top of page

GCSE Exam Confidence & Performance Programme (English Literature and Language)

A psycho-educational group programme supporting GCSE students who experience exam anxiety and pressure
​

In my counselling and educational work, I regularly meet young people who are capable, thoughtful, and hard-working, yet find that anxiety, self-doubt, or pressure interfere with their ability to perform in exams. Many of these students understand the subject well. What they struggle with is what happens internally when they sit down in an exam room: racing thoughts, panic, freezing, perfectionism, or a sense of their mind “going blank”.

The GCSE Exam Confidence & Performance Programme (English) was created to support students at this intersection between knowledge and emotional experience. It is designed to help students manage exam pressure so they can think more clearly and show what they know under timed conditions.

This programme is not therapy, but it is informed by my training and experience as a counsellor and psychotherapist, alongside my work as an English teacher and AQA examiner.

​

Who This Programme Is For

​This programme is suitable for GCSE students (typically Year 11) who:

  • understand English but struggle to demonstrate this in exams

  • experience anxiety, panic, or mental “blanking” under pressure

  • lose marks due to overthinking, timing, or difficulty structuring ideas

  • lack confidence despite being capable

  • come out of exams feeling they could have done better

​

It is particularly appropriate for students whose main difficulty is exam pressure rather than gaps in subject knowledge.

​

The Focus of the Programme

The programme supports students in three closely connected areas:

1. Understanding the Exam Context

I help students develop a clear, grounded understanding of:

  • how GCSE English exams are marked

  • what examiners are actually looking for

  • common patterns that lead to lost marks

  • how to respond to questions clearly and efficiently

This often reduces anxiety by replacing uncertainty with clarity.

2. Managing Anxiety and Emotional Responses

Students are introduced to practical, evidence-based strategies to:

  • recognise and regulate anxiety responses

  • remain focused under time pressure

  • work with perfectionism and fear of failure

  • reduce self-criticism and post-exam rumination

The emphasis is on developing steadiness and flexibility, rather than eliminating anxiety altogether.

3. Applying Skills Under Pressure

Students practise:

  • planning and writing in realistic exam conditions

  • staying present when faced with challenging questions

  • responding to difficulties without panic or shutdown

  • reflecting on performance in a constructive, supportive way

  • feedback on writing and responses if required

​

How the Programme Is Structured

  • 6 weekly sessions

  • 90 minutes per session

  • Small group (maximum 6–8 students)

  • Live online delivery or in-person workshops (Broomhill, S10)

  • Accompanied by a structured student workbook

Each session follows a consistent, containing structure, helping students feel safe, supported, and able to engage at their own pace.

​

What This Programme Is — and Isn’t

This programme is:

  • a psycho-educational, skills-based group

  • focused on exam confidence, competence and performance

  • focus on exam clarity and understanding (specifically GCSE English Language and Literature)

  • informed by both educational and psychological expertise

This programme is not:

  • counselling or psychotherapy

  • a replacement for subject teaching or tutoring

  • a space requiring personal disclosure

Students are never asked to share personal or therapeutic material. Clear professional boundaries are maintained, and where individual therapeutic support is more appropriate, this is discussed separately.

​

Outcomes Students and Parents Often Notice

By the end of the programme, students often:

  • feel calmer and more settled approaching exams

  • have a clearer understanding of how to meet exam requirements

  • feel more able to think and organise ideas under pressure

  • experience increased confidence in their own abilities

While no specific grades are promised, students are often better able to demonstrate what they know when anxiety is less overwhelming.

​

About Me

My name is Nicola Donaldson. While I now primarily work as a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist, I previously spent over 17 years teaching English in secondary schools and continue to work as an English tutor and AQA examiner alongside my counselling work. I work therapeutically with young people and adults around anxiety, confidence, and performance, and I bring this understanding directly into my educational work with students preparing for exams.

​

Practical Details

  • Duration: 6 weeks

  • Investment: £300 (payable upfront)

  • ONLINE: Thursdays: 18.15-19.45

19th Feb, 26th Feb, 5th March, 12th March, 19th March, 26th March

  • IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS: Saturdays: 11.30-13.00

21st Feb, 28th Feb, 7th March, 14th March, 21st March, 28th March

  • Places are limited to ensure a contained and supportive group environment

​

Enquiries

If you are wondering whether this programme would be suitable for your child, you are welcome to get in touch. A brief conversation can help clarify whether this programme, subject tutoring, or individual therapeutic support would be the most appropriate next step.

bottom of page