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But this morning, let's talk about what this actually means, because there is a lot of noise out there and I want to cut through it with some clarity and some calm.

Why did this happen?

This is so important to understand. The exam boards cancelled not because school is over, but because of pure logistics. Right now, they would normally be shipping hundreds of tonnes of exam papers from London to every corner of the world. The current unpredictable situation means those papers may not arrive, or worse, may not make it back in time to be marked. The integrity of the exams would have been compromised. They were simply out of time. That is it, school is not definitely cancelled.

This is not the start of an early holiday. 🎓

Schools are not closing. Life is not pausing. And I am absolutely certain your schools will be saying exactly the same thing. If schools do go back, they will ensure students sit robust assessments, because teachers and schools care deeply about making sure every grade means something.

So what does this mean for your child?

The hard work continues, just as it would have if exams had started.

Schools will use data to set assessments, ask students to redo work that shows grade-level ability, and build the evidence needed to award grades with the highest possible integrity. Your child's teachers want to see them succeed. They will be receptive and supportive, but they need to see your child show up even though this is really hard.

There is still time to raise grades. Every lesson, every assessment, every piece of work from this point forward matters. 

And for Year 10 and Year 12 students?

This is actually good news. If your child is doing modular exams, they now have more time, including the holidays, to be truly ready for their November exams. Use it wisely. This is a gift if you treat it like one.

I know you have questions. So many questions.

As you can imagine, my phone has not stopped  and I don't want anyone to feel like they're carrying this alone.

I won't pretend I have every answer, this is still an evolving situation and none of us have the full picture yet. But I can help settle the initial fears, talk through what we know, and I suspect we're all asking the same questions anyway.

For further questions or support, email Heather Harries at [email protected] or WhatsApp: +971 50 942 7406