| Yes | | Rachel Bulford, 17 Children's Express | | | No | | Estelle Morris Schools Minister | |
Dear Estelle
| It’s no surprise that rates of depression more than double as children reach their teens. |
As young people sit their GCSE and A-level examinations, many feel these weeks will affect their lives forever. With the introduction of modules and coursework, pupils have worked intensively throughout the year to obtain the grades they want.
Continuous assessment has its place. It does take the pressure off final examinations. However, adults have failed to recognise that this new style of working also places new stresses on young people.
Fear, insecurity, lack of confidence and a sense of dissatisfaction are common. It is no surprise that 2 million children in the UK have a mental health problem, that rates of depression among children more than double as they reach their teens, or that the Mental Health Foundation believes these rates are rising.
It is not just teenagers who suffer greater stress. I have noticed how younger members of Childrens Express now worry about SATs. Children as young as seven are under pressure to obtain a good mark.
Schools add to this burden as they compete in league tables. Curtis Anderson, 16, a fellow editor, remarks, Youve got to do well to keep your school at the top.
When the examination results finally arrive on doormats around the country in August, the annual cries of well, it was harder in my day! will ring out in the press. Last year, when more people achieved A to C grades than ever before, they were not congratulated, but undermined by this response.
Whether they are at the top or the bottom of the class, young people need pressure to succeed. They also need support.
Yours
Rachel
Dear Rachel
I sympathise with you and thousands of young people who feel under pressure as they prepare to take their public exams. I know from my own experience as a teacher in an inner-city comprehensive just how hard young people have to work to pass their exams. And in many ways life is now harder for teenagers than when I sat my O and A levels in the seventies.
I am glad you think continuous assessment has its place. I agree it has its own pressures but it does encourage pupils to work steadily rather than only for a make or break exam. Most GCSEs and A levels are a mixture of both and I think that is right.
Becoming a teenager can be difficult but it is also a very exciting time in young peoples lives. I do not think you can just put depressions down to exams. Taking exams is also all about recognising achievement and improvement and that is good for self-esteem and confidence. Thousands pass every year. It is important to gain qualifications in an economy that is far more dependent on a highly skilled work force than ever before.
Good exam grades can open so many doors. If people do not get their qualifications at first there is always another chance through retaking them or through lifelong learning. Young people do need support, and many teachers and families do give it.
Yours
Estelle
Dear Estelle
We are agreed that continuous assessment is a plus. However, there are deeper issues than just whether or not it takes the pressure off final examinations.
One truant I interviewed earlier this month said, Truanting isnt something I do for fun. Often we get lots of essays at the same time. The only way to get them all done to a high enough standard is to take an extra day. My friends do the same. There is a need for departments to work together so they dont overload you and for schools to ensure deadlines do not pile up.
The last thing teenagers want is to continue with lifelong learning. There is now a large gap between unskilled and skilled labour and young people feel that if you are to jump that gap, you need to get it right first time.
I agree that many young people do pass examinations and have greater opportunities to retake individual modules to boost grades. But the introduction of A*s means there are ever higher grades to achieve. Retaking can heighten the pressure because it means extra preparation as well as starting on a new part of the syllabus and continuing with other subjects.
My colleague Juanita Rosenior, 14, comments that, Pupils have additional pressures because they have to start now to plan their futures. I know when Im 18 there will be few grants for further education, regardless of my ability.
I feel that although you tackled the broader issues of young people and stress at school, your response demonstrated the lack of adult understanding, particularly given your involvement with contemporary education.
Yours
Rachel
Dear Rachel
At least we are agreed that a combination of continuous assessment and conventional exams can give a fuller picture of abilities. You are right about the gap between those with skills and those without them, but whatever skills we have now will need to be updated during the rest of our lives. Lifelong learning needs to continue as technology and work change. Sometimes we have to do it, sometimes we want to do it. Lifelong learning for enjoyment and to develop general skills is also important like working on Childrens Express.
At the moment, for you, learning is focused on exams and the pressures which come with them. You are right, studying is often hard work, but it can bring a great deal of pleasure although I do not think I saw it like that when I was 16.
Your friend Juanita talked about grants for further and higher education. One thing is certain though a greater percentage of your generation will have the chance to study beyond school than any other generation. Those with a degree generally earn more.
Giving more people this chance does have a cost and in future some of it will be borne by those who benefit most directly. Teachers do judge the amount of pressure that will bring the best results for all their pupils. But I suspect you are right to think that sometimes all the demands come at the same time.
Yours truly
Estelle
Dear Estelle
It concerns me that, as Schools Minister, you find it difficult to comprehend the repercussions of stress experienced by pupils in todays schools. A recent study demonstrated that the things children and young people worry about most in their lives are school and exams. I hope you and your civil servants will take this on board in future policy-making.
On a more positive note, I think there are a lot of possibilities for improving the situation. Having spoken to friends at university, it has become clear to me that the support they receive would also be useful for school pupils. Having a helpline staffed by young people who could give advice and support is one idea. Another would the opportunity to talk about stress with a personal tutor or teacher. Though as my colleague Lizzie Kenyon, 14, points out, Teachers need more time to listen to pupils worries.
Educational pressures and stress are increasingly important for pupils, parents and teachers. My colleagues and I feel the Government would only have to take small steps to make a big difference. Lizzie adds, Adults often tell us, you dont know what real stress is. Theres no doubt that if the Government were to acknowledge the stress young people are under today, it could have a huge impact.
Yours
Rachel
Dear Rachel
I would not deny that young people worry about exams or that they can be stressed. Some students are affected more than others and there are people who panic in exams. My argument is that exams are important and that some pressure is inevitable, although young people do need support.
I was interested that you thought schools could learn from universities by improving counselling and support facilities. You have some good ideas that could be looked at by schools. Pastoral support is important and I think that it has sometimes been undervalued. Teachers should be available to listen to their pupils concerns about stress. The Government is cutting the burden of red tape partly so that teachers can spend more time with pupils. We are also reviewing the way that personal, social and health education works to see if it could become more helpful in supporting students with the kinds of issues that you have raised.
I do wish you and everyone else the best of luck with your preparations. I hope you enjoy celebrating your results in August.
Yours
Estelle
