The brief prayers – written in bullet point style on a postcard-size format – call for God’s help in facing the stressful time and ask for a sense of calm and focus during revision ahead of the big tests.
The Church of England, in association with the Culham Institute, has also published a selection of resources for school assemblies in the run-up to the exam period. The reflections focus on the example of a number of people in the public eye to help young people retain a sense of perspective about the nature of academic success and failure.
From sporting heroes to business leaders, the famous figures are used alongside Bible readings in the suggested reflections to illustrate how determination and sense of purpose can help achieve results. The guidance suggests that citing young achievers such as sailor Michael Pelham and swimmer Ellie Simmonds could show how making tough choices and focusing on what you do best can help when faced with testing times, while Nelson Mandela’s battle against circumstance is also highlighted as an inspirational role model for students.
One of the chosen ‘crammer’s prayers’, written by Jen Bates, a gap-year student working for the Church of England Youth Council and the Diocese of Chichester, reads:
Jesus,
Keep reminding me of the bigger picture over the next few weeks,
Keep me in your hands when all other hands disappear,
For I am convinced that neither entry requirements nor exam results, neither anticipation nor doubts, neither success nor failure, nor any expectations, neither last minute fears nor anxieties, nor anything else in life, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Please, don’t let me forget it!
Another of the prayers to be reproduced in postcard format is written by the Rt Rev John Saxbee, Bishop of Lincoln and Chair of the Board of Education:
Dear Lord,
I want to do my best to fulfil the potential you have given me.
Help me:
