Start the School Year Strong: Why Now Is the Time to Prepare for Exam Stress in 2026
As the summer break winds down, teachers and school leaders are returning with a renewed sense of energy—rested, recharged, and ready to face what the new academic year brings.
But let’s be honest: September is rarely a slow start.
With a new intake of students, shifting challenges in behaviour and emotional needs, and the pressure of academic targets already looming, it’s crucial that staff begin the term with a clear plan, resilience, and support.
🔍 Now Is the Perfect Time to Reflect on Last Year
Before diving into lesson plans and schemes of work, take a moment to reflect:
- How did your school’s stress and wellbeing strategy hold up last year?
- What were your priorities during exam season—and did they lead to the results you hoped for?
- What would have made this past exam season less stressful—for you and for your students?
These are the questions that matter. Because how you support your students emotionally and mentally isn’t just a wellbeing concern—it’s a performance issue too.
👩🏫 Teachers Are Role Models—And They Need Support Too
Staff are constantly being called on to play multiple roles: Mentor, motivator, manager of behaviour, and guide through emotional storms.
To fulfil those roles well, teachers need tools. Youi can’t expect them to be un-prepared. They need training, time to reflect, and space to learn how to support stressed students while caring for their own wellbeing at the same time.
Starting the year with practical strategies on exam stress builds a stronger foundation—not just for students, but for the staff who lead them.
🧠 Early CPD = Long-Term Impact
The beginning of the academic year is the ideal moment to put INSET days and CPD training sessions in place.
Why?
Because building resilience doesn’t happen overnight.
Students need time to practise stress-management strategies before they’re expected to use them under pressure. And teachers need time to embed these ideas into everyday routines and relationships.
My workshops focus on helping staff support students in creating a personal Exam Reaction Plan—with practical strategies that students work on throughout the year.
That way, by the time exam season rolls around, they’re ready—mentally and emotionally.
🚦 Where Does Your School Stand Now?
To help you reflect and plan, take 3 minutes to complete the
👉 School Stress Snapshot Quiz
It will show you where your school is strong and where you might need extra support heading into the 2025–2026 exam cycle.
Set the Tone for the Year Ahead
Let’s make 2025–2026 the year your school tackles stress before it becomes a problem.
✅ Equip teachers with strategies to handle pressure calmly
✅ Help students build confidence in managing stress early
✅ Build emotional resilience into the culture of your classrooms
📧 Book a CPD or INSET day this term to start strong.
Email me at [email protected] to get a date in the diary.
The earlier you start, the more impact you’ll see—on behaviour, wellbeing, and exam results.