Surrey Homes | SH101 | June 2023 | Education Supplement inside

8
Steps
to
Smarter
Revision
Education Supplement
Just breathe
Panic that sets in literally stops
you from thinking clearly and
rationally. Breathing techniques
will help you calm your
breathing which in turn helps
you to think clearly again.
istockphoto.com/ Viktoriia Hnatiuk
Test Stress
Jodi
Maja Trachonitis, Assistant Head (Wellbeing)
at Sutton Valence School shares how the school
approaches the feelings of stress around exams
Sutton Valence School takes a novel approach
to helping students manage exam stress by
emphasising the importance of emotions.
While stress is often seen as a negative
emotion, we believe it can be helpful
and even necessary (in moderation) for
motivation and success. Our goal is to teach
students how to use stress as a tool to avoid
procrastination and achieve their goals.
While too much stress can be harmful, we have
various strategies to help students if and when
they are feeling overwhelmed. It's important
for students to be able to express their feelings,
and our pastoral support systems provide a safe
space for them to do so. All key members of staff
related to wellbeing and pastoral support have
had extensive training and it is made very clear
to students how they can reach out for support.
Our students use the phrase "Have you got 10
minutes?" to let a teacher know that they would
appreciate a conversation. We explore various
coping mechanisms, such as breathing exercises,
physical exercise and journaling, to find what
works best for each student. Often, just talking
about their stress can make them feel better and
help students normalise these feelings, which will
often be shared among their peers.
On occasion, students might focus on worstcase
scenarios, such as “I’m going to fail all
of my exams!” But we help them re-frame
their thinking by asking them to write out
the best-case scenario, such as “I’ll ace all
of my exams”, and the most likely scenario,
“I’ll do well in some subjects and not so
well in others”. This encourages them to
notice when they are engaging in worstcase
thinking and helps them develop more
balanced and realistic thinking patterns.
For more information go to svs.org.uk
Stone, Head of Middle School at
Mayfield gives top tips to prepare for
exams in a way that prioritises wellbeing
Revise little and often
Revise in half hour stints,
with five minute breaks
between. Revising for long
periods of time is not as
productive.
Factor in some time
to relax between
revision and exams
Listen to music or watch a
TV series you enjoy – it’s
important to maintain a
balance.
Eat well rather than
snacking during
the day
Good balanced meals keep
energy and concentration
levels up.
Prioritise sleep
Aim to finish revision
at least an hour before
bed and get to bed early,
especially the night before
an exam.
Resist the temptation
to compare answers
with your friends
Once an exam is completed
it’s important to move on
and look ahead to the next
challenge.
Remember
to be kind
to yourself!
At Mayfield, happiness is believed to be the key to thriving at school
so they strive to create a nurturing environment that balances academic
studies and extra-curricular activities. Pupils get two activity periods
every school day except Friday in which they can choose from over
100 extra-curricular options. These include many clubs focused on
relaxation and wellbeing including Welly Walking Club, Chill Out
Club, Gardening Club, the ever-popular Cookery Club, Dungeons and
Dragons Club (a hit amongst the Year 7 and 8), and DJ Club.
To find out more about Mayfield visit mayfieldgirls.org
Speak to your
teachers regularly
They are always available
to help you throughout
your revision programme
to ensure you are fully
prepared for your exams.
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