Character at least as important as curriculum
Tenacity is a crucial quality that young people need to develop in order to thrive while they are at school and in their life beyond, argue University of Winchester experts in a new book which was launched at the University of Winchester on Tuesday 15 May.
Developing Tenacity - Teaching learners how to persevere in the face of difficulty by Bill Lucas, Professor of Learning at the University of Winchester and Director of the University's Centre for Real-World Learning, and Dr Ellen Spencer, Senior Researcher in the Centre, features schools and organisations across the world as case studies.
"Young people need more than subject knowledge in order to thrive at school and beyond - they need capabilities," said Professor Bill Lucas.
"A key capability is tenacity, which is broader than 'grit' or 'growth mindset' and embodies what it takes to persevere in the face of difficulty. We argue that tenacity is an essential quality for all schools to develop in pupils and offer practical strategies to help them do so."
Based on their research at the University of Winchester's Centre for Real-World Learning, which is impacting on teaching and learning practices in the UK and the USA, the book offers a new way of thinking about what it takes to persevere in the face of difficulty.
The authors launched their book with a reception and lecture at the University attended by teachers and headteachers from schools across the region. The book is available from Amazon.