---
title: "Growth Mindset"
url: "https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/growth-mindset"
school: "St. Thomas' Halliwell C.E. Primary School"
---

# Growth Mindset

## What is a Growth Mindset?

Growth mindset refers to a learning theory developed by Dr Carol Dweck. It revolves around the belief that you can improve intelligence, ability and performance. The opposite, a fixed mindset, refers to the belief that a person’s talents are set in stone. Years of research have shown that mindset is malleable. This means that by helping students to develop a growth mindset, we can help them to learning more effective and efficient.

![](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/images/images/GM1.png)

### ![](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/images/images/head.png)Advantages of a Growth Mindset

There is a lot of peer-reviewed research on the pros of encouraging a growth mindset in pupils. These include:

- They will seek out better feedback and persist for longer
- They cope better with transitions and develop better self-regulation
- It reduces stress and aggression in students as well as increasing well-being and emotional functioning
- It improves self-esteem, learning orientation and reduces helplessness
- It’s linked with **[pro-social behaviours](http://www.etoncollege.com/CIRLResearch.aspx)**

### ![](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/images/images/head-2.png)How to Develop a Growth Mindset

- There is no set way on to develop a growth mindset in pupils. Areas that may act as a good starting point include:
- **Types of Praise** – praising the process, their effort and individual development over the result. Encouraging our pupils to ask for and act on **[feedback](https://blog.innerdrive.co.uk/6-common-mistakes-when-asking-for-feedback)**. Encouraging a sense of curiosity
- **Level of Expectation** – having high, challenging but realistic expectations of their performance and communicating this to our pupils.
- **Positive Group Norms** – creating a growth culture that values learning, education and development
- **Helpful Self-Talk** – Teaching our pupils to manage how they talk to themselves and to do so in a **[positive, helpful and energised way.](https://blog.innerdrive.co.uk/6-ways-to-improve-how-you-talk-to-yourself)**

### Key Aspects of Growth Mindset at St Thomas’, Halliwell CE Primary School:

- ![](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/images/images/GM4.png)We celebrate making mistakes – we can learn from them;
- We never give up – perseverance is the key if we are to succeed;
- We learn from each other;
- We don’t compare ourselves with others;
- We challenge ourselves and take risks;
- We remember that our brains are making new connections and growing all the time.

For further information on how to encourage confident and resilient learners at home, have a look at some of the links below.

- **[Mindset Works](https://www.mindsetworks.com/parents/growth-mindset-parenting)**
- **[Developing a Growth Mindset - 5 Tips for Parents](https://www.oxfordlearning.com/growth-mindset-tips-for-parents/)**
- **[Growth Mindsets - Help Your Child Try New Things](http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/help-your-child-try-new-things)**

[YouTube video](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/E4KEQzOW3ps?rel=0)

[YouTube video](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/6fq1jvIy2AE?rel=0)

[YouTube video](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/pWp6kkz-pnQ?rel=0)

[YouTube video](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Kd_WENe8H-I?rel=0)

![](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/images/images/GMindset_1.jpg)

![](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/images/images/GMindset-2.png)

### Reflection Zone

- [Growth Mindset](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/growth-mindset)
- [Important RE Links](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/important-re-links)
- [Our School Values](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/our-school-values)
- [Picture News](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/picture-news)
- [RE Curriculum](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/re-curriculum)
- [RE Quality Mark](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/re-quality-mark)
- [School Prayers](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/school-prayers)
- [St Thomas' Church Crib Video](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/st-thomas-church-crib-video)
- [Thomas the Apostle](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/thomas-the-apostle)
- [Worship Policy](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/worship-policy)
- [The Ethos Team](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/the-ethos-team)
- [Wiggle Worship](https://st-thomas-halliwell.bolton.sch.uk/wiggle-worship)

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#### St. Thomas' Halliwell C.E. Primary School

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BL1 3JB

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