SATs, GCSEs And Exam Pressure: Are We Expecting Too Much From Our Kids?

SATs, GCSEs And Exam Pressure: Are We Expecting Too Much From Our Kids?

May 26, 2026 · 41 min · Season 1 · Episode 132

About this episode

This episode discusses the impact of exam pressure on children and how parents can support them effectively.

Exam season can bring stress to the entire household. From slammed bedroom doors and sleepless nights to younger children already feeling the pressure of assessment before secondary school is even on the horizon. In this episode of Parental Control, Ellie Thompson is joined by education expert Katharine Radice , author of The Parent's Guide to Exam Stress , to unpack what exam pressure is really doing to our children, and to us as parents. Are SATs putting too much pressure on children far too young? How do anxiety, ADHD, autism and perfectionism change the way exam stress shows up? And how can parents support revision without becoming the household drill sergeant? With more than 20 years in education, Katharine shares practical, reassuring advice on spotting the signs a child is struggling, managing expectations, navigating post-exam meltdowns, and helping children build resilience without tying their self-worth to academic performance. Email us at info@mybaba.com Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes The Parent's Guide to Exam Stress is a new release and available via all usual booksellers. Website: katharineradice.co.uk To join Katharine's mailing list…

People in this episode

Host: Ellie Thompson

Guest: Katharine Radice

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: My Baba, katharineradice.co.uk

Books & works: The Parent's Guide to Exam Stress

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