Our Head of Pre-Prep talks to the Pre-Prep children about inspirational women role models.
Westbourne House Prep School opened in 1907 as a boarding school for boys. Thirty years ago, our Pre-Prep was built and opened, and along came 70 new pupils. This was a definitive moment because girls were welcomed to join too.
By 1992, as these first girls reached the top of the Pre-Prep, parents wanted all their children – sons and daughters - to be given the chance to work their way up through the whole school. This encouraged the school to become fully coeducational, a decision, which I feel, is important to celebrate. In my opinion, girls benefit from learning alongside boys and boys benefit from working alongside girls.
During an assembly this term I brought this fact to our children’s minds and we spoke as a school together about the joys of us all working together and the achievements of both men and women.
As it was International Women’s Day, I focused my attention on encouraging the children to find inspiration and courage from women role models. Together we celebrated their achievements.
I told them about Maya Gabeira, who is probably the world’s most fearless female surfer. She is one of the only women who takes on the biggest waves at famous spots around the world. She says, “I’ve always concentrated on people that were being positive and supportive rather than negative.” With this attitude, and by tirelessly working at building her skills, she is at the top of the surfing game.
I also talked about Florence Nightingale, who of course is so much more than a lady with a lamp. As a child she was interested in sciences and maths and she naturally loved recording and organising information. As she grew up into a young adult, she fought hard for her independence and became a nurse. Her contribution and far-sightedness reformed nursing and influenced the nature of modern healthcare.
If you would like to read about other inspiring women with your boys and girls, International Women’s Day put together a few stories about women who have pushed themselves, faced challenges, been truly courageous and have achieved amazing things along the way. We also love the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls book, which has inspired our very own Westbourne House Book of Inspiring Women. Entries have been collected from students across the school and will be compiled into an eBook during the Summer term.
