Childline exam stress support in demand as Northern Ireland results days arrive
The scale of Childline exam stress support tells you something we don’t say often enough: for a lot of young people, exam season is not just tough, it’s genuinely distressing. New figures from the NSPCC’s Childline service show it delivered 1,679 counselling sessions to young people across the UK about exam and revision stress in 2025/26, a steady, high level of demand, up slightly on the 1,647 sessions the year before. Sessions peaked sharply in May, at the start of the exam period, with 359 in that month alone.
The timing matters. With A-level results for Northern Ireland students due this week and GCSE results following, this is exactly the window when that pressure comes to a head.
What young people tell Childline about exam stress
The themes behind the Childline exam stress figures are painfully consistent. Young people describe losing sleep over revision and the fear of failing. They talk about pressure from parents, family and teachers, and, most of all, the pressure they put on themselves. Many feel guilty about taking breaks, and worry about letting people down if they don’t get the grades they hope for. Notably, this is not only an older-teen problem: around 11% of contacts came from children aged 11 and under.
These are not signs of young people who can’t cope. They are signs of young people carrying an enormous weight, often quietly, often alone. And a results slip in an envelope, or on a screen, can feel to a teenager like a verdict on their entire worth and future.
Results don’t define you, and neither does one hard week
So this is our message, plainly, to every young person in Northern Ireland opening results this week, and to everyone who loves one. Your results do not define your worth. They do not close off your future. There is more than one path to almost anywhere worth going, clearing, resits, apprenticeships, a change of plan entirely. Some of the most capable people you’ll ever meet did not get the grades they wanted at 18.
And to parents and carers: the single biggest source of pressure many children name is family. That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong, it means your reassurance carries real weight. Acknowledge the effort, not just the outcome. Let them know your pride in them isn’t riding on a letter.
If the pressure becomes too much, help is there right now, day or night. Childline’s trained counsellors are available around the clock on 0800 1111, free and confidential. No worry is too big or too small.
If you or a young person you know is struggling, you’re not alone. Childline 0800 1111 · Lifeline NI 0808 808 8000 · Samaritans 116 123 · Text SHOUT to 85258.
