Education / 26 May, 2026 / Ellie Thompson

Parental Control, Ep 132: SATs, GCSEs And Exam Pressure: Are We Expecting Too Much From Our Kids?

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.

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About Katherine Radice

Katharine Radice is an education expert, author of The Parent’s Guide to Exam Stress, and has spent more than 20 years working with teenagers and their families, supporting students through the pressures of secondary school, exams and university preparation.

A former secondary school senior leader, Katharine has extensive experience in both school and university teaching, alongside a deep understanding of adolescent development, academic pressure and long-term student success. She currently combines freelance writing, coaching and consultancy with part-time teaching at a Cambridge secondary school and a pastoral role at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, while advising schools in the UK and internationally on exam stress, parent support and student wellbeing.

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 for a fortnightly conversation piece about supporting children through school, it’s https://katharineradice.co.uk/join-in.




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