I always love Open Morning. Not only is it a chance to really showcase all that is wonderful about BGS but it also offers me the opportunity to talk to new families and current parents. The students are always incredible ambassadors for the school and it always reminds me of the power of a girls-only education. 

Parents often, quite rightly, ask if an all-girls’  education is still needed in today’s world and my answer is quite simply, yes. I would say in a world full of uncertainty, social anxiety, extremist views and political unrest, a girls-only education may be more relevant than ever.

As school leaders we know that girls do better in a single sex setting; we can see the inner core of confidence, resilience and the sense of voice that grows in students every day here at BGS. We can see it from the university courses they go on to study, the career paths they take and changes they lead. But research strongly backs up what we see, and it is stark. The world is still not a level playing field and students in all girls’ schools will outperform their counterparts in co-ed environments.

Girls in single-sex schools develop higher levels of mental control and confidence when compared to their contemporaries in co-ed settings. There is evidence to show that in co-ed environments girls don’t want to stand out; so they are likely to adjust their goals downwards; the opposite is true when girls are alongside other high achieving girls, they are more likely to set higher ambitions and goals (GSA).   

Research by the Department of Education and the Girls’ School Association (GSA) found single-sex girls schools out-perform students in co-ed schools at both GCSE and in the Sixth Form; in single-sex girls are twice as likely to study Physics or Further Maths in Sixth Form and 70% more likely to take Chemistry and Computer Science. 

Young women entering the workplace are still confronted by a gender imbalance; let’s consider the tech sector, one of the world’s fastest growing areas – research by the World Economic Forum in 2020 reports that women account for only 22% of the global tech workforce. We must not put further obstacles in their way. In the girls-only environment at BGS, our students don’t see barriers to the career they want to build, they are not subjected to unconscious gender bias; they can aspire to be whatever they want to be . 

As teachers and pastoral leads in an all girls’ environment, we understand the neurological differences in the way that male and female brains develop and how this impacts learning and development. We can build an environment where we know how girls learn best, and employ strategies inside and outside of the classroom which solely benefit girls. From the length of lessons to the co-curricular programmes we offer, everything we do is tailored to ensure girls thrive. We can build opportunities for them to develop respectful friendships with boys, so that they understand and respect differences of opinion and approaches – but at BGS their views are never undermined and their needs are always prioritised. 

As I walked around the school on Open Morning, I was proud to see the girls-only difference in spades; from our wonderful Sixth Formers, supporting teachers in the classroom and chatting to new families; to our sportswomen playing hockey on the sports pitches or singing in the Dining Hall; and our confident young Year 7 students excitedly explaining why they love their school as they toured prospective families. 

Our students are stepping into a complex world and we’re giving them a head start. We’re future-proofing them to seize every opportunity, overcome challenges with confidence, and remain true to themselves.