Parents asked to avoid pressurising young people in run up to A-Level results day

Thousands of young people across the Bradford district will be picking up their A-Level results tomorrow, and have had an anxious summer waiting to find out their grades.

New figures released today show that Childline, run by the NSPCC, delivered 1,133 counselling sessions nationally to young people concerned about results in 2016/17 – a rise of 21 per cent over the last two years.

Of these, more than a quarter (28 per cent) took place in August 2016 when GCSE and AS/A-Level results are released.

The figures also show a sharp rise in the number of Childline counselling sessions delivered to 16-18-year-olds, up 68 per cent over the last two years.

Many young people told counsellors they were disappointed with themselves and worried their grades might affect them getting into the university or college of their choice, while others were concerned about their parents’ reaction to their results.

The charity has offered advice to parents on how to help their children at this stressful time, including not to place too much pressure on children to gain certain grades, and encouraging them to take their time to think about what they want to do next.

Dame Esther Rantzen, founder and director of Childline, said: “The important thing during exam results season is to stick together as a family and be as supportive and encouraging to the person waiting to receive their grades and then planning their next steps.”

The Telegraph & Argus website will be running a live blog from 8am tomorrow morning, featuring success stories, interviews with students, and photos from schools across Bradford and the surrounding areas, as well as exam results sent by schools.

Anyone who has a story or anything they want us to include on the blog can use the hashtag #bfdresults on social media or email newsdesk@telegraphandargus.co.uk.

There will be results coverage in Friday’s paper, and an A-Level results souvenir supplement the following Wednesday.