Free New Year event throws lifeline to Northamptonshire families struggling with exam stress
As mock results land and the new year dawns, exam pressure is mounting for families across the region. Now, a local education expert is stepping in to help Northamptonshire families navigate one of the most stressful periods of the academic year.
Tutu Alaka, CEO of Bauhaus Education, will host a free Family Sessions workshop on Saturday 31st January at The Quaker Meeting House in Northampton, providing parents and carers with evidence-based strategies to support young people through this crucial period.
The free afternoon session addresses a widespread challenge facing families across Northamptonshire: parents who desperately want to help their children succeed but aren't sure how to support them without adding pressure or causing conflict.
"Mock exam results can be overwhelming for families," said Tutu. "Parents want to support their children but often don't know how to help without making things worse. But here's what many families don't realise: mock exams don’t define you – they're practice runs that show exactly what needs work, with time to actually fix it. This free session gives families the tools and understanding they need to use mock results constructively and guide young people through this challenging time."
The two hour event has been designed to help parents understand how to turn their child’s mock results into actionable learning strategies, rather than sources of stress. Topics include how to talk about mock results without adding pressure, what target grades actually mean and why they're not limits, the science behind effective revision methods that work with how the brain actually learns, spotting when stress becomes serious and creating a supportive home environment during exam periods.
"The students who do best in their final exams aren't necessarily the ones who aced their mocks," Tutu explained. "They're the ones who used their mock results strategically – identifying specific skills that need to be developed and creating targeted plans to do so. That's the approach we'll be sharing with families."
Tutu brings over 20 years of educational experience to the session, having most recently served as Associate Assistant Head and Head of Careers at Thomas Beckett School in Northampton. Her career has focused on re-engaging students who have switched off from education and helping young people from all backgrounds reach their full potential. Her teaching approach is grounded in cognitive science and retrieval practice.
"Working memory has limited capacity, but long-term memory is unlimited," she explained. "The key is moving learning from one to the other through retrieval – revisiting what students learn at least four times through homework, study, and regular practice. This is how understanding really sticks. Mock exams are actually a powerful form of retrieval practice when used correctly."
This event includes a 30-minute keynote presentation from Tutu, a live Q&A where parents can ask specific questions, and short, one-to-one conversations with Bauhaus tutors for parents seeking advice and guidance.
Refreshments will be provided throughout. The workshop is ideal for parents and carers of students in Years 10-13 who have just received mock results, are watching their child struggle with exam pressure, or want practical strategies to support their family through this period.
It's also open to families with younger students (Years 7-9) who want to prepare ahead.
Bauhaus Education, founded in 2016, is an OFSTED-registered independent education centre based in Northampton with a second centre in Nottingham.
The organisation works closely with schools, Local Authorities, and families to provide high-quality, flexible education for students from Key Stage 2 to A-Level who need a different approach.
The free workshop takes place on Saturday 31st January 2026 from 1.30pm-3.30pm at The Quaker Meeting House in Northampton.
Spaces are limited to 40 attendees (maximum 2 people per household) and advance registration is required. This is a free community resource open to all Northamptonshire families, regardless of whether their child attends school in or out of the county. No connection to Bauhaus Education is required. To register for this free event, visit https://bauhaus-family-session1.eventbrite.co.uk
This inaugural ‘Bauhaus Family Sessions: Making Sense of Mock Results’ event is the first in a new series of free community workshops being planned by Tutu and her team. Further sessions are planned later in the year to support families through different stages of the academic calendar.