24^th August 2017 will be a memorable day for thousands of students across the UK as they receive their GCSE results. Whilst there’ll be students that are celebrating success there are also always disappointed pupils who didn’t get the grades they expected. Those who are disappointed will no doubt be turning to their teachers for support and guidance. Here are top five tips on how you can help your students should their results not be something to celebrate.    

1. Be a calming presence

Emotions will be running high along with feelings of stress and panic. The first thing you can do is offer reassurance and a calming presence on the day. Have some stories on hand of students who didn’t perform as well as they had hoped but went onto being successful. This will help them feel like it’s not the end of the world, as many will probably feeling like it is.   

2. Re-marks and resits

Grades can move up or down however most of the time they don’t therefore it’s important to set expectations when discussing the option of re-marking with students. Maths, English, and English Literature can be retaken in November, whilst everything else the following summer; therefore resits may be more realistic for some.  If there is a high chance of a student improving the second time around, and their choice of career path depends on it then resisting exams is an option worth pursuing. Guidance from a trusted and knowledgeable teacher is vital here. 

3. Talk to students away from parents

Each year more and more parents are accompanying their children and standing with them as they open that all important envelope. This can be quite daunting and nerve racking especially if both parents are looking over their shoulder. It’s a lot better for students to open results, talk to their friends, talk to their teachers and then face parents when they feel prepared. Try to steer students away from their parents and ensure the conversation you have is on point. 

4. Be prepared

As a teacher you will need to respond to an array of questions and deal with situations you may not have faced before. It’s worthwhile speaking to senior members to get their experiences and advice, especially if this was your first year of teaching as an NQT. Think back to your own personal life experiences and how you felt during GCSE results day. 

5. There are other options

A-Levels are not the only option. There are several other post-16 paths, of which some end up at the same destination. Good results in vocational qualifications can open the door to many university courses and careers. There is also the option of apprenticeships which work really well for some young people. 

One final point to remember is to tell your students that their GCSE results do not define them. It’s what they do next that will begin to shape their future.