CE Student Forum Learning & Performance Mode
Lockleys North Primary School
On Monday, our LNPS CE Student Forum participated in the T3 CE Network meeting, which was hosted by Robe Primary School. Robe did an excellent job leading the session. All three schools engaged in the content, had respectful discussions and took on feedback and ideas from each site.
Our Year 6 Ambassadors represented LNPS with pride. They came well prepared, having practised and collated our action stories to share with the group. They also brought along their Year 6 Resilience Anchor Chart and the children’s book Don’t Worry, Felix, which connected beautifully to the concept of Learning Mode.
LNPS was responsible for Section 3: Sharing Action Stories, and our students excelled in this role, sharing their insights, responding thoughtfully to others, asking meaningful questions, and engaging with the journeys of other schools. The focus of this section was on the differences between Learning Mode and Performance Mode, and how these influence students’ experiences both in and out of the classroom.
What are Learning Mode and Performance Mode?
Learning mode emphasises improvement, experimentation, and embracing mistakes as opportunities for growth.
- Focus on improvement
- Attention given to improvement
- Mistakes are inevitable and accepted
- Feedback in the moment is welcome
- Cheating = pointless (Why would I/we, rip ourselves off)
Performance mode focuses on executing tasks flawlessly and demonstrating mastery.
- Focus on flawless execution
- Attention given to 'being impressive'
- Mistakes are unwanted
- Feedback in the moment feels disconcerting (uncomfortable/worried)
- Cheating = possibly a rational option!
Student Responses from interview questions
What time of day and how many times a day do you feel you're in performance mode?
Student 1 said;
"I feel like I'm in performance mode during maths and english time and when doing my spelling contract. At least 3-5 times a day, I feel the pressure to perform, and I don't want to make mistakes with my spelling."
How do you feel about doing a test, and how does it impact your learning?
Student 1 said;
"I get scared and nervous that getting it wrong might impact my grade."
When do you switch from performance mode to learning mode and vice versa?
Student 2 said;
"When you stop training to play in a real match for soccer. That is when you change from learning mode to performance mode because that’s a time when you want everything to be perfect, and the pressure is high."
Do you find yourself under pressure at school or anywhere else during the day?
Student 2 said;
"When the game finishes, you think about what you could do better next time so you can do that in training and action that in the next game. This is when you switch from performance mode to learning mode because now is the time when you want feedback so you can do better in the next soccer match."
These conversations highlighted the importance of understanding when we are in learning mode versus performance mode, and how shifting between the two can support growth, resilience, and confidence.
We are very proud of how our LNPS students contributed, bringing thoughtful perspectives, demonstrating preparation, and connecting resources that made the discussion meaningful. We will again be logging in later in the year to join the T4 CE Forums.
Anton