In our community, we often hear of children being labelled as “shy”. While it might seem harmless, calling a child shy can have lasting effects on their self-esteem and social development. Understanding the impact of this label and learning how to respond more constructively can help us foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for…
I remember, in the first few weeks of secondary school sitting on the stairs crying at the idea that I had to keep doing this secondary school thing for the next 7 years. I said something like “secondary school is school with all the fun zapped out of it”. It was all grades, grades, grades…
You can help if you have been a student at, or worked in any role within, a UK Secondary School. We’re researching quiet students’ experiences within UK secondary schools, with the aim of collecting enough data to better understand and raise awareness about the challenges that quiet students in schools face, with the intention of…
I have two vivid memories of feeling anonymous from my school days. My first experience occurred when I was 15 and I had signed up to the school’s House Music competition. The deputy head of my house – who was involved in organising our performance – also happened to be my English teacher and had…
‘You’re like talking to a brick wall’. I probably was like talking to a brick wall – I suppose there was an element of truth to it. However, was this the right response from my teacher? And did it actually achieve anything? Well, in short – no! Of course, it didn’t have any impact at all on…
What is a good outcome for students leaving school? A good outcome for a student involves achieving their very best possible set of results at GSCE or A level, right? Well, I was that student. Now, I’m a teacher. And I think we’re missing something more important. I hope my own personal story can inspire…
Age 22, I am due to present my dissertation at University. I feel sick with anxiety. Thankfully, this is not an assessed part of the course and I am given an exemption. As a shy, socially anxious student, presentations had always been a nightmare for me, and it wasn’t until my postgraduate studies that I…
Starting at sixth form, my shyness seemed to becoming more debilitating and I began to feel a lot worse about it. I struggled in class and socially, not feeling able to contribute in group situations, worrying excessively about ‘scary’ things such as presentations and debates, avoiding things that I didn’t feel able to cope with,…
Today, I can stand up and say with confidence that I’m ‘a bit of a self-confessed oddball’. But, just over ten years ago, things were not so clear to me. I didn’t know much about anxiety and I definitely had not found a real way to express myself. I didn’t know who I was or…
As students, we have so many exams to take, it gets to the point that we’re almost reciting revision in our sleep. There’s so much to do and be ready for! I have my own kind of ritual whenever I first sit down for each exam. I recite a little phrase over and over in…