If I am not for myself, who will be for me,
If I am only for myself, who am I?
If not now, when?
Ethics of the Fathers 1:14
The Sixth Form mindset has a focus on commitment, motivation and productivity and is based on VESPA, developed by Steve Oakes and Martin Griffin.
VISION – ‘If I am not for myself who will be for me?’ (Ethics of the Fathers 1:14)
Every student should work towards a clear goal. This will assist in developing productivity and potential.
Every student should make an actionable plan. Goal setting is important; goals need to be broken down in order for motivation to improve. Students need to stick to their goals despite obstacles.
EFFORT – ‘According to the effort is the reward’ (Ethics of the Fathers 6:26)
Every sixth form student needs to remove themselves from effortless success. Effort is the function of intensity, direction, and duration of one’s exertions toward a goal (Duckworth et al, 2007).
Sixth Form students will put in many hours of proactive, independent study.
Time spent on private study is a measure of effort.
SYSTEMS – ‘If not now, when?’ (Ethics of the Fathers 1:14)
Sixth Form students organise their learning resources and their time
Sixth Form students need to develop:
- A system to organise learning so they can make sense of it.
- A system to organise their time so they can complete tasks and deadlines.
PRACTICE – ‘If I am only for myself, who am I?’ (Ethics of the Fathers 1:14)
Sixth Form students practice and develop their independent learning skills
- CONTENT: mastering the content of a lesson by reviewing and consolidating, checking and ensuring understanding.
- SKILLS: putting knowledge into practice e.g practice questions.
- FEEDBACK: seeking expert feedback in order to develop their performance.
ATTITUDE – ‘If not now, when’ (Ethics of the Fathers 1:14)
Attitude covers:
- The process of learning
- The level of positivity
- The response to challenge or difficulty
- Resilience and determination