The fear of the Leaving Cert is a rite of passage, but realistically the pressure and pain you put yourself through can sometimes far outweigh the more important things in life. While we’re all for taking your studies seriously, (because trust us, your college days are some of the best times in your life), we also think it’s important to know what really matters. One school in Manchester decided to impart some of this wisdom to their students taking their 11+ exams. The first state exams in the UK, these can be daunting for anyone, but Buckton Vale Primary School want to reassure their students that they will be ok. Taking inspiration from a letter sent out by a previous teacher Mary Ginley, the school staff decided to teach one last lesson to their class group ahead of their state exams. Posting a letter sent out to all Year 6 students, the principals and staff urge their pupils to remember that exams can’t measure what makes you special or unique. The letter also points out that the person marking an exam paper won’t know a student’s special qualities, natural talents, or little acts of thoughtfulness that sum up a personality. While for some our exams might be a long distant memory, this message is definitely one to keep in mind for anyone panicking ahead of June 3rd.