Church of England offers prayers for anxious A-Level students awaiting results

The Church of England has attempted to comfort thousands of anxious A-Level students with a prayer for those awaiting exam grades.

Ahead of Thursday's results day the Church released a prayer of support "through the anxious moments of waiting". Written by a gap-year student shortly after receiving her own results, the prayers ask God to "keep reminding me of the bigger picture over the next few weeks".

As an alternative to Romans 8.38-39, the prayer reads: "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!"

Headteachers have warned this year's results would be the "most unfair in a generation", according to The Telegraph.

A wholesale clampdown on appeals means it will be tougher for pupils to get a "second bite of the cherry". But leading headteachers said the changes were "rushed and flawed" and would mean students face "the most chaotic and unfair year in a generation".

The results will be available from early on Thursday morning.

The full prayer 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!

Amen.

News
Nigeria: all Christians kidnapped by bandits now free
Nigeria: all Christians kidnapped by bandits now free

They are said to be in generally good condition.

Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison

The 78-year-old Catholic and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper was convicted in December on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious articles.

Archbishop Mullally uses maiden presidential address to re-commit to better safeguarding standards
Archbishop Mullally uses maiden presidential address to re-commit to better safeguarding standards

Dame Sarah Mullally has used her maiden presidential address to Synod as Archbishop of Canterbury to lament the Church of England's past failings on safeguarding and double down on raising standards. 

Cuban bishops warn oil sanctions could deepen hardship and unrest
Cuban bishops warn oil sanctions could deepen hardship and unrest

The message, read in Catholic parishes nationwide, warned that further pressure on fuel access would fall most heavily on vulnerable families already struggling to survive.