Learning how to Learn Program

Start Up Program – Empowering Learners from Day One

At Bruthen Primary School, our Start Up Program sets the foundation for a successful and purposeful year of learning. Designed specifically for the beginning of the school year, this program supports students in understanding how they learn, why learning matters, and how they can take an active role in their own growth and achievement.

Learning How to Learn – The Gradual Release of Responsibility

Our teaching approach is grounded in the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) model, where students move from:

• Teacher-led instruction (I Do)
• To shared learning experiences (We Do)
• And eventually to independent application (You Do)

This model helps students become confident, self-directed learners who take increasing ownership of their learning journey.

Building Student Capabilities

Throughout the Start Up Program, we explicitly teach and develop key student capabilities that underpin lifelong success, including:

• Student Leadership – Students learn how to lead by example, work collaboratively, and contribute positively to their class and school.
• Resilience & Growth Mindset – Emphasis is placed on learning from mistakes, embracing challenges, and seeing effort as the path to mastery.
• Courage & Persistence – Students are supported to step outside their comfort zones and keep going when learning feels difficult.
• Self-awareness & Reflection – Learners regularly pause to reflect on their progress and identify ways to improve.

Fostering Student Agency

We believe that students thrive when they have clarity, purpose, and a voice in their learning. Our Start Up Program helps students:

• Understand what they are learning and why
• Know how to be successful
• Learn how to collect, monitor, and reflect on evidence of their learning

This empowers students to become active participants in their education, setting goals and tracking their own progress with confidence.

Encouraging Student Voice

Students are not just learners—they are partners in the learning process. In our classrooms:

• Students and teachers co-construct learning goals and plan together how learning will take place.
• Students have a voice in setting classroom and school expectations, creating a positive and inclusive learning culture.
• Feedback flows in all directions—students are encouraged to express their ideas, share insights, and help shape their learning environment.

Our Start Up Program lays the groundwork for a year of empowered, meaningful, and connected learning. It reflects our deep commitment to building not only strong academic skills, but also the personal qualities and mindset students need to flourish.

We welcome you to contact us or book a tour to see how our students start strong—and keep growing—at Bruthen Primary School.