EXAM season is approaching and Swindon schools are trying different ways to ease the pressure on stressed pupils.

Children across the town and county are preparing to get the results they want and need in SATs, GCSEs and A Levels which will help shape their future.

Kingsdown School is one of many schools offering support and guidance during the toughest time of the school year.

Headteacher Emma Lee-Bennett said: “We have strong pastoral staff that are trained to identify the signs of stress amongst the children, they spend time talking to them and being perceptive and understanding. At Kingsdown we have a detailed programme which features a lot of interventions as well as classes set before and after school to help the children prepare.

“During half term, we’ve hosted walking and talking mocks. Around 50 students attended a 90-minute science mock and we offered them pizza brought in by the school.

“A few years ago you would have been able to cram the exam before taking it, but you can’t do that these days. Students are now doing more than double the papers that their parents would have done when they were at school.

“We hold boxercise classes in our sports centre before school, where students come in and use the gym equipment to exercise, and parental education to help parents understand what their children are going through."