Failing forward means having the courage to take risks in learning, viewing setbacks as opportunities and developing the determination to persist through difficulties. It’s about nurturing a growth mindset, where students see their abilities as flexible and evolving, rather than fixed. When students fail forward, they build resilience, self-belief and the willingness to push beyond their comfort zones.

At Living Faith, Project-Based Learning (PBL) brings this value to life, allowing students to experiment, reflect and refine their ideas. By engaging in open-ended challenges, students develop problem-solving skills and learn that failure is not the end - it’s part of the journey to success. As a worksheet-free school, we ensure students are not confined to right-or-wrong answers but are instead encouraged to think critically, test their ideas and grow through experience.

Fostering Resilience and Growth

Our school environment is built on neuroscience research and child psychology, ensuring students develop the emotional and cognitive tools needed to persevere.

Growth Mindset Week 

Every year begins with an entire week dedicated to developing resilience and a growth mindset. Students engage in activities that challenge their thinking, encourage problem-solving and teach them that effort leads to success.

The Power of Yet 

We embed growth mindset language throughout the curriculum, reinforcing that learning is a process. Students are encouraged to say, ‘I can’t do this… yet,’ fostering a belief that they are capable of growth with time and effort.

Mindset Maths 

Our mathematics program ensures students see learning as a journey. Rather than focusing on speed or immediate accuracy, students develop deep conceptual understanding through perseverance and exploration.

Bouncing Back 

Students are explicitly taught strategies to cope with setbacks, fostering confidence and self-regulation. By normalising mistakes, we empower students to embrace challenges with optimism and determination.

The Resilience Project 

As our pastoral care framework, this program teaches students gratitude, empathy and mindfulness, equipping them with emotional resilience to navigate life’s ups and downs. 

Restorative Practice 

As a restorative practice school, we focus on repairing relationships rather than punitive measures. When conflicts arise, students engage in conversations that rebuild connections, develop accountability and create meaningful resolutions. This approach fosters emotional intelligence and helps students develop essential life skills.

Empowering Students to Embrace Challenges

Failing forward is not about failure - it’s about progress, courage and continuous improvement. By embedding resilience, growth mindset principles and restorative practices into our daily experiences, we create a learning environment where students feel safe to take risks and push their limits.

We encourage students to fail forward, try again and keep growing. Through every challenge, misstep and breakthrough, they develop the perseverance and adaptability to thrive in an ever-changing world. We look forward to seeing our students embrace every opportunity with resilience, grit and gumption.

Bianca Ravi
Director of Learning