Greenwich Public School Learner Characteristics
At Greenwich Public School, we know that how children learn is just as important as what they learn. To support every student’s growth, we focus on six learner characteristics that empower our students to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
Our six school learner characteristics are:
- Resilient – learning to persevere, bounce back from challenges, and keep going when things are tough.
- Collaborative – working respectfully with others, valuing teamwork, and learning from different perspectives.
- Creative – exploring ideas in imaginative ways, thinking outside the box, and finding innovative solutions.
- Critical Thinker – analysing, questioning, and making thoughtful decisions.
- Inquisitive – showing curiosity, asking questions, and seeking to understand the world more deeply.
- Challenged – pushing themselves to go further, take risks, and grow through new and sometimes difficult learning opportunities.
These characteristics are embedded in daily learning across all key learning areas. They complement our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) values of Respect, Responsibility, and Success, helping students become confident, capable, and caring learners.
Together, our values and learner characteristics ensure that every child at Greenwich Public School feels valued, supported, and provided with the environment they need to thrive — academically, socially, and personally.
Our six GPS learner characteristics were developed in consultation with students, teachers, parents and carers. They outline the attributes we believe our students require to be effective learners. Each classroom has the learner characteristic posters displayed. Students are given opportunities to become successful learners in a safe learning environment.
Greenwich Public School’s Learner Characteristics
Resilient
Resilient learners persist when learning becomes challenging. When faced with challenges, resilience helps children to thrive and overcome setbacks. Students are encouraged to develop a growth mindset. Embracing ‘the power of yet’ and understanding that learning is a journey where progress may take time is crucial. Students are reminded that if they haven't mastered something yet, they have the potential to do so with effort and perseverance.
Resilience is demonstrated by showing continued effort, stamina, and energy to persevere and work hard towards a vision or goal. The skills gained from being resilient include rational thinking, accepting and facing challenges, embracing change, having perspective, learning from mistakes, moving on, acknowledging truth, taking responsibility, and being determined.
Collaborative
Collaborative learners work well as part of a team, contribute to completing the task, and know that all team members play a role in getting the job done. When working collaboratively, students develop skills such as listening, talking, cooperating, sharing, delegating, problem-solving, questioning, negotiating, and developing respect, balance, social cues, and teamwork.
Creative
Creative students think ‘outside the box’, try to be original and innovative with their approach to learning tasks, and think imaginatively to find solutions to problems. They think deeply about topics and may require more ‘thinking time’ to provide creative responses. Creative learners dare to be different.
Critical Thinker
Students who think critically, analyse, brainstorm, think laterally, interpret, and problem solve. Critical thinkers approach problems and information with curiosity. They ask questions, clarify and process ideas and information, imagine possibilities, connect ideas, consider alternatives, seek solutions, put ideas into action, evaluate outcomes and think about thinking!
Inquisitive
At our school, we encourage students to pose questions, connect their learning to the real world, and wonder. Inquisitive students explore avenues that they are eager to know or learn about, and this enables them to continually grow and enhance skills such as independence, imagination, love of learning, and investigation.
Challenged
Dynamic learners challenge themselves because they know there is always more to learn. Whilst often accompanied by feelings of uncertainty and discomfort at the beginning of the process, students are encouraged to accept and attempt challenging learning opportunities set by teachers, as well as seek out their own.
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