Intervention details

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Changing Mindsets

No impact for Primary reading
No impact for Primary maths

Intervention description

Changing Mindsets is an intervention which  seek to improve academic attainment by supporting pupils to develop a growth mindset: the belief that intelligence is not a fixed characteristic and can be increased through effort. Changing Mindsets is provided by Growing Learners at the University of Portsmouth. 

The intervention is based on research which shows that teaching children a growth mindset (as opposed to a fixed mindset) leads to greater resilience and has a positive impact on their motivation and achievement. 

The Changing Mindsets intervention consists of a mindset manual and lesson plans for teachers and parents with exercises and materials for pupils. The training and guidance is designed so teachers and parents can start their mindset work with children without any additional preparation after the training.

Professional development/training

A day training in Mindsets for all staff included in the whole school/college mindset package. This introduces the 6 week Mindset intervention and helps the school consider how to develop a growth culture across the institution. 

Evidence Summary

The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) ran an evaluation of Changing Mindsets in 2013/2014. The study looked at the teacher training element and the pupil resources.

The teacher training element of the intervention was found to have a mean effect size of -0.11 for primary reading and +0.01 for primary maths. The pupil workshops were found to have a mean effect size of +0.18 for primary reading and +0.10 for primary maths. 

The EEF carried out a further evaluation of Changing Mindsets in 2015/2016. This study combined the approaches of the previous study by providing pupil resources alongside teacher training. The study found no evidence that the intervention had an impact on pupil's literacy or numeracy progress.

The study found a mean effect size of -0.01 for primary maths, 0.00 for primary reading and 0.00 for primary writing.

No impact for Primary reading
No. of studies 3
No. of students 6,228
Average effect size -0.02
No impact for Primary maths
No. of studies 3
No. of students 6,245
Average effect size +0.00
No impact for Primary writing
No. of studies 1
No. of students 4,448
Average effect size +0.00

Key research

The Education Endowment Foundation evaluation in 2013/2014. The study targeted Year 5 pupils in Portsmouth.

https://educationendowmentfoun...

The Education Endowment Foundation evaluation in 2015/2016 tested a scalable model of Changing Mindsets in a larger number of schools.

https://educationendowmentfoun...

Key stages

  • Early Years
  • Key Stage 1
  • Key Stage 2
  • Key Stage 3
  • Key Stage 4
  • Post 16

Cost

£1800 (plus travel and accommodation for two trainers if 20 miles outside of Portsmouth)

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