Birmingham school’s unique way to help pupils relax during GCSEs

GCSEs are stressful for almost all students. Exams take place between now and Friday 21 June 2024, so students have six weeks to manage their anxiety levels and try to stay calm.

A school has come up with an unusual way to help boost wellbeing – kitchen gardening! As well as targeted revision and wider academic support, teachers at Arena Academy encourage their Year 11 students to get involved in the school garden during GCSE.

The idea is that this will allow students at Perry Beeches to experience the “health benefits of being outdoors and growing plants” and support “good mental health and emotional resilience” during their exams.

Read more: How to get 100% in your GCSEs – Podcast with YouTube sensation Mr Salles

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Raj Mann, director at Arena Academy, said: “Our ambition for our kitchen garden is to develop students’ awareness of sustainable food production and the science behind it. However, we also see the many positive benefits it can have for the general well-being of our students and especially those taking exams.

“Our students have worked extremely hard to prepare for their GCSEs and I am so proud of how they stand up to revision. Studying hard will be essential to their success, but this must also be sustainable – and so taking breaks and getting outdoors will continue to be important Our thriving garden makes a fantastic contribution to a balanced exam routine and I know our students the Year 11s enjoyed taking part.”

Listen to YouTuber Mr Salles’ GCSE revision tips on The Brummie Mummies Podcast:

Arena Academy created the kitchen garden to grow selected vegetables, salads and flowers to attract natural wildlife including bees and butterflies. As well as encouraging a peaceful and calm environment for all students during social times and a positive awareness of organic growing techniques, it is hoped that in time the kitchen garden will produce enough produce for the Arena’s Friday Food Bank.