Tutor Doctor, on how to support their child with their results.

It’s fast becoming a results day tradition to see celebrities posting on social media about how those collecting their GCSEs or A-Levels need not worry and that, ultimately, everything will work out just fine (looking at you, Clarkson).

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But what is often neglected is how to actually deal with your child not getting the results they (or you) expected – being inundated with tweets from mega-successful people saying their results don’t matter in the long run is all well and good, but how do students deal with the here and now? And how do they get the right support to stay on top of their mental wellbeing?

Here, Becky Ward, the Education Experience Specialist at in-home and online tutoring company, Tutor Doctor, pens an expert guide to aid parents in supporting their children if they didn’t get the results they were expecting.

Tutor and student.Tutor and student.
Tutor and student.

What to do on the day

Once the results are in, it’s important to take a moment to process them. Encourage your child to take a deep breath, avoid any immediate decisions and try their hardest not to compare their results with friends.

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Every student’s journey is unique, so here is where you need to focus on their individual achievements and next steps. If things don’t go as well as planned, have an open and honest conversation about how they feel – let them know it’s okay to feel how they do and that you’re there to support them.

Prioritising their mental health is a necessity on results day – from our own experiences, we know it’s an incredibly stressful experience that can negatively affect their wellbeing.

Offer reassurance and be as understanding as you can about their situation. Let them know they’re not defined by their results and, yes, as much as teachers, celebrities and others say on results day, there are plenty of other options out there.

What next?

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The results are in and they haven’t gone quite to plan – what do you do next? Here are four top tips I’d recommend doing next:

Seek academic support – sit down with your child’s teachers to go over their results. They can offer great advice on retakes, remarks or alternative paths going forward.

Look after their mental health – it’s okay for your child to feel down or anxious after not getting what they wanted to achieve. Check out online resources and local services like the NHS or UCAS for support and advice. Recommend healthy coping strategies such as exercise, meditation or talking to trusted friends and family.

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Explore new goals – start thinking about new goals together. Whether it’s a new academic route or a different career path, every step counts. Make sure you’re there to celebrate progression; even the smallest of wins can make a difference.

Stay connected – keep the conversation going about their future plans. Regular chats with you or someone else they feel comfortable with are a great way to keep them on track and motivated to get to where they want to go.

If results day doesn’t go how you or your child expected, then following these tips are a good place to start. Prioritise your child’s mental health during the period immediately after – encourage them to stay hopeful and proactive about their future.

Share the links to the numerous resources and support available to them. With your guidance, they’ll continue to move forward – no journey is without bumps in the road!

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