Last Friday, our Assistant Head of Co-curricular, Elizabeth Rodgers, and Head of Infant and Juniors, Emily Green, took to the stage at a summit hosted by the International Coalition of Girls Schools, at South Hampstead High School GDST to share the journey and impact of our all-through character education programme, Girls of Steel.
Launched in 2021, Girls of Steel is designed to embed character development at the heart of every pupil’s school experience – from Year 1 to Sixth Form. During their session, Elizabeth and Emily explained how the programme has been carefully tailored to meet the needs of different age groups, from the scrapbook-style challenges in the Junior School, to the structured mentoring and leadership opportunities for older pupils in the Senior School.
Grounded in our school values of courage, positivity and kindness, the programme gives every girl the chance to explore new skills and develop confidence, creativity, teamwork and self-belief, the qualities that will equip them for life beyond school. Girls log progress through personal portfolios, supported by dedicated tutor time, peer mentoring and co-curricular challenges that encourage them to step out of their comfort zone, embrace mistakes, and feel proud of their unique passions, goals and achievements..
As part of the presentation, our experienced school leaders highlighted how Girls of Steel has not only strengthened individual character and wellbeing but has also nurtured a strong sense of community across the school. Student voice and feedback play a vital role, and the impact is evidenced not just in the comments and reflections of pupils, but also in the confidence they demonstrate as ambassadors, leaders and role models.
The session resonated strongly with symposium attendees, many of whom were keen to learn how Sheffield Girls’ has integrated character education as such a visible, measurable and valued part of the curriculum.
Speaker Liz Rodgers reflected: “It was a pleasure to present our Girls of Steel journey at the ICGS Summit and connect with colleagues who are equally passionate about character education. Events like this are invaluable for sharing ideas and best practice, and for reinforcing the importance of a truly holistic approach to co-curricular provision. At Sheffield Girls’, we believe character development should be a thread running through everything we do, not just an add-on. Seeing how this resonates with others in the sector is both affirming and inspiring as we continue to evolve our programme for the benefit of every girl in our school community.”
As we continue to develop our Girls of Steel, we look forward to introducing even more opportunities for our pupils to grow as resilient, compassionate, and courageous young women, ready to make their mark on the world.
