Growth Mindset at St Peter’s

At St Peter’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, we believe that how children think about learning is just as important as what they learn. That’s why we’re actively developing a Growth Mindset culture across the school.

You may have already heard your child talking about growth mindset—and for good reason! Research shows that when children adopt a growth mindset, their progress and attainment improve. They become more resilient, more engaged, and more willing to take on challenges.

What is a Growth Mindset?

A Growth Mindset is the belief that our intelligence and abilities can improve through effort, persistence, and learning from mistakes.

In contrast, a Fixed Mindset is the belief that intelligence is set and cannot change.

At St Peter’s, we are helping children understand that:

💡 “It’s okay to be stuck—because that’s when the best learning happens!”

We encourage them to:

  • Embrace challenges

  • Be curious about mistakes

  • Take pride in effort

  • Keep going, even when it’s tough

We celebrate resilience, determination, and progress, rather than just success.

Fixed Mindset vs Growth Mindset

Fixed Mindset Growth Mindset
“I like my work to be easy.” “I like my work to be difficult – it means I’m learning.”
“I don’t like to try a challenge.” “I love challenges.”
“I want people to praise me for how clever I am.” “I want people to praise me for the effort I put in.”
“I can’t change how clever I am.” “I can grow my intelligence through hard work.”
“I give up easily.” “I never give up.”
“I don’t like to try new things—I might not be good at them.” “I learn from my mistakes and keep trying.”

How Growth Mindset Shapes Learning

  • Our marking and feedback focus on next steps and prompts for improvement

  • Even the most able learners are encouraged to keep stretching their thinking

  • We teach that mistakes are a powerful part of learning

  • Children aim to improve their personal best, not just be the best

This mindset supports a positive, energetic and inclusive learning environment where children are not afraid to take risks, support each other, and keep growing.

How You Can Help at Home

You can support our Growth Mindset culture by:

✅ Praising your child’s effort, not just their success
✅ Talking about the brain as a muscle—the more we use it, the stronger it gets
✅ Encouraging your child to keep going when something is difficult
✅ Challenging them to try new things, even if they don’t succeed at first

Phrases That Encourage a Growth Mindset

Try using these kinds of phrases when talking to your child:

  • “Wow! That looks like it took a lot of effort.”

  • “Tell me how you worked that out.”

  • “Can you show me how you did it?”

  • “How do you feel about what you’ve done?”

  • “What will you try next?”

  • “That was a challenge—well done for sticking with it.”

  • “Keep trying—you’ll get there!”

  • “It’s okay to make mistakes—that’s how we learn.”

  • “You’ve improved so much—look how far you’ve come!”

Together, we can help children develop confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning. Thank you for supporting this important part of our school culture!