PUPILS at a city school are using an innovative way to deal with exam stress.
Students and teachers at Malet Lambert School are using the expertise of a lifestyle coach to help with relaxation ahead of GCSE exams.
The school, in James Reckitt Avenue, east Hull, has teamed up with Sheila Granger, whose programme is designed to help students and their teachers prepare for exams by using relaxation and concentration methods.
Sheila, who says she has helped thousands of people worldwide lose weight through her virtual gastric band programme, was asked to talk to the school's Year 11 pupils last year as they prepared to take their GCSE examinations.
And her methods, combined with others at the school, have been called on again for this year's set of students.
The school hopes Ms Granger's work will again have a positive impact.
Jane Disbrey, headteacher at Malet Lambert School, said: "Sheila's relaxation and focusing methods have helped our students to better understand how to prepare for an exam by learning new techniques.
"The strategies she has developed is helping a range of students to overcome their anxiety, grow in confidence and feel comfortable about exam conditions."
Sheila, who runs her hypnotherapy practice from The Beverley and Molescroft Surgery, has worked with the students to help them develop simple coping strategies that they can use to reduce their anxiety levels and perform at their best during the exam period.
She said: "I am delighted that the classes are working with the students and teachers at Malet Lambert.
"This isn't magic or trickery, but simple concentration techniques, which allow an individual to take control of their emotional state and remain focused and confident whilst being challenged.
"It is common for pupils to latch on to their weakness rather than their talents and, strengths, as they can become easily discouraged by negative criticism.
"My job is to help re-engineer this thinking.
"My aim is to give the students simple coping strategies that they can utilise to reduce their anxiety levels and perform at their very best.
"All of this can lead to much better academic performance and far greater emotional well-being for the student."
Malet Lambert is one of the city's higher performing secondary schools, with 65 per cent of pupils gaining the Government benchmark of five A*-C grades including English and maths last year, well over the national average.
