Taking exams is a stressful process and we run seminars by Dr Robin Hart Msc (Pysch) MA DPysch to help parents identify some coping mechanisms to make the process a little easier,

 

As parents enter the examination system (sometimes when their children are six years old )they are often disagreeably surprised to find how stressful the whole thing is.  They get conflicting advice from other parents, school and tutors. 

 

Some common causes of stress:-

• Am I doing the right thing? Entering him/her for the appropriate school?

• He doesn’t want to do extra work - he’d rather play football.

• Other parents say that I need to do at least 3 hours extra work a day for a year to have a chance.

• School says that tutoring is wrong.

• I can’t teach him myself and I don’t see why I should spend a fortune on tutors.

• He’s too little and immature to be taking exams.

• My husband and I are arguing about what the best thing to do is.

• I want him to have the chance to go to the best school in London and I will feel guilty if I don’t try.

• My other children feel left out as I spend too much time worrying about this exam.

 

This is before the exams have even started.  ‘Open evenings/days’ at schools can be very disconcerting as parents face the reality of looking at how many hundreds of children appear to be competing for the few places.

 

The exam days themselves are not easy as you take your child to a crowded school and leave him/her there, potentially looking a bit worried.

 

Then there may be the issue of dealing with rejection - This is something no one likes to deal with.  Parents sometimes blame themselves, other people and despite themselves, blame their children.  This can have damaging consequences for the whole family and everyone’s relationships.

 

We run occasional seminars by Dr Robin Hart to try to talk through some of these issues.

 

Robin discusses:

The various issues relating to children’s educational development and why some children are ready for exams when others are not.  

He deals with the decision making process about which school is right for your child and the factors that should inform that choice.

Dealing sensitively with the issue of extra work.

Handling the run up too and the exams.

Coping with any disappointment.

 

Robin will talk for about 45 minutes and then there will be questions and discussion.

The seminar will last for approximately 90 minutes.  Refreshments will be provided.

 

If you are interested in attending one of these seminars please contact me and I will put you on the waiting list and let you know when the next session is. The sessions are limited to a maximum of 12 people. They will begin at 7.30 for lecture at 8pm.

 

Price: £150 per couple.

£95 per single ticket.

Venue: Office of Helen Grogan - Coulson St, Chelsea.