Professor Barry Hymer, one of the UK’s top thinkers on education visited the school on Friday and worked with parents and teachers on how both those groups could best help support a child’s learning through meaningful feedback rather than empty praise.
Barry Hymer, who is Professor of Psychology in Education at the University of Cumbria in Lancaster, and who has studied learning theory for more than 30 years, started his day by presenting to well over one hundred of our parents. He challenged the parents to consider what time they give to discussing their child's work with their child and urged parents to always praise the effort rather than the ability of their children. After then working with a group of twenty educators and managers among the school staff, drawn from both the junior and senior school, Professor Hymer completed the day by talking to the entire teaching staff of St. Lawrence College. Exploring the research of growth mindsets as made famous by Dr Carol Dweck of Stanford University, Professor Hymer demonstrated to staff the impact a teacher can make on a child if they challenge the child to learn for intrinsic rather than extrinsic reward.
Parents and teachers were enthusiastic and fulsome in the reactions to the day. Many commented how motivating it was to listen to such an expert and how his insights would directly affect their interaction with their children and pupils. Headmaster Phil Holden commented “It is certainly our intention to host more such activities. Expert, high quality professional training is recognised as essential for all teachers, however long they have been in the profession. When it is as powerful and well-presented as this, it is inspirational as well as being of great use”.
In addition to Professor Hymer's work, a group of sixteen teachers also took part in a workshop presented by Ms Elizabeth Dawson, a trainer in Action Research. These teachers were trained in how to best utilise Action Research to make improvements to every day school practice by using teams of teachers to investigate a pre-determined theme before presenting their findings and recommendations to their colleagues.
All in all it was a very busy and highly productive day for the school!
