Change can be long and hard, but the fight isn't over.
We commit to continuing to share young people’s stories with decision makers, urging them to go further in the reforms and keep youth mental health front and centre of government reforms.
We need to talk about school.
Record numbers of young people are being referred for NHS support and more than two in five young people cite exams as one of the main negative impacts on their mental health.
Our exam system puts too much unnecessary pressure on young people and it must change.
The pressure of the system on young people is mounting
- 63%
- of 15-18-year-olds said they struggled to cope in the lead up to and during GCSE and A Level exams.
- 56%
- of 10-11 year olds say doing SATs was the first time they really worried about their abilities.
- 28%
- said SATs made them feel bad about themselves.
Thousands of you demanded change
In 2025 the Government reviewed how schools teach and assess young people as part of the Curriculum and Assessment Review. This was a huge opportunity to revise the school system and make sure those in charge heard directly from young people about the damaging and unnecessary impacts of exams.
As part of the Curriculum Assessment Review, YoungMinds called on the government to End SATs, reduce the burden of exams and reform GCSEs and A-Levels by introducing fairer mixed assessments.
These reforms are urgent. Young people are struggling with their mental health and exams are a major factor.
Explore our campaign actions
Nearly 2,000 young people invited their MP to our event in Parliament where over 60 decision makers heard stories directly from YoungMinds Activists and Ambassadors about the impact of exams.
On 17 June 2025, Dinah, a YoungMinds Activist, gave a powerful speech to MPs at our event in Parliament, calling for urgent reform to the exam system.
Over 1,500 children and young people shared their experiences of exams. These messages were delivered directly to MPs to make sure young people's voices were made part of the review.
Because 2,000 of you invited your MP to our Parliamentary event, mental health was central to the Government’s debate on school assessment reform. In October, Josh Dean MP directly mentioned our Call to Action in Parliament, reading an account from YoungMinds Activist Paddy and highlighting the pressure of the current GCSE and SAT exams.
In August, as thousands of students were receiving their results, we plastered messages of support from people across the country to remind everyone you are more than just a number on a page.
YoungMinds' Activists know all too well the load that exams can place on your mental health. In September, Matty and Dinah sat down with YoungMinds Ambassador and Race Across the World Winner, Alfie and shared their experience with exam pressure in our YoungMinds Podcast.
Listen to their experience and reflections on what needs to change.
Outcome from the Review
The Curriculum Assessment Review was published on 5 November 2025 and included some changes recommended to way exams and assessments work.
Sadly, the Review didn’t meet YoungMinds' ambition to completely reshape the exam system and scrap SATs.
Alone, the proposed changes won’t reduce the pressure of exams and their impact on young people’s mental health, but we’re positive that the changes it did recommend are a step in the right direction.
Real stories about exams
You are not alone. Hear directly from young people about how they support their mental health during exams.
