It’s Dispute Resolution Week – a chance to focus on the difficulties faces by families and couples when separation is inevitable. A recent survey from Resolution - the body representing 6,500 family law professionals in England and Wales, has uncovered the truth about the effects on separation on children, and in particular, their exam results. According to the research, 19% don’t get the exam results they were hoping for; 15% move schools; 32% say parents tried turning them against one another; and 14% turn to alcohol. 

Indeed, young people feel their exam results are suffering as a direct result of parental break-up, according to a major new survey of teens and young adults published today (24th Nov 2014). The survey of 14-22 year olds was published on November 24th 2014, which coincides with the launch of the ‘Dispute Resolution Week,’ a nationwide campaign to encourage people to contact, or to recommend contact, with a Resolution member in order to deal with their separation or divorce in 'a better way.’ Jo Edwards, Chair of Resolution Jo Edwards said of the findings; “These new findings show the wide-ranging impact of divorce and separation on young people. 

It underlines just how important it is that parents going through a split manage their separation in a way that minimises the stress and impact on the entire family, especially children, otherwise their exam results could suffer. Divorce and separation is always traumatic, but there is a better way to deal with it.” Peter Alison, Head of Family Law at stevensdrake solicitors in Crawley, West Sussex, commended Resolution for highlighting the work of law professionals, commenting: “It is so important to the future happiness of a family, that divorce and separation is handled extremely carefully and with expert knowledge and experience. Dispute Resolution Week highlights this important message and we hope to see many more families solving their issues in the best possible way.”