The energy was palpable at Wimbledon High School on Friday 8 November as we opened our doors to the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) and over 200 delegates for the ICGS Educating Girls Symposium. The day provided a wonderful opportunity to hear insights from key figures in girls’ education and to network with girls’ school colleagues from a range of schools across the globe. It was a treat to have the reassuring presence of WHS sixth formers welcoming and introducing guests, and student reporters from Wycombe High documenting the day, alongside hearing the joyful sounds of Wimbledon High’s student Big Band.

Megan Murphy, Global Executive Directive, ICGS opened the day, emphasising that (just days after the US election) “now, more than ever, the young women we serve need to see their voices, their power, and their potential reflected in the work we do” and Wimbledon High School Head Fionnuala Kennedy said she “could not have hoped for a more timely occasion to come together and celebrate the excellence of our schools, the spirit cultivated within them of compassion and equity and playfulness, and the sense of grounded, authentic leadership I see all around me in my fellow GDST, GSA and ICGS Heads.”

The discussion kicked off with a Women in Finance panel with speakers from sponsors J M Finn. Chartered Wealth Managers Karen Lau, Anna Murdock and Louise Hall discussed different pathways into finance (they did not all study Finance or accounting as a first degree) myth-busting life in the City “it’s not about maths, its more about psychology” and setting boundaries and not building your own barriers with self-doubt. As Karen Lau remarked “I never walk into a room and think I’m the only woman in a room – I think I am an Investment Manager and this is my job…” They also touched upon the importance of skills over knowledge and praised more recent improvements in the school curriculum to include financial education (such as the Y8 Financial Literacy course at WHS).

In her powerful keynote Dorothy Byrne, President of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, shared profound insights from her journey as a young journalist to a trailblazing leader. She recalled how she once believed in the idea that women should strive to be “the same” as men, as if that was the path to equality. She reflected, however, “we were wrong – we are different.” Dorothy highlighted the unique strengths and perspectives that women bring, emphasising the role of girls’ schools and colleges, such as her own ‘women-led’ not ‘women-only’ college.

Dorothy’s message resonated deeply with delegates: the need to adapt, not to erase these differences, to embrace them and create a richer, more balanced society. As she acknowledged, progress may come with setbacks, but “there are steps backwards in the move forwards – do not be overwhelmed.”

The three breakout sessions over the course of the day gave delegates the opportunity to engage with a huge range of over 30 topics; from Intercultural Dialogue (Global Education Benchmark Group, USA) to Embedding Sustainability (City of London School for Girls, UK), Civil Discourse (Blackheath High School for Girls, UK), Creating inclusive science learning (Wimbledon High School, UK), Developing academic buoyancy (Ruyton Girls’ School, Melbourne, Australia) and Using AI to support literacy development (Nonsuch School for Girls, UK) amongst many others.

After a delicious lunch, keynote speaker Maggie Alphonsi, Rugby World Cup winner, broadcaster & columnist took us on an entertaining yet thought- provoking journey through her career, how she faced adversity and its importance in building resilience, thanking her teacher who encouraged her to take up rugby and encouraging all of the audience to ‘find their why’.

The day was rounded off with a keynote by Cheryl Giovannoni, Chief Executive, Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) and a timely unveiling of the GDST’s latest Insight report on Designing the Future of Girls’ Education. Referencing Kamala Harris and recent events in the US, Cheryl challenged us not to be despondent but instead to “agree not to hold up our hands but to roll up our sleeves”. It was an inspiring end to a fulfilling day.