In a world where women’s rights and voices are facing erosion, it is crucial for us to prepare our girls not only with skills to enter a workplace for a job that may not even exist yet, but also with the confidence to be able to use their voices, and make themselves heard, in any environment. Education is the key to self-empowerment and success over time, and we are proud of our bespoke Futures programme, which puts innovation at the heart of curriculum development and opportunities for girls to broaden their experience, foster their self-belief and equip them with the requisite skills to be invaluable employees.

There have been worrying trends in unemployment rates for young people over recent years, and it is generally agreed that at today’s pace of change it will take over 130 years to close the economic gender gap, with girls and young women facing gender-based challenges to their career pathways. As an all-girls school we are able to provide a learning environment which focuses solely on how girls learn and their distinct experience as they grow up in a fast-paced digital age, without the added complexities of the opposite sex, but knowing that they are more than able to hold their own when working co-educationally through projects across their time at school. We have invested in our careers education and guidance, and continually review our offer to ensure that our girls are not hamstrung by gender stereotypes, instead focusing on developing future-proofed employability skills.

We have focused on training staff, as well as pupils, to understand key changes to AI and tech, and offer a plethora of opportunities to ensure our girls are ready for the ever-evolving world of work.

With this in mind, we launched our inaugural Futures Conference, a dynamic event designed to propel young women into the complexities of the modern workforce. The conference, for over 100 Year 12 students from across the UK, aimed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to not only navigate, but thrive in, an ever-changing world. With a wealth of speakers to rival any global conference, we are proud to have made an impact on the leaders of the future.

You can read more about the event here.

Our thanks to Felicity Oswald OBE, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, Cheryl Giovannoni, CEO of GDST, James Darley, Founder & CEO of Transform Society and Abi Stephens, a Sports Broadcaster & Leadership Performance Coach for their expertise and advice.