MORE THAN MINDSET: CONTRIBUTING TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR SCOTTISH EDUCATION 2024
In the past decade, Winning Scotland has supported over 2500 teachers and early years practitioners in a quarter of Scotland’s schools to develop a ‘growth mindset’ culture. Our specific focus in an education context is to explore the difference that developing growth mindset strategies can make to wellbeing and attainment.
Find out more about the More Than Mindset programme here. This report explains how developing a growth mindset culture in the classroom and wider school environment has been shown to help build resilience, self-efficacy, and self-belief, improving wellbeing for teachers and pupils.
MINDSET TEAMS IN THE SCOTTISH EDUCATION SYSTEM 2023
Since 2018, Mindset Teams (now known as More Than Mindset) has been delivered in primary and secondary schools typically located in the most deprived areas of Scotland.
National Institute for Health Research (N I H R) Public Health Intervention Responsive Team (PHIRST) funded an external evaluation of our Mindset Teams programme, which was undertaken by researchers from Cardiff University and University of Bristol on behalf of the PHIRST Insight team.
PHIRST Report 2023
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This research focused on primary schools to understand the impact of the Mindset Teams programme on a) children’s education and health and b) teachers’ beliefs, attitudes, and awareness of growth mindset, along with their health and wellbeing. It also examined the programme's delivery.
Key findings from the evaluation revealed:
The programme is highly valued by teachers, pupils, and stakeholders, supporting children’s educational and wellbeing needs.
Teachers’ attitudes and knowledge of growth mindset improved after completing the Mindset Teams training.
School-level data suggested that a higher percentage of pupils in Mindset Teams schools achieved the expected Curriculum for Excellence level in writing, compared to non-programme schools, after one year.
The programme plays a crucial role in supporting children’s wellbeing, with noted improvements in social skills, engagement, and future aspirations.
Embedding growth mindset in school policies and allocating resources were key to programme uptake, delivery, and sustainability.
In 2024, PE teacher Scott Souden from Dumbarton Academy took part in Winning Scotland's More Than Mindset course. The video below looks at his growth mindset journey, and the impact it has had upon his own mindset and that of his pupils.
“Mindset has made learning fun. Children are much more comfortable talking about how they learn and what dispositions they need to become successful learners. The teachers say you have to be resilient and persevere and they know what we are talking about, and it has now just become a way of life.” Jacqui McBurnie (Head Teacher), St Anthony’s Primary School, Johnstone, Renfrewshire
“The impact we have seen is that children are much more confident, they enjoy it and lead their own learning. They are open to sharing their mistakes and they are dying to tell you what they’ve done wrong, how they found out what they have done wrong and what they’re going to do to make it better.” Wendy Robinson, St Bernadette’s Primary School, Motherwell, North Lanarkshire
loving learning in scotland...
Challenging fixed mindsets to increase resilience of S2/3 pupils
Primary 6 pupils create their own growth mindset toolkit
Using the Chilli Challenge to develop a can-do attitude
Developing mathematical growth mindsets through Number Talks
Mindset Teams programme creating powerful impact in Scotland
Increasing pupil confidence in literacy using growth mindset
Pupils learn to love maths after growth mindset lessons
Whole school approach to creating a growth mindset culture
Growth mindset helps dispel myths about maths
Pupils reconnect with school after learning about growth mindset
Growth mindset is building the confidence of Dundee pupils
Motivation and practice helping secondary pupils find success in maths
