So, it’s either going to be the best day or the worst day of your life. The last thing you really want when you’re about to open your GCSE results letter is for a T&A photographer to turn up. So how do you react?

Running away is seriously uncool (unless you really know you’re going to cry in pain – tears of joy are fine). So what’s it to be? Nonchalance? Reserve? Unbridled excitement?

Here’s how just a few of the victims in our archive were caught in action....
















1. Ring your mum

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Ring your mum

Good evasive tactic this one. Means you don’t actually have to look at the camera and you can pretend they’re great even if they might not have been.

2. Strike a pose

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: strike a pose

Always popular with press photographers – saves them having to do the work. And even better if your mates join in.

3. Jump for joy 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Jump for joy

Only do this spontaneously, otherwise you’ll look a right twerp. We used to ask pupils to do this in the 1960s but it’s getting a bit old hat now. And does anyone ever do it spontaneously? Really?














4. No, REALLY jump for joy

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: No, REALLY jump for joy

OK, so if he won’t let you get away without doing it, at least go for a crazy, funky, totally-mad-person-you angled jump. Always wise to kick the photographer in one of his shins before you attempt this, just to make sure you get at least a 12 degree tilt.

5. Praise the Lord

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Praise the Lord

Or, at least, if you’re going to high-five each other try to get near each other’s hands.

6. Ignore the photographer completely 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Ignore the photographer completely

That passing dog cocking its leg against the head’s car is more interesting anyway...

7. Play it cool 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Play it cool

No, we mean, proper cool. Don’t look at the silly snapper and stare intently at your results letter (but try not to look too smug when you’re doing it....)

8. Hug it out

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Hug it out

Aawww. Sweet.

9. Go completely over the top 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Ring your mum

Well, maybe they were THAT good!

10. No, go totally and utterly, ridiculously over the top 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: No, go totally and utterly, ridiculously over the top

So now try telling ANYBODY that you weren’t expecting to fail biology abysmally.

11. Hug a passing teacher 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Hug a passing teacher

No, don’t. Please. It’ll kill your cred. Stone dead. Permanently. Forever.