Perseverance is demonstrated through sustained effort, determination, and the ability to keep going, even when things are difficult or take time to achieve. Learners show resilience, adaptability, and pride in improvement, not just success.

Team Perseverance (Group Goal)

Goal: I will stay committed to a team or club for at least 8 weeks, attending every practice and working on one personal skill I find hard (e.g., passing, spelling, focus).

Plan: I will set a weekly mini-goal, ask for feedback, and record progress.

Evidence: Attendance record, coach/teacher feedback, reflection on setbacks.

Showing Perseverance in School

Learning Challenge (Growth Mindset)

Goal: I will improve my accuracy in mental maths over 8 weeks.

Plan: I will practise my recall of times tables for 5 minutes every morning and check my progress each Friday using my learning log.

Evidence: Photos of practice, teacher quiz results, reflection on what helped when it felt difficult.

Creative Persistence (Problem-Solving)

Goal: I will complete a complex art, design, or building project (e.g., model, story, invention) that takes several sessions to finish.

Plan: I will sketch or plan first, record progress weekly, and write about one challenge and how I overcame it each time.

Evidence: Photos of each stage, reflection notes, peer or teacher comment.

Learning Recovery (Bounce Back)

Goal: I will keep a “Setback Journal” for 6 weeks to record when I find something hard and what I did to overcome it.

Plan: Each week, I will write about one moment I felt like giving up, what I tried instead, and how I felt after.

Evidence: Journal entries, teacher discussion, pupil reflection.

Community Commitment (Reliability)

Goal: I will stick with a community project or role for at least 8 weeks (e.g., litter picking, dog walking, helping a neighbour).

Plan: I will plan what days I’ll help and note what makes it hard to stay motivated.

Evidence: Photos, reflection, adult comment.

Mindset & Motivation (Positive Thinking)

Goal: I will practise a positive mindset each day for 6 weeks by writing one thing that went well or something I improved at.

Plan: I will complete a “Polly Perseverance” diary to celebrate effort over results.

Evidence: Diary entries, teacher/parent comment.

Showing Perseverance in Life Examples

Health & Fitness Goal (Self-Discipline)

Goal: I will build up to running 2km/cycling 5km/swimming 10 lengths without stopping.

Plan: I will train three times a week and record times/distances to show progress.

Evidence: Logbook, fitness tracker, adult witness statement.

Skill Building (New Talent)

Goal: I will learn a new skill (instrument, sport, cooking, coding, etc.) and practise it for at least 15 minutes three times a week for 8 weeks.

Plan: I will track progress using short video clips or journal notes.

Evidence: Before/after video, self-evaluation, parent/coach comment.

Resilience at Home (Personal Challenge)

Goal: I will keep working towards a personal goal that often frustrates me (e.g., keeping my room tidy, getting ready on time, managing homework).

Plan: I will track how many days I manage it, reflect when I slip, and think about what helped.

Evidence: Checklist, parent comment, reflection.