Word(s) of the Year: Just Try

Each academic year Headmaster Mr Gregg Davies comes up with a ‘word of the year’. The word of the year is an ethos – a mantra, even – for pupils and staff alike to bring to mind throughout the terms. Whether the situation is in a classroom, in a rowing boat or on the sports fields, the word of the year will always have relevance for the Shiplake cohort. The word of the year for 2015-2016 was ‘yet’. This year, it’s ‘just try’.

Mr Davies was inspired by his daughter, former pupil and Deputy Head of College Anna Davies, and the difficulties she encountered in the classroom. He commented: ‘a frequent theme at parents’ conferences would be teaching staff telling me that Anna knew the answer, but would still put up her hand to ask a question. There was an inherent anxiety that she would be wrong, which had no real founding. So, I would encourage her to try, and that’s when I realised it was a College-wide phrase. There is a well-known phrase the best ice-skaters are the ones who fall over the most, and that really speaks to me – don’t let failure stop you from trying.’ Introduced at INSET, the ethos of trying your hand at something, despite the difficulties involved goes hand in hand with other workshops and theories discussed between staff members. Controlling internal anxieties and worries, and developing a self-belief were recurring themes and something which the staff hope to really encourage in pupils throughout the following academic year.

The theme, just try, also ties in very well with the College’s work on Growth Mindset. Growth mindset, coined by Professor and psychology Carol Dweck, is a way of thinking and speaking which destabilises the knee-jerk reaction of ‘I can’t’ (a traditional, fixed mindset), to inspire an altogether more positive, open-minded way of thinking. Rather than assume you can’t, Dweck encourages to use the phrase ‘I haven’t tackled this yet’, and similar. Mr Davies went on to say that the growth mindset acronym ‘FAIL’, first attempt in learning, also inspired the word of the year. Instead of seeing failure as proof of unintelligence, Mr Davies instead wants pupils and staff to see it ‘as a springboard to improve, and have the drive to approach the topic/sport (or whatever it may be) with new confidence.’