STAFF TRAINING & CPD
Growth Mindset
in Practice
From Positive Language to Effective Learning Behaviours
From belief to thoughtful practice
A More Thoughtful Approach to Growth Mindset
Growth mindset is sometimes reduced to familiar phrases about effort, perseverance and the power of “yet.” These messages can be useful, but on their own they do not explain how learning develops or what a learner may need next.
Growth Mindset in Practice helps education professionals examine the concept in a more accurate, balanced and practical way. It considers the messages communicated through language, praise and feedback, while connecting these with effective teaching, strategy, metacognition, self-regulation and appropriate help.
Rather than offering a formula or guaranteed outcome, the course creates space to question assumptions, examine professional practice and identify realistic ways of supporting learning within different educational contexts.
Growth mindset is a starting belief - not the complete intervention.
Believing that improvement is possible matters. Learners also need effective teaching, useful strategies, meaningful feedback, appropriate support and opportunities to apply what they are learning.
The Five-stage Growth Mindset in Practice Framework
From understanding the concept to applying it responsibly
The course moves through five connected stages, providing a clear structure for professional learning, discussion and application.
The framework is not a formula or a checklist for changing learners. It offers a structured way to examine how beliefs, adult communication, teaching, strategy and support can interact within everyday educational practice.
Choose the Format That Fits Your Setting
Both options explore the complete five-stage Growth Mindset in Practice Framework. The four-hour workshop provides additional depth, extended case analysis and more time for collaborative application.
Two-hour
Twilight Session
Focused, practical and participative
A focused exploration of the complete Growth Mindset in Practice Framework, combining evidence-informed input, professional discussion and individual application
What it includes
- Complete five-stage framework
- Practical discussion and short case activities
- Individual Keep, Refine, Try action planning
- Suitable for twilight CPD or an extended staff meeting
- Two hours, including a short reset
£450 for up to 30 participants
Delivered in person at your school or setting.
Four-hour
Half-day Workshop
Extended, applied and collaborative
A deeper exploration of the framework through extended engagement with evidence, more complex case analysis, professional judgement and structured planning.
What it includes
- Complete five-stage framework explored in greater depth
- Extended case studies and practical application
- Greater exploration of metacognition and self-regulation
- Individual and team-level action planning
- Four hours, including a 25-minute break
£750 for up to 30 participants
Delivered in person at your school or setting.
Every delegate receives a professionally designed Growth Mindset in Practice Participant Workbook, tailored to their chosen course format. It supports reflection, practical activities and action planning during the session—and provides a useful take-away resource for applying and reviewing the learning afterwards.
What Participants Will Take Away
The course is designed to help education professionals develop a more accurate understanding of growth mindset and consider how it can be applied thoughtfully within their own practice.
Participants will be supported to:
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Explain growth mindset more accurately
Recognise what the concept means, what it does not mean and why common misconceptions require caution.
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Notice the messages communicated through adult language
Consider what everyday language may suggest about ability, effort, mistakes, progress and the potential for improvement.
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Evaluate praise, feedback and next steps
Distinguish between general encouragement and responses that provide learners with useful information, direction or strategy.
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Connect belief with learning support
Explore how metacognition, self-regulation, effective teaching, strategy selection and appropriate help can support learning behaviours.
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Identify realistic changes within professional practice
Use reflection, discussion and course activities to determine what could be kept, refined or tried within the participant's own setting.
Who Is This Course For?
Growth Mindset in Practice is designed for education professionals whose work influences how young people experience challenge, feedback, mistakes, progress and support.
It can be delivered to whole staff groups or to teams with particular responsibility for teaching, learning, pastoral care, inclusion and learner development.
Professional Roles
The course may be particularly relevant for:
- Teachers and classroom practitioners
- Teaching assistants and learning-support staff
- Pastoral, attendance, behaviour, inclusion and welfare teams
- Heads, senior leaders and middle leaders
- SEND staff and learning mentors
- Staff leading or coordinating alternative provision
- Multi-academy trust and local-authority education teams
Setting and Phase
The course can be delivered within:
- Primary schools
- Secondary schools
- Alternative provision settings, including pupil referral units (PRUs)
- Mixed-phase professional groups
- Individual schools, school clusters and multi-academy trusts
A Thoughtful, Evidence-Informed Approach
Growth mindset can offer a useful educational lens, but it should not be presented as a guarantee, a slogan or a substitute for effective teaching and appropriate support.
This course explores what the concept may contribute when it is understood carefully, applied realistically and considered alongside related areas such as metacognition and self-regulation.
Evidence, Not Exaggeration
The course draws upon contemporary educational research while acknowledging that findings are nuanced and that outcomes can depend upon context, implementation and the support surrounding learners.
More Than Positive Language
Participants consider how language, praise and feedback interact with teaching, strategy, metacognition, self-regulation and appropriate help - not simply whether learners are encouraged to “try harder.”
Responsible Professional Application
The course supports professional reflection and informed educational practice. It does not provide therapeutic or clinical training, replace specialist assessment or support, or alter existing safeguarding responsibilities.
Meet Your Facilitator
Stu Smith
Founder and Programmes Director, The Mindset Mission Team®
Stu brings more than 20 years of professional experience across education, pastoral care, school welfare, alternative provision and youth engagement.
His school-based experience has included pastoral leadership, year-group management, attendance and school-welfare management, and leading, teaching and coordinating alternative provision within secondary education. He has also contributed to the implementation and delivery of whole-school attendance and welfare policies.
Stu has taught English as an additional language in Hungary and Shanghai and served with Greater Manchester Police, where his work included a particular focus on youth development, outreach and engagement.
Today, through The Mindset Mission Team®, Stu designs and delivers educational programmes, provides one-to-one mentoring support and works as a published educational author and writer. His facilitation combines professional experience, careful preparation and evidence-informed learning with practical discussion grounded in the realities of working with young people.
His delivery style is warm, approachable, grounded and participative - creating space for professionals to question ideas, share experiences, examine practice and consider realistic changes within their own settings.
- 20+ Years of Professional Experience
- Pastoral, Attendance and Alternative Provision Leadership
- Programme Facilitator, Mentor and Published Educational Author
Bring Growth Mindset in Practice to Your Setting
Choose the format that best suits your staff team and contact The Mindset Mission Team® to discuss availability, your professional setting and the practical delivery arrangements.
Both course formats are delivered in person at your school or setting.
Three-step enquiry journey
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Choose Your Format
Select either the Two-hour Twilight Session or the Four-hour Half-day Workshop.
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Tell Us About Your Setting
Share your proposed date or timeframe, approximate participant number and any particular professional context or areas of interest.
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Confirm the Arrangements
MMT will respond to discuss availability, delivery requirements and the final cost before any booking is confirmed.
Course price summary
Additional participants, from 31 to a maximum group size of 50, are charged at £20 per person. Larger groups, multi-school events and wider trust delivery will receive an agreed fixed quotation.
Any additional travel requirements or costs will be discussed and agreed before booking.