The Gap Mindset: Growing Together
As we begin a new school year, we want to take a moment to revisit The Gap Mindset, particularly our focus on a Growth Mindset, and how it supports every student to learn, grow and flourish.
A Growth Mindset is the belief that abilities, intelligence and skills can be developedover time through effort, effective strategies and support from others. It encourages students to see learning as a journey, not a fixed destination.
Why Growth Mindset Matters
At The Gap SHS, we know that learning and wellbeing go hand in hand. When students feel calm, supported and confident, they learn more effectively. Our focus on growth mindset is grounded in neuroscience and wellbeing science. This helps students regulate emotions, persist through challenge and develop the habits of successful lifelong learners.
A growth mindset supports students to:
- Embrace challenges rather than avoid them
- Persist when learning feels difficult
- Learn from mistakes and feedback
- Take responsibility for their learning
- Build confidence, resilience and independence
These skills are particularly important as students settle into new routines, subjects and expectations at the beginning of the school year.
Learning Through Challenge
We actively teach students that challenge, uncertainty and mistakes are a normal and valuable part of learning. Struggle does not mean failure. It means learning is taking place.
By developing a growth mindset, students are better equipped to stay engaged, reflect on what they can do next and keep moving forward even when learning feels uncomfortable.
How We Support Growth Mindset at School
Growth mindset is embedded across our teaching, learning and wellbeing practices through:
- High expectations paired with strong support
- Explicit teaching of learning and self-regulation strategies
- Feedback that focuses on effort, progress and improvement
- Opportunities for reflection and goal setting
- Normalising challenge as part of the learning process
Our aim is to support students to become confident, self-regulated learners who continue to grow over time.
How Families Can Support Growth Mindset at Home
Parents and carers play a powerful role in reinforcing a growth mindset. Simple strategies include:
- Praising effort, persistence and improvement, not just results
- Encouraging your child to try again when things feel hard
- Using language like “You haven’t mastered this yet”
- Asking “What did you learn?” rather than “What mark did you get?”
Modelling how you approach challenges in your own life
By working together, students, staff and families, we strengthen the habits, language and mindsets that support both learning and wellbeing. This shared approach helps every learner continue to grow, flourish and achieve their personal best.
Thank you for partnering with us to bring The Gap Mindset to life as we start the year strong.