Mindfulness and Wellbeing

  • 26 May 2026

    Keeping calm and staying in control

    Chances are if you are an Exams Manager/Officer you are running on caffeine and adrenaline with little patience for anything unnecessary right now.

    As we move through the exam season things can often feel more of a struggle, with mental exhaustion pushed aside until our scheduled summer break. We are still in the midst of questions though and that needs us to stay on the ball.

    So here’s a gentle reminder...Stay calm. Stay organised. Stay compliant. Don’t miss anything.

    You are not looking to be perfect, but to stay in control. You cannot control every situation, but you can stay in control of your systems and your routines. This way you stay on top of the priorities that are most important and you avoid things escalating.

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  • 27 Apr 2026

    Handling the Heat: Managing pressure from staff and parents

    The exam season is a high-pressure period in the school calendar - not just for students, but for exam officers as well. Behind every seating plan, access arrangement, and timetable is a professional - (you!) holding it all together. But let’s not under- estimate the emotional pressure we also often get from staff and parents.

    Perhaps you’ve had a challenging conversation from a teacher questioning a decision or a concerned parent demanding last-minute changes. As exams start, tension may come from all sorts of areas and you may find others’ expectations intense and overwhelming.

    Managing all these things whilst staying fair and true to your responsibilities takes emotional intelligence. Setting clear boundaries helps us stay calm under pressure. All this is essential if you’re to protect your own wellbeing.

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  • 30 Mar 2026

    How managing emotions can boost exam performance

    We often talk about exam stress in terms of revision plans, study techniques, and subject knowledge. But there’s another important aspect that’s often overlooked – the emotional side.

    How a student feels going into an exam – anxious, calm, overwhelmed, or focused – can significantly affect how they perform. Even the most prepared student can go blank if their thoughts are spiralling. On the flip side, a student who has learned to manage their emotions can stay steady, think clearly, and make the most of what they know.

    In this blog post we’ll look at how managing thoughts and feelings can create the ideal conditions for learning and exam success – and how exam staff and teachers can help students build these essential emotional skills.

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  • 23 Feb 2026

    The exams officer survival guide: Thriving under deadlines

    If you’ve ever found yourself answering three emails at once while sorting seating plans, calming a worried teacher, and triple-checking access arrangements - all before your first cup of tea - then like me, you’re an exams officer.

    And if that sounds familiar, you also know this role isn’t just about data and logistics. It’s about pressure. Timelines. People. Accuracy. Calm in chaos. And holding it all together when things feel like they could unravel at any moment.

    But here’s the good news: you can thrive under deadline. You can go beyond just getting through the exam season - you can feel confident, clear-headed, and even calm (yes, really).

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  • 27 Jan 2026

    Thinking well: The key to reducing exam stress

    Although our role as Exam Officers mainly covers all things admin related, we often see our students struggling to handle the mental stress that comes along with exams.  Here we look at some simple stress busting ideas you can share in your supporting role and use yourself to keep on top of any mental overload.

    We often tell students to “just do their best” in exams. But when stress takes over, that simple phrase can feel impossible. They can be the most prepared student in the room, but if their panic kicks in, revision notes blur, or their mind goes blank, all that learning can feel out of reach.

    It’s not laziness or lack of effort on anyone’s part — it’s how stress affects our brains.

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  • 13 Jan 2026

    Fresh Start 2026: Time for a declutter and new focus

    As we step into the new year, here’s an invitation to pause, and take a breath. The start of 2026 isn’t just another date on the calendar — it’s a chance to bring in the new with a calmer way of working.

    Let’s be honest: the role of exam officer is a demanding one. We all juggle with deadlines, handling data and people. It’s no surprise that our desks become messy, inboxes overflow, while stress builds quietly in the background. But what if things this year could feel different?

    This is your guide to decluttering your space, reviewing your systems, and looking at how you manage your working day! Small changes now can make a big difference to how the rest of your year unfolds — not just in how you work, but in how you feel.

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