Pastoral Care

Term 4 and looking ahead 

Often when term 4 comes, students think about the “countdown”. You hear “ it's 10 weeks until the end of term or 10 weeks until I finish year 10 and become a senior, or 50 days until the end of my first year at high school”. 

How about we shift our thinking to the time we have and what we can do to prepare ourselves for the year to come? What can we do to develop and cultivate habits that we can use next year? How can we reflect on assessment tasks and skills to put our best foot forward for our final tasks. It’s about focusing on learning for the love of learning, even once all assessments have been completed.

How is this done? It’s about cultivating a growth mindset. This is something that can be harnessed to use not only in school but beyond. This approach can significantly enhance our learning experiences. 

A growth mindset is a term popularised by psychologist Carol Dweck, and is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. This mindset is something that we work on no matter the time of year. This contrasts with a fixed mindset, where individuals believe their talents are innate and unchangeable.

Why is this type of thinking important?

• It encourages resilience and students can apply it to all aspects of life, and learn to embrace challenges and view setbacks as opportunities for growth, rather than insurmountable obstacles.
• It promotes lifelong learning: with a growth mindset, individuals become more motivated to learn, continually seeking knowledge and skills beyond the classroom.
• It enhances collaboration: when we understand that everyone can grow, we become more supportive of our peers, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment.

Strategies to Foster a Growth Mindset

• Embrace challenges: encourage students to tackle difficult tasks and celebrate their efforts, regardless of the outcome.
• Take on feedback: teach students to view constructive feedback as a valuable tool for improvement
• Shift thinking: turn negative thoughts or criticism into positive statements or affirmations
• Set goals: help students set specific, achievable goals that encourage them to stretch their abilities.
• Take on challenge: learn things that are harder 
• Celebrate effort: recognise and reward perseverance and hard work, not just talent or results.

Examples to rephrase negative thinking of students

“I haven’t attained an A..yet”

“I don’t fully understand it…yet” 

“It’s a difficult concept, but with practice I will get there” 

Handling a challenge

“I love a challenge” 

“I will make clear goals to work towards” 

Getting Involved

Parents and teachers can play a crucial role in fostering a growth mindset. By modelling these principles in everyday interactions, we can create an environment where students feel safe to take risks and explore new ideas.

Let’s commit to nurturing a culture of growth and resilience, equipping our students not just with knowledge, but with the mindset to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Together, we can inspire each other to reach new heights.

Sarah Charles 

Director of Pastoral Care