How parents can help support their children awaiting their GCSE results - Matt Buttery

This week, many students across Yorkshire will be nervously awaiting their GCSE results. It’s a day many of us remember well, waiting anxiously to see if all that hard work has paid off.

For parents, it's normal to feel slightly helpless on the days following results day, especially if things haven’t gone as expected. But there is plenty you can do to support them in the coming days.

Naturally, you’ll be wanting them to do well. But if things don’t go exactly as hoped, it is a good idea to encourage your child to research different options and discuss their next steps.

This will, of course, depend on what your teenager intends to do. If they are hoping to go to college, for example, it is worth researching alternative courses they are interested in. Similarly, if they are applying to an apprenticeship, make sure they have the contact of the employer just in case. That way, they will have all necessary details on hand if they need it, saving any last-minute panic after they have opened their envelope.

In the days and weeks after results day, it's important to create safe, judgement free zones to have open and honest conversations about what the future holds. Most students (and many parents) feel some anxiety about what comes next. Creating space for your child to share any worries can help them feel supported and confident, while also strengthening your connection.

Encouraging that conversation can help validate their concerns, and gives you a better understanding of how they are feeling. Don’t forget a problem shared really is a problem halved.

It’s worth remembering that for most teenagers, GCSE results day will be one of the first times they have received a set of exam results, which may feel overwhelming in the first few days following their results. If they need it, give them the space and time they need to process their feelings, whilst they know you are on hand to help and support them when they are ready.

It is natural that your teenager may want to measure their success by comparing themselves to their peers. However tempting that might be for them, it’s important to remind them that it’s best to focus on their next steps, rather than focusing on how their peer group has done.

With mental health issues among young people on the rise, the pressure that builds around exam results can weigh heavily on teenagers. More than a million children were referred to mental health services in England last year, with referrals up 10 per cent from the year before according to a report by the children’s commissioner. A calm, supportive response from parents, whatever the result, can make a real difference to how a young person copes with the news and moves forward from it.

Whatever the outcome is, it is a good idea to encourage your teenager to plan something to treat themselves for all of their hard work and enjoy the last few weeks of the summer holidays. Whether that’s a trip to Whitby, an afternoon around York Shambles, or whatever else takes their fancy. Finishing their GCSEs marks a major milestone, and it deserves to be celebrated.

These are only some of Triple P’s top tips to manage results day emotions. For parents wanting more practical, proven ways to confidently support children's behaviour and wellbeing, Triple P's evidence-based programmes offer positive strategies to make family life less stressful and more enjoyable.

Associate Professor Matt Buttery is the CEO of Triple P UK and Ireland.