Exam Results Day Wellbeing Support for Schools is a practical guide for post-primary senior leaders, careers teams, sixth form leaders and pastoral staff.
The focus is planning calm support before pupils receive GCSE, AS or A-level results and next-step decisions. HIP Psychology supports schools across Northern Ireland and Ireland with pupil workshops, staff training, parent sessions and whole-school wellbeing planning.
Why this topic matters
Results day can bring relief, disappointment, uncertainty and family pressure into the same morning. Schools can make the day safer by planning language, routes and practical next steps in advance.
What schools should decide before delivery
- Who is available on the day
- How pupils access careers or pastoral support
- What messages go to families
- How staff follow up vulnerable pupils
Practical activities that can help
- Support route map
- Next-step script planning
- Calm waiting area setup
- Follow-up list review
How staff can follow up afterwards
After results day, pastoral and careers teams can review who needed extra support and plan contact for pupils whose next step remains unsettled.
Where this fits in a whole-school approach
This topic can sit within a wellbeing calendar, pastoral care policy, school development plan or staff training programme. The aim is to make support visible before concerns become harder to manage.
How HIP Psychology can help
HIP Psychology can deliver support around exam results day wellbeing support as a pupil workshop, staff CPD session, parent evening or consultancy input for a wider school wellbeing programme.
Useful guidance for schools
Schools can align this work with Department of Education emotional health and wellbeing guidance, Department of Education safeguarding and child protection guidance, Department of Education effective practice in educational settings, Public Health Agency Take 5 wellbeing resources.
Related HIP Psychology resources
Related resources include school wellbeing consultancy, training for schools, programmes for schools, mental health workshops for schools, pastoral care training, contact HIP Psychology.
Need help planning this? Contact HIP Psychology to discuss workshops, training or whole-school support.
FAQs
What should exam results day wellbeing support include?
It should include a clear purpose, age-appropriate examples, safe boundaries, practical activities, staff follow-up and signposting routes for pupils, families or staff who need more support.
How can schools keep this work safe?
Use scenarios rather than personal disclosure, brief staff before sensitive topics, keep safeguarding routes clear and avoid asking pupils to share private experiences in front of peers.
Can HIP Psychology adapt this for different school settings?
Yes. HIP Psychology can adapt pupil workshops, staff training, parent sessions and consultancy support for primary, post-primary and whole-school wellbeing priorities.