Growth Mindset
Growth Mindset at Marsh Gibbon CE School
At Marsh Gibbon CE School, succeeding together within a nurturing Christian community, we believe that with effort, perseverance, and faith, everyone can grow and achieve their very best. We focus on developing a Growth Mindset—the understanding that abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work, resilience, and good teaching.
Our School Vision and Values
Our vision is to nurture confident, respectful, and compassionate learners who believe in their potential. Guided by our Christian values of love, friendship, compassion, honesty, forgiveness and respect, we want children to understand that they can grow their brains and talents through effort, persistence, and God's strength.
Our Spirituality Statement
Inspired by Philippians 4:13—“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”—we believe faith, effort, and perseverance enable us to overcome challenges and reach our full potential. Our Christian character encourages us to see every difficulty as an opportunity for growth, trusting that with God's strength, we can achieve anything.
Mirrors, Windows, and Doors
Why Growth Mindset Matters
Research shows that believing abilities can be developed (growth mindset) leads to greater effort, resilience, and achievement. Instead of praising children only for being “clever,” we praise effort, persistence, and strategies—encouraging a positive attitude towards learning and setbacks.
In the classroom, we use feedback that promotes growth: “Next steps,” “prompts for improvement,” and celebrating personal bests. This creates an energetic, inclusive culture where mistakes are viewed as opportunities to learn, grow, and be strengthened through Christ.
How You Can Support at Home
Further Resources· Books:
At Marsh Gibbon CE School, succeeding together within a nurturing Christian community, we believe that with effort, perseverance, and faith, everyone can grow and achieve their very best. We focus on developing a Growth Mindset—the understanding that abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work, resilience, and good teaching.
Our School Vision and Values
Our vision is to nurture confident, respectful, and compassionate learners who believe in their potential. Guided by our Christian values of love, friendship, compassion, honesty, forgiveness and respect, we want children to understand that they can grow their brains and talents through effort, persistence, and God's strength.
Our Spirituality Statement
Inspired by Philippians 4:13—“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”—we believe faith, effort, and perseverance enable us to overcome challenges and reach our full potential. Our Christian character encourages us to see every difficulty as an opportunity for growth, trusting that with God's strength, we can achieve anything.
Mirrors, Windows, and Doors
- Mirrors: Our school reflects children’s current abilities and efforts, helping them see their own progress and potential. We celebrate effort, persistence, and resilience.
- Windows: We open windows to understanding that learning and growth are ongoing journeys. Children learn how the brain can develop and how perseverance leads to success—respecting others’ effort and resilience.
- Doors: We open doors to new challenges and opportunities. Children are encouraged to try difficult tasks, learn from mistakes, and see setbacks as part of the learning process—building resilience and confidence, knowing that God strengthens us.
Why Growth Mindset Matters
Research shows that believing abilities can be developed (growth mindset) leads to greater effort, resilience, and achievement. Instead of praising children only for being “clever,” we praise effort, persistence, and strategies—encouraging a positive attitude towards learning and setbacks.
In the classroom, we use feedback that promotes growth: “Next steps,” “prompts for improvement,” and celebrating personal bests. This creates an energetic, inclusive culture where mistakes are viewed as opportunities to learn, grow, and be strengthened through Christ.
How You Can Support at Home
- Praise effort, not just ability (“You worked really hard!”).
- Talk about your brain like a muscle that gets stronger with use—and that God helps us do all things through Christ’s strength.
- Encourage children to keep trying when things are difficult.
- Challenge your children to try new, tricky, or challenging activities.
Further Resources· Books:
- Mindset in the Classroom by Mary Cay Ricci
- Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
- Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak
