Thoughts from the Study
Growth-Mindset
I have recently delved into Adam Grant’s book, “Hidden Talent,” authored by the organisational scientist renowned for his expertise in motivation, rethinking assumptions, and fostering generous and creative lives. Through a series of real-life case studies and examples, Grant underscores the notion that everyone possesses the potential for greatness.
At Broomfield, we firmly believe that every child has the capacity to achieve greatness, a sentiment that extends to all of us, regardless of age. Defining greatness or success is a deeply personal matter, varying from one person to another. Therefore, instead of delving into the complexities of these concepts, our focus lies on instilling a growth mindset in children. This involves nurturing their confidence and self-esteem to embrace the mindset of ‘I can do it.’
As a leader in education, working at Broomfield is an absolute privilege. Here, we witness the embodiment of this philosophy daily, as children continually impress us with their intrinsic motivation to learn and adapt, even when faced with initial challenges. Often the most daunting aspect of learning something new, lies in taking the first step. Just this morning, I had a discussion with some Year 4 children regarding this very notion. We deliberated on the idea that sometimes, the best course of action is simply to begin, fully expecting challenges initially, with the assurance that it will get easier with effort and perseverance.
This principle was exemplified beautifully during our assembly this morning, where two outstanding Year 4 girls delivered a speech in Korean before the entire school. Last week, during Headmasters Club, these girls approached me with their Korean phrase books. Displaying remarkable initiative, they had independently sought out Mrs. Hyun, asking her to teach them one Korean phrase per week, which they diligently recorded in their books and practised together. Speaking a foreign language for the first time is undoubtedly challenging, yet these girls persisted and quickly gained enough confidence to address the entire school. Their exceptional demonstration of linguistic prowess served as an inspiration for other children to explore their own interests and embark on independent learning journeys.
The concept of a growth mindset, is nothing new, and was introduced initially by psychologist Carol Dweck in 2006, where she highlighted the significant influence our beliefs about our abilities have on our achievements. In essence, if we believe we can succeed and invest the necessary effort, our abilities can develop over time through dedication and hard work.
A recent example of this was observed during this year’s London Marathon. Anya Culling, who ran her first marathon in 2020 with a time of 4.5 hours, transformed from a novice to an elite competitor, achieving a remarkable time of 2.4 hours. In an interview, she described her initial marathon experience as painful. However, just a few years later, with the right mindset, she was running at an elite pace. Importantly, she attributed her success not only to achieving balance and enjoyment throughout the journey but also to focusing on the process rather than solely on the end result.
At Broomfield, we incorporate this concept by consistently praising effort over mere outcomes. We emphasise to our children that failure is not indicative of inability but rather an opportunity for learning and growth. This mindset encourages them to adopt new problem-solving approaches, seek assistance when needed, and value feedback – all essential for personal, academic, and lifelong development. Rather than simply stating “You are so smart,” we commend creativity and effort, for example, “You found an excellent way to solve that problem.” I believe that we all have hidden potential that we are yet to discover. Although we may not all learn how to speak Korean, or find the speed to run a marathon in 2.44hours, as we approach the bank holiday weekend, let’s give ourselves (and the children) a pre-emptive past on the back, for all the successes to come as a result of determination and hard work and a positive ‘can-do’ mindset.
All the best for the weekend.
Mr Anstey
We are proud of our Year 6 children who noticed an alarming amount of rubbish on the beach in Spain and decided to take action. The children were able to gather a significant amount of rubbish. It was great to see Broomfield’s eco credentials extending beyond the school grounds – even on holiday! #litterpick #environmentalawareness #prepschooltrip #spainschooltrip
We are proud of our Year 6 children who noticed an alarming amount of rubbish on the beach in Spain and decided to take action. The children were able to gather a significant amount of rubbish. It was great to see Broomfield’s eco credentials extending beyond the school grounds – even on holiday! #litterpick #environmentalawareness #prepschooltrip #spainschooltrip ...
Exciting news – we are launching Broomfield Community Videos! 🎥 Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing heartfelt videos from our parents, staff introductions, and of course, some special moments with our pupils. Stay tuned for an inside look at what makes Broomfield such a unique and supportive community! #prepschoolinrichmond #prepschoolinkew #broomfieldfamily #broomfieldcommunity #prepschoolcommunity #prepschooltestimonial #parenttestimonials #prepschoollife
Exciting news – we are launching Broomfield Community Videos! 🎥 Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing heartfelt videos from our parents, staff introductions, and of course, some special moments with our pupils. Stay tuned for an inside look at what makes Broomfield such a unique and supportive community! #prepschoolinrichmond #prepschoolinkew #broomfieldfamily #broomfieldcommunity #prepschoolcommunity #prepschooltestimonial #parenttestimonials #prepschoollife ...
Broomfield House School has once again been included in the Spear’s Magazine Schools Indices this year. The indices have been compiled by Spear’s in collaboration with their expert partners at Thuso and a panel of independent educationalists from around the world.
For the second consecutive year, our outstanding educational provision has been recognised in this prestigious guide, featured alongside St Paul’s Juniors, Dulwich Prep London, and Westminster Under School.
Broomfield House School has once again been included in the Spear’s Magazine Schools Indices this year. The indices have been compiled by Spear’s in collaboration with their expert partners at Thuso and a panel of independent educationalists from around the world.
For the second consecutive year, our outstanding educational provision has been recognised in this prestigious guide, featured alongside St Paul’s Juniors, Dulwich Prep London, and Westminster Under School. ...
Outstanding 11+ results once again! We celebrate another year of exceptional senior school offers and scholarships this week. With our renowned, carefully tailored approach, we provide families with expert guidance. Our highly effective process achieved an incredible 97% accuracy in predicting Year 6 offers, a testament to our deep understanding of each pupil’s potential and aspirations. Well done Year 6, we could not be more proud! #11plussuccess #celebratingyear6 #11plusprep #11plusresults #leaversdestinations #prepschoolinkew #prepschoolinrichmond
Outstanding 11+ results once again! We celebrate another year of exceptional senior school offers and scholarships this week. With our renowned, carefully tailored approach, we provide families with expert guidance. Our highly effective process achieved an incredible 97% accuracy in predicting Year 6 offers, a testament to our deep understanding of each pupil’s potential and aspirations. Well done Year 6, we could not be more proud! #11plussuccess #celebratingyear6 #11plusprep #11plusresults #leaversdestinations #prepschoolinkew #prepschoolinrichmond ...
We are celebrating World Book Day with a truly special treat this year! Following the success of yesterday’s incredible Dukes Great British Bake Off, we are launching our first-ever Dukes Great British Bake-Off Recipe Book with families this week.
Finalists from across the Dukes family showcased their delicious, book-inspired bakes to a panel of judges at Dukes House, and their creations were simply too yummy to resist! From magical cakes to literary-themed pastries, the creativity of all the finalists was nothing short of extraordinary.
We were delighted to be joined by Aatif Hassan, Chairman and Founder of Dukes Education, and Tim Fish, UK CEO, who celebrated the children’s fantastic creations alongside us.
A huge thank you also to all the English departments who took part, celebrating not just baking, but the love of books and storytelling through food. And last but not least, a special thank you to Lauren Carver Williams, Head of KS1 at Broomfield House School, for her incredible work in organising this event!
@dukes_education @bassetthouseschool @broomwood_preprep @copperfieldverbier @dhsprep @eatonhouseschools.themanor @knightsbridge_school @radnorhouseprepschool @pointerschool
We are celebrating World Book Day with a truly special treat this year! Following the success of yesterday’s incredible Dukes Great British Bake Off, we are launching our first-ever Dukes Great British Bake-Off Recipe Book with families this week.
Finalists from across the Dukes family showcased their delicious, book-inspired bakes to a panel of judges at Dukes House, and their creations were simply too yummy to resist! From magical cakes to literary-themed pastries, the creativity of all the finalists was nothing short of extraordinary.
We were delighted to be joined by Aatif Hassan, Chairman and Founder of Dukes Education, and Tim Fish, UK CEO, who celebrated the children’s fantastic creations alongside us.
A huge thank you also to all the English departments who took part, celebrating not just baking, but the love of books and storytelling through food. And last but not least, a special thank you to Lauren Carver Williams, Head of KS1 at Broomfield House School, for her incredible work in organising this event!
@dukes_education @bassetthouseschool @broomwood_preprep @copperfieldverbier @dhsprep @eatonhouseschools.themanor @knightsbridge_school @radnorhouseprepschool @pointerschool ...
@splatttheatrecompany visited us last week to take our Year 3 children on a journey to Ancient Greece. The performance was great fun and taught the children all about King Polydectes engagement feast, the Grey Sisters and Medusa’s statues. #greekday
@splatttheatrecompany visited us last week to take our Year 3 children on a journey to Ancient Greece. The performance was great fun and taught the children all about King Polydectes engagement feast, the Grey Sisters and Medusa’s statues. #greekday ...
Building memories, one brick at a time. Happy International Lego Day from Broomfield! 🧱 #internationallegoday #creativeplay
Building memories, one brick at a time. Happy International Lego Day from Broomfield! 🧱 #internationallegoday #creativeplay ...
Every story has the power to transport us to another place.
Ahead of National Storytelling Week, we are celebrating our talented young writers at Broomfield.📕
#youngwriters
Every story has the power to transport us to another place.
Ahead of National Storytelling Week, we are celebrating our talented young writers at Broomfield.📕
#youngwriters ...
Happy New Year from all of us at Broomfield!
On Monday we kicked off the spring term with the Dukes Education Conference at Wembley. We are delighted to share that our Headmaster, Adam Anstey, and the school were honoured with the Wellbeing Initiative Award in recognition of the effective efforts to promote wellbeing among both children and staff.
This award is a true testament to what is one of the cornerstones of our philosophy and work at Broomfield.
With the theme “The Heart of Education” the conference provided a fantastic opportunity for professional development. Thought-provoking discussions explored the impact of AI, the future of education, and the critical importance of character development in shaping the young leaders of tomorrow.
Happy New Year from all of us at Broomfield!
On Monday we kicked off the spring term with the Dukes Education Conference at Wembley. We are delighted to share that our Headmaster, Adam Anstey, and the school were honoured with the Wellbeing Initiative Award in recognition of the effective efforts to promote wellbeing among both children and staff.
This award is a true testament to what is one of the cornerstones of our philosophy and work at Broomfield.
With the theme “The Heart of Education” the conference provided a fantastic opportunity for professional development. Thought-provoking discussions explored the impact of AI, the future of education, and the critical importance of character development in shaping the young leaders of tomorrow. ...
We are excited to welcome all our families back to school for another great term at Broomfield! 🌟
We are excited to welcome all our families back to school for another great term at Broomfield! 🌟 ...
At the end of the term, we reflect on many events, trips, and achievements. From the early days of settling into routines in Early Years to the progress made across all year groups, it’s been a wonderfully busy term.
Wishing all families a restful break! 🎄🌟
At the end of the term, we reflect on many events, trips, and achievements. From the early days of settling into routines in Early Years to the progress made across all year groups, it’s been a wonderfully busy term.
Wishing all families a restful break! 🎄🌟 ...
This week, on Wednesday, we welcomed M&M Theatrical Productions for a fun and engaging pantomime performance. The actors performed brilliantly, captivating both children and staff alike. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to immerse themselves in live theatre and enjoy a well-deserved treat in the last week of term.
This week, on Wednesday, we welcomed M&M Theatrical Productions for a fun and engaging pantomime performance. The actors performed brilliantly, captivating both children and staff alike. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to immerse themselves in live theatre and enjoy a well-deserved treat in the last week of term. ...