SIXTH FORM AT HARTLAND
Our VESPA Programme Our research tells us that successful students have the following distinctive characteristics: • They have clear goals of what they want to achieve, both in the short and long-term. They monitor their progress towards these goals and adjust their approach where necessary. • They have a high level of self-awareness of the best environment and routines that support a “flow state” in their independent study. • They have work routines which means that they meet deadlines and have an efficient method for organising their workflow. • They experiment with a range of strategies for revision, test themselves regularly, operate at the edge of their ability, and can successfully distinguish between those strategies that feel most comfortable and those that help them learn most effectively. • They continually seek feedback on their performance so that they can identify gaps in their knowledge and work relentlessly to close these gaps. • They have high levels of confidence in their ability and will ask for help if needed. • They believe that hard work will allow them to push through any challenges. • They monitor and control their feelings and behaviours. • They take advantage of opportunities beyond the curriculum. The five key areas for development are collectively called VESPA. This stands for: Vision Vision is about having a clear goal; it is about making the connection between the work you are doing and the reason for doing it. It is also about setting targets for improvement. Effort Performance on most academic tasks depends on effort; however, it is not just about working hard. It is about working efficiently. Systems Systems is about two things: (1) a system to organise learning so students can make sense of it all and (2) a system to organise time so that students can complete key tasks to deadline. Practice If effort is the ‘how much’ of study, practice is the ‘how’. Practice does not make perfect; deliberate practice makes perfect. Attitude Developing academic resilience and emotional control during this stage of a young person’s education is key to success.
07
