The Times Educational Supplement
February 2008

Gareth Davies

Mental toughness questionnaire aims to give teachers tools to boost achievement

Pupils in Wales could be tested on their mental toughness in a bid to help them shrug off bullying and improve results.

Wrexham-based research consultant AQR has developed a 48-question sheet which has already been piloted at Halewood College in Knowsley, near Liverpool.

Now AQR managing director Doug Strycharczyk plans to approach education minister Jane Hutt to see if it can be rolled out across Wales.

The questions are based around four themes: facing up to challenges; feeling in control; levels of confidence; and commitment.

The Knowsley pupils were shown statements such as: “I usually speak my mind when I have something to say,” and asked to mark them on a scale from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree”.

Mr Strycharczyk said that those who scored highly also did better in their cognitive ability tests at school. “There was a direct relationship between the two,” he said.

The same pupils were less likely to perceive themselves as being bullied than those who scored lower in the questionnaire.

The study revealed that teachers often perceived “mentally tough” girls as showing “negative behaviour”. Researchers said this may be because they were not conforming to stereotypical views of how young women should behave.

Teachers were then told about the outcomes so they could use the information to help improve confidence – and ultimately results – in the less mentally tough children.

The pupils will be monitored for further improvements when they take their GCSEs this summer.

Read more on this story in this week's TES Cymru, out Friday February 15