Pioneering mental toughness in education

In this fast-changing and increasingly complex world, Penrhos is proud to nurture positive rebels and change makers. We prepare girls with the confidence they need to stand up for themselves and for others - to collaborate and problem-solve, to innovate and drive positive change.

Research shows girls benefit from learning environments without traditional gender stereotypes, in which they develop the ‘mental toughness’ they need to achieve their personal best. Findings which are regularly released by the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia (AGSA) show girls feel more able to compete without social pressure from boys, to perform at higher levels in sport and physical education, and to become generally more confident and assertive. Girls-only education leads to higher academic achievement, greater diversity of subject choice and enhanced career progression. When education is tailored to their learning needs and preferences, there is no doubt that girls are empowered to reach their full potential.

Today’s young people are growing up through economic turbulence, pandemic and rapid technological advancement. The challenges they face are real, complex and thought-provoking. It’s not surprising our students want to learn to problem-solve in the context of impactful real-world projects – they want the skills they need to become effective critical thinkers, together with the mental toughness to calculate risks and act decisively.

The concept of ‘mental toughness’ is explained by psychometrics consultancy AQR International as a mindset that is closely related to character, resilience, grit and learned optimism; it strongly correlates with performance, wellbeing, positive behaviours, aspirations and employability. Like a growth mindset, mental toughness can be nurtured, learned and developed over time – at Penrhos, it’s integral to our learning environment.

Research shows that girls as young as six can already have their confidence eroded by stereotyping and social pressure. That’s why we encourage girls to start their learning journey with us as early as possible. Through stimulating wonder and fascination, our students are encouraged to explore their interests, find their strengths, grow their character and engineer their futures from the start.

We offer girls early insights into the accessibility of further study and careers across the whole spectrum, including in those STEM areas which might be typically dominated by males. In the later years, our girls can participate in our annual Girls in Engineering Outreach Program with the University of Western Australia and Rio Tinto (whose Chief Executive, Australia, Kellie Parker is a member of our Penrhos College alumni). The Program’s mine site visits include mentor talks from female mining and mechatronics engineers, facilities managers, drill and blast operators, emergency services staff and environmental advisors – all help to illustrate the opportunity for girls to think beyond conventional career stereotyping in their further study and career choices.

It is widely evidenced that jobs in STEM areas are growing significantly faster than in other areas, they are also typically highly skilled and highly paid. Yet, women remain underrepresented in WA, in Australia and across the globe. Making sure our girls have equal encouragement and opportunity to pursue the careers of their choosing - free from stereotyping, social pressure and (often unconscious) bias - will become increasingly imperative for our future economy.

In June 2021, AQR International delved deeper into gender differences in education – overall, their analysis indicated girls attending single-sex schools achieved higher mental toughness scores than girls attending co-educational schools, particularly in emotional control and confidence. Students at girls’ schools demonstrated greater commitment, higher interpersonal confidence, a more positive self-image and increased confidence in their own abilities. Research also showed they were more likely to be involved in volunteering and community activities, to take a political interest and to be actively supportive of environmental and societal improvements.

In nurturing, growing, stimulating and inspiring our students to be the very best they can be, we constantly seek new ways to inject and grow mental toughness. Beyond our academic experience, there can be little doubt that the importance and value of mental strength extends into almost every part of life – across mind, heart, body and spirit.

It is widely recognised that students who play competitive sports develop confidence, character, leadership, commitment and self-respect - they become skilled at setting goals and managing their time. Out on the playing field - regardless of experience or performance level – our students routinely stretch beyond their comfort zones and challenge themselves (both physically and mentally) in pursuit of continuous improvement. On this basis, together with area specialists, we recently developed and launched our unique new Athletic Development Program, in which participants explore the holistic development of the athlete and the importance of character and sportsmanship, positive mental attitude, pride and passion in training for success.

As we look to a future filled with uncertainty, students with good levels of mental toughness will be better equipped and more effective in dealing with challenge, opportunity, stress and pressure – importantly, they are also less likely to be anxious or depressed. ‘Developing young people’s mental toughness’, concludes AQR’s 2021 report, ‘is an investment towards creating a more resilient future society that is capable of managing new challenges with a positive outlook’.

Find out more by booking a personal tour at penrhos.wa.edu.au/tours  

Kalea Haran

Principal of Penrhos College