Solihull College & University Centre launched a new campaign to help students prepare for their GCSE exams with a focus on managing stress and anxiety and utilising each day of preparation called Make The Days Count.
Previously, the College used countdown banners to emphasise the dwindling days left before exams. However, inspired by a TikTok video from motivational speaker ‘Action’ Jackson Ogunyemi of the FIXUP Team, Head of Learning Technologies, Isla Flood, proposed a shift in perspective. Instead of counting down to exams, the campaign encourages students to “Make The Days Count,” emphasising the positive utilisation and management of their time leading up to the exams.
The campaign launch included a range of information stands and interactive activities ran by college teams who provided support and resources for students including:
- Mental Health Team – providing resources for overcoming exam anxiety and signposting student to services offered by the college to support them further.
- Student Enrichment Team – handing out self-care packs to students which included study tips for neurodivergent students, relaxation tips, motivational quotes and some sweets.
- Learning Technologies Team – provided advise on digital wellbeing alongside opportunities for students to utilise VR technology to take part in meditation sessions plus have a go at a Maths themed escape room.
- Maths and English Team – provided branded revision books and subject specific resources for students about to sit their exams.
- Maths and English Hubs – provided exam practice papers, advertised the revision bundles on offer to buy and signed students up for further exam practice hub sessions.
Additionally, the FIXUP Team conducted workshops at both the College campuses and its sister campus, Stratford-Upon-Avon College.
The high energy, interactive workshops set the tone for growth mindset plus they created a link between famous successes and the hard work they put it in, painting the picture that success is accessible for all.
The response from students has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the exam preparation workshops. Students commented:
“I thought it was really beneficial for me”
“They were very helpful and gave some useful tips for revision and other exam strategies.”
Students highlighted elements they found most helpful which included:
“Learning strategies to ease my nerves”
“Gaining confidence which can help with speaking in front of a big group of people”
“Developing the strategies to focus on the task in hand rather than all the distraction around you.”
Project lead Holly Bayliss highlighted why the campaign was beneficial for students: “Many students have struggled with exams in the past or have never sat an exam before. It was important as a college to share with them techniques they can use to reduce exam anxiety and also to highlight to them that this is a normal feeling.
“We want to offer them strategies to help them regulate their emptions and feel confident when heading into an exam. The team at has done an amazing job with providing resources and advice to students and the FIXUP team proved a hit with students, who responded positively and enthusiastically to the high energy workshops they attended to look at what it is to have a growth mindset.”
