Self and peer assessment only work when your students feel safe taking risks and receiving feedback. This article explores how you can build a growth mindset culture where mistakes are valued as learning opportunities and feedback is welcomed rather than feared – creating the foundation for effective peer and self-assessment.
Contents
- How to use feedback with a growth mindset
- How does a growth mindset impact feedback?
- Building a growth mindset culture: 6 practical strategies
How to use feedback with a growth mindset
1. Frame feedback as part of the learning process
Help your students see feedback as a tool for growth rather than judgement. Explicitly explain that feedback shows where they are in their learning journey and what their next steps should be. Avoid language that suggests ability is fixed – instead of "you're good at this" try "your practice with this is really paying off".
2. Model receiving feedback gracefully
Share examples of your own mistakes and how you've used feedback to improve. When your students see you receive suggestions positively and act on them, they learn that feedback is something everyone benefits from, regardless of skill level. Think aloud when reviewing your own work to demonstrate self-assessment.
3. Celebrate effort and progress, not just outcomes
In primary classrooms, try creating displays showing learning journeys with early drafts alongside improved work. Use phrases like "not yet" rather than "wrong" to emphasise that learning takes time.
For older secondary students, acknowledge those who've made significant progress, even if they haven't achieved top grades. Share examples of famous individuals who succeeded through persistence and responding to feedback.
4. Create feedback routines that normalise the process
Build regular opportunities for giving and receiving feedback into your classroom structures. When feedback becomes routine rather than occasional, students stop seeing it as threatening. This might look like:
- Weekly peer review sessions for ongoing projects
- Regular self-assessment checkpoints using success criteria
- Feedback as a standard part of completing any significant piece of work
5. Teach specific feedback skills
Don't assume your students know how to give or receive feedback constructively. Explicitly teach:
- How to identify specific strengths (not just "good job")
- How to suggest improvements without being unkind
- How to ask clarifying questions about feedback received
- How to decide which feedback to act on and how
6. Use growth mindset language consistently
Help students develop a growth mindset by replacing fixed mindset phrases with growth-oriented alternatives:
- "I can't do this" becomes "I can't do this yet"
- "I'm no good at writing" becomes "I'm still developing my writing skills"
- "This is too hard" becomes "This will challenge me to grow"
- "I made a mistake" becomes "Mistakes help me learn"
For more examples and practical classroom strategies, explore our growth mindset resource.
7. Build in reflection time after receiving feedback
This might look different in primary and secondary classrooms. For younger children, use simple reflection prompts like "What did you learn from this feedback?" or "What will you try differently next time?" Provide time for students to act on at least one piece of feedback immediately.
For older students, ask them to write response logs explaining which feedback they'll implement and why. Have them track changes made in response to feedback and reflect on impact.
How does a growth mindset impact feedback?
It changes how students receive feedback
Students with a growth mindset view feedback as information about their current performance and guidance for improvement. They're more likely to:
- Read feedback carefully rather than just checking their grade
- Ask questions to clarify suggestions
- Act on feedback to improve their work
- Seek additional feedback voluntarily
- View challenging feedback as helpful rather than discouraging
It transforms peer relationships
In classrooms that embrace a growth mindset, students understand that everyone is learning and improving. This creates a collaborative rather than competitive atmosphere where:
- Students genuinely want to help each other improve
- Peer feedback is seen as valuable rather than threatening
- Students learn from seeing how peers approach tasks differently
- The classroom becomes a community of learners supporting each other
It shifts the focus from performance to learning
When your students believe they can improve through effort, feedback discussions centre on learning strategies rather than ability comparisons. Students focus on:
- What strategies worked and which didn't
- How they can approach challenges differently
- What they've learned from the process
- Their progress over time rather than comparison with others
It reduces anxiety around assessment
Students who see ability as changeable feel less threatened by assessment. They understand that current performance doesn't define future potential. This reduction in anxiety means:
- Students engage more honestly with self-assessment
- They're willing to identify areas for improvement without shame
- Feedback conversations become productive rather than defensive
- Students take more risks in their learning
It develops metacognitive awareness
A growth mindset encourages students to think about their thinking. When combined with regular feedback, this develops:
- Understanding of personal learning processes
- Ability to identify when they're struggling and need support
- Recognition of which strategies work best for them
- Capacity to set meaningful learning goals
For more on developing these metacognitive skills, see our article on metacognition and self-regulation.
It creates resilience in the face of setbacks
Students with growth mindsets see setbacks as temporary and surmountable. When they receive challenging feedback or don't achieve their goals, they:
- View the situation as a learning opportunity
- Analyse what went wrong and why
- Develop new strategies to try
- Persist rather than giving up
For practical strategies and resources on building resilience in your classroom, explore these useful resources for supporting students developing resilience, building resilience in primary, and building resilience across all secondary subjects.
Building a growth mindset culture: 6 practical strategies
- Address fixed mindset thinking when you hear it. Challenge statements like "I'm just not a maths person" by reframing: "You haven't mastered this yet, but with practice and the right strategies, you will improve." Make this correction routine and non-judgemental.
- Share the science of learning. For primary students, explain how brains grow and change using metaphors like "your brain is like a muscle." For secondary students, teach about neuroplasticity and how learning changes the brain. Help them see that struggle indicates learning, not inability.
- Create a classroom where mistakes are valued. Actively celebrate productive mistakes. Try having a "brilliant mistake of the week" or sharing your own mistakes and what you learnt. Create a culture where admitting confusion is viewed as a mature and helpful approach.
- Ensure feedback is always actionable. Rather than "needs improvement," give specific next steps like "Use more specific vocabulary" or "Support each point with text evidence." Always answer: "What should I do differently?"
- Monitor and adjust your own mindset language. Replace ability-focused praise ("you're so clever") with process-focused recognition ("your careful planning really shows"). Focus on individual progress and effort rather than relative performance.
- Involve parents and carers. Share growth mindset principles with families so the message is reinforced at home. Help them understand the difference between praising effort versus ability.
Remember: Developing a growth mindset culture takes time, especially if students have experienced years of fixed mindset messaging. Be patient and persistent.
