Education Endowment Foundation:Changing Mindsets

Changing Mindsets

University of Portsmouth
Implementation costThe cost estimates in the Toolkits are based on the average cost of delivering the intervention.
Evidence strengthThis rating provides an overall estimate of the robustness of the evidence, to help support professional decision-making in schools.
Impact (months)The impact measure shows the number of additional months of progress made, on average, by children and young people who received the intervention, compared to similar children and young people who did not.
+2
months
Project info

Independent Evaluator

NIESR logo
NIESR
An intervention which aims to improve attainment by developing a growth mindset in pupils.
Schools: 36 Grant: £368,460
Key Stage: 2 Duration: 2 year(s) Type of Trial: Efficacy Trial
Completed February 2014

This page covers the first (efficacy) trial of Changing Mindsets, which tested whether it could work in schools under best possible conditions. To read about the second (effectiveness) trial – testing a scalable model under everyday conditions in a large number of schools – click here.

The Changing Mindsets project sought 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. Previous research (Good et al., 2003; Blackwell et al., 2007) has suggested that holding this belief enables pupils to work harder and achieve better results. The project consisted of two separate interventions:

  • an intervention that taught pupils directly about the malleability of intelligence through six workshops, which were delivered by undergraduates from the University of Portsmouth, and four further sessions delivered by two local organisations: the Education Business Partnership, and Pompey Study Centre (now called Portsmouth in the Community).
  • a professional development course that trained teachers on approaches to developing and reinforcing growth mindsets through their teaching. This course consisted of two half days of instruction.

The project targeted Year 5 pupils in Portsmouth, Southampton and Hampshire. The delivery of the interventions was led by the University of Portsmouth and took place between January and May 2013.

Outcome/​Group
ImpactThe size of the difference between pupils in this trial and other pupils
SecurityHow confident are we in this result?
Teacher training (maths, all pupils)
0
Months' progress
Teacher training (English, all pupils)
-2
Months' progress
Teacher training (maths, FSM pupils)
+1
Months' progress
N/A
Teacher training (English, FSM pupils)
0
Months' progress
N/A
Pupil workshops (intervention (maths, all pupils)
+2
Months' progress
Pupil workshops (English, all pupils)
+2
Months' progress
Pupil workshops intervention (maths, FSM pupils)
+2
Months' progress
N/A
Pupil workshops (English, FSM pupils)
+2
Months' progress
N/A