WRITTEN BY

The International School of Moscow

10 September, 2024

How to Build Confidence

Setting our Students up for Success

Research shows that confident students are more likely to succeed academically.

In fact, several science-backed studies cite self-confidence as the number one predictor of academic achievement. Researchers found that students with greater confidence were more willing to learn and challenge themselves. They were also more motivated, resilient, and capable of dealing with adversity.

At the International School of Moscow, our job is to build and nurture positive self-esteem in children. But what is confidence? And how does it affect academic performance?

What is confidence?

Confidence is about believing in yourself, your skills, and your ideas.

Confident people typically:

Have a strong sense of inner belief.

Feel secure in themselves.

Know they can handle anything that comes their way.

Are happy to take on a challenge, whether that’s an exam, performance, and competition.

Think ‘I can’ instead of ‘I can't’.

Confidence is also built on trust. Having confidence means you’re better prepared to deal with change and uncertainty; when difficult situations arise, you trust in yourself to cope with them.

It’s possible to be confident in some scenarios and not others. A child who loves sport may be confident in PE lessons but less confident when answering maths questions, or vice versa. Being self-confident doesn’t necessarily mean being ‘outgoing’, either – children who are quiet or shy can be confident, too.

Confidence is something you can learn

Confidence isn’t something a person is born with; it’s a skill to be mastered, an art to be perfected over years of learning.

However, many still think that confidence is a fixed characteristic – that if someone is low on confidence, it’s just not their strength. Yet, everybody absolutely can, and should, work on how to build confidence – and the benefits for students can be transformational.

The link between confidence and academic success in school

Studies show that confident children are much more likely to succeed academically. In fact, confidence has been quoted as the leading predictor of academic achievement. This is particularly true in core subjects such as English, maths, and science, where confidence has long-term, positive effects on success.

When children are confident and secure about who they are, they’re also more likely to have a ‘growth mindset’. This means they’re motivated to seek out new experiences and learning opportunities. They’re also more likely to ask for help when they need it.

How to build confidence in children: the ISM approach

We want every child to feel confident in their own abilities. We also want them to be comfortable with who they are as individuals. This way, they’re more likely to succeed, both academically and personally.

We strive to improve self-esteem in our children in two fundamental ways:

1. Creating an environment that brings out the best in every child

As a school, we work hard to create an environment where every child feels inspired to excel.

A thriving multicultural community

Our diverse community of students, families, teachers, and alumni make ISM a supportive, nurturing place to be. Every student is, for example, a member of one of four Houses. This provides a robust support system and competitive, confidence-boosting activities, as well as giving them the confidence to interact with different people.

A place to realise talents

We work tirelessly to ensure our students fulfil their potential. At every stage of their learning journey, each child receives the right balance of challenge and support, tailored to their needs and goals. This includes the opportunity to join our Most Able and Talented (MAT) Programme, which accelerates our most gifted students’ progress. The MAT Programme boosts their confidence in their abilities and prepares learners for whatever future they choose.

Wellbeing at the heart

Our educational approach is underpinned by a deep commitment to wellbeing. Our personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum, for instance, fosters the knowledge and self-belief our students need to thrive as individuals, family members, and part of society.

2. Offering an array of confidence building activities for students

Both lessons and our extra-curricular programmes are packed with experiences designed to build confidence in our children.

We want our students to seize new opportunities, too, and realise that anything is possible. And if something doesn’t work out, we always encourage them to persevere and try again.

Confidence building activities for students include:

Global, regional, and local expeditions, which expose our students to different cultures, people, and ideas. From Year 4, our children enjoy residential trips that build their confidence and independence, encourage teamwork, and take them out of their comfort zone.

More than 50 extra-curricular clubs, which enable our students to do what they love and discover new talents. These include our sports teams, which keep our children fit and healthy, and give them outstanding opportunities to build confidence.

Community service initiatives, which demonstrate the impact a person or people can have on others. From The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award to our Eco Committee, hands-on opportunities to effect change show our students they can achieve anything.

Public speaking opportunities, which develop our students’ communication skills and boost their self-belief. These include our Model United Nations club, where students learn the art of confident communication, argue cases with passion and belief, and discover more about the world around them.

The impact of increased student confidence

As self-esteem in children increases, they truly begin to realise their potential. They’re more focused in class, and complete coursework and exams to the best of their ability. They’re also less afraid of failing.

At ISM, confident students demonstrate:

An inherent belief that they have, or can acquire, the right skills to meet their goals.

A sense of control over their lives; they expect to be able to achieve what they set out to do.

Realistic expectations of themselves.

An understanding of their talents and how to best use them.

For more information on how to build confidence, please get in touch with us at admissions@internationalschool.ru.

Related news

load More news

News | School Updates | studentsuccess

A Level Results 2024 - Outstanding Achievement

The International School of Moscow celebrates outstanding A-Level results, with 58% of all grades either A* or A.

Blog

Childhood in the Outdoors

After a year of personal growth and academic success, we often think of the summer holidays as an opportunity for children to rest and recover. However, we must not underestimate the great opportunities for children to exercise their independence, develop a healthy lifestyle and push their learning even further, by exploring the wonders of nature.

Blog

Time management skills for students: Making the most of every opportunity

The day in a life of a student at the International School of Moscow (ISM) is filled with activities, which means that time is often precious. With so much going on each day – from lessons and coursework to extra-curricular clubs and social activities – we know how important it is to help our young people effectively manage their time.

News

The Moscow Mathematics Olympiad: A Display of Mathematical Excellence

The International School of Moscow (ISM) recently hosted a thrilling Mathematics Olympiad, showcasing the exceptional talents of young mathematicians from various schools. With two tiers of competition, lower and upper, the event brought together a total of seven schools, each vying for top honors.