Digital distractions and poor mental health

As high school students across the UK prepare for this year’s summer exams, it appears they are facing more challenges than ever. In recent years, the ever-present exam stress has been made even more difficult by a number of factors, from distractions, to mental health worries, to problems faced outside school. Although A-Level grades in 2024 returned to pre-pandemic levels, GCSE pass rates fell for the third year running across the UK.

Not only is this a cause for concern, there is also evidence of widening attainment gaps, between both public and privately educated students, and between those in the north and south of the country. Here are some of the biggest challenges and barriers to exam success we’ve identified in 2025:

Mental health struggles

NHS statistics published last year suggested that over 20% of school-aged young people were thought to be struggling with mental health problems, which could impact their education. This is said to be more prevalent in girls, who are currently at higher risk of experiencing psychological distress and engaging in self-harming behaviours. LGBTQ+ students are also more likely to develop mental health problems which can go unchecked without the appropriate support in schools, and this likelihood rises if the student is Black. In addition to this, over a third of young people surveyed for the Prince’s Trust Natwest Youth Index last year voiced their concerns that they might never achieve their educational or career goals, due to poor mental health.

Digital distractions

While we can’t blame smartphones and social media for everything, evidence shows that schools with stricter guidelines on phone use during the school day have higher exam results overall than those with a more relaxed policy. Constant connectivity isn’t going away anytime soon, and with young people more reliant than ever on their devices, this could be reflected further down the line in their ability to focus during exams, not to mention their overall results. 

Social skills

This reliance on technology hasn’t gone unnoticed by teachers and tutors, who have started to notice more struggles amongst their students with attention span and social skills. Students are reported to be less engaged and often struggle more when working with their peers or communicating in class, which can lead to problems going unnoticed, if students are not able to express their feelings and concerns.

The bigger picture

In addition to these challenges, statistics released last year show that inequalities within education aren’t going anywhere. Students in private education are now around two times more likely to score higher in their exams than students in state schools, and this gap has widened in the past few years. Last year’s exam results also highlighted the historical North-South divide, which appears to be growing. Students in the South of the country are more likely to score higher in both GCSEs and A Levels than students further North.

This shows that there is still work to be done in order to give all students a fair chance at passing their exams. There is also a motivational aspect to consider - with fewer higher education grants available, students from less advantaged backgrounds may be demotivated when it comes to their exams, as they may feel they would be unable to access higher education, even if they receive high scores.

What you can do

Everyone deserves a fair chance and the adequate help and support to pass their exams and achieve their goals. At Tutorfair we are dedicated to helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their full potential and navigate the challenges they may face. If you would like to learn more, contact us to donate, collaborate, or volunteer as a tutor.