June is traditionally the month for examinations and students of all ages will be participating.

Primary school children will be facing end of year tests or the government set SATS. Those in year 6 will also be concerned whether after the school summer holidays they will be attending the school of their choice. They will be anxious about leaving their familiar surroundings, where they were the senior group in the school, and entering a strange environment and meeting new people – many of them strangers. They will also be anxious about the new subjects that they will be studying. 
 
At secondary school the pupils will also be facing end of year tests, SATs, GCSE’s, or A Levels. Coupled with adolescence and hormonal development of the pupils, many parents liken this time to ‘treading on egg-shells’. They try to steer a path of being concerned without nagging or interfering.
The pupils taking A Levels will be anxious about whether they will attain the grades required for their chosen job or to go on to further education at college or university to study for a degree, BTEC, NVQ. Etc. Some will have to leave home and they will be anxious. Most will be concerned about leaving home, meeting new people and coping with the workload independently.

Those at college and university will be worried about passing their exams and finding employment to match their knowledge and skills – especially in this economic climate. Some will take a gap year to broaden their horizons.

Others who missed out on their education due to ill health, lack of understanding, poor teaching or dyslexia will be taking exams at night school or day courses. They will be anxious to succeed the ‘second time round’. These students are of any age.

Lastly, many of the students will have to cope with the extreme heat we are currently experiencing or hay-fever.

In your prayers remember:

• All students who are sitting for their exams
• Families of all students
• Those marking the papers