Instagram story viewer> @gsauk> Posts

The Girls' Schools Association

@gsauk

1.7K

followers

387

following

The home of girls’ education since 1874. 180+ headteachers. 90,000 girls. One shared mission.

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Girls in the UK miss out on 280 million hours of sport every year. For the latest instalment of our Leading the Conversation series, Helen Jeys, President of the Girls' Schools Association and Head Mistress of Manchester High School for Girls, looks at what is keeping them off the pitch and why girls in GSA schools keep playing.

Many of the reasons come from girls themselves, from kit they don't feel comfortable in to periods that nobody talks about. What they lose goes well beyond fitness, as girls who play sport growing up are 30% more likely to believe they can handle a lot of pressure and 30% more likely to bounce back quickly after hard times.

Girls' schools show a different picture. GSA research finds that girls in GSA schools take part in 25% more curriculum sport, and the drop-off in time spent playing sport between the ages of 14 and 18 is limited to 25%, compared with 65% nationally. They are also nearly five times more likely to play cricket than girls in other types of schools. As Helen writes, "None of this is luck; it is by design." In a GSA school, every sporting opportunity is for girls, whether that's football or water polo.

Helen ends with two clear asks: at least two hours of PE a week for every girl, and equal access to sport wherever public money is spent. In her words: "Girls' schools show what is possible. Every girl deserves a level playing field."

Read more on our website. The link is in our bio. by @gsauk

21

2

10 days ago

There’s a long-standing assumption that girls are less likely to choose STEM subjects. The latest data tell a different story.

Recent analysis of Department for Education data shows that subject choice shifts significantly between school types. Compared to girls in co-educational settings, girls in girls’ schools are far more likely to choose STEM at A level.

Including:

💪 2.9x more likely to take Further Maths at A level
💪 2.2x more likely to take Physics
💪 2.1x more likely to take Computer Science

These differences matter. They shape the pathways girls go on to pursue, and ultimately who is represented in STEM careers.

At GSA schools, creating the conditions for girls to thrive in these subjects is central to what we do.

Read more over on our website. The link is in our bio.

📸 Bromley High School GDST and Badminton School by @gsauk

23

0

6 months ago

👧 The Girls' Schools Association is in its landmark 150th year.👧

🚀 Today, we’re thrilled to share the trailer for ‘Captains of Their Ships’ a commemorative short film that celebrates our community of girls, headteachers, alumni, and the collective power and purpose of girls' schools.

🎬 Created in collaboration with stellar filmmaker and founder of Empathy Studios, Ed Kirwan, the film collages personal stories with rich historical details to shine a light on our Association’s past, present, and future as the expert association of girls’ schools.

🔦 We can’t wait to share full film with our membership this Sunday night at the Everyman Cinema in Manchester, in an exclusive private screening as we launch into our Annual Conference for Heads: GSA at 150 | The Time is Now.

📺 The full film will be made available over the coming weeks on GSA’s website, so anyone is free to watch it!

#girlseducation #girlseducationmatters #allgirlsschool #education #educationmatters #educationiskey #educationforall by @gsauk

47

0

2 years ago

🏆 Woman of the Week 🏆

This week, we're celebrating Emily Mitchell, brass teacher at Queen's College, London, who has been appointed 2nd Trumpet with the Hallé Orchestra.

Founded in Manchester in 1858, the Hallé is one of the UK's leading symphony orchestras. Emily joins its trumpet section while continuing to teach at Queen's, bringing the experience of performing at the highest professional level back into her lessons.

Brass has traditionally been one of the most male-dominated sections of the orchestra, and women are still underrepresented in professional trumpet sections today. In a girls’ school, every seat in the brass section belongs to a girl, and Emily’s appointment shows pupils at Queen’s how far that seat can take them.

Congratulations, Emily 👏 by @gsauk

50

4

2 days ago

It’s been an exciting week of awards and girls’ schools swept the board at this year’s Independent Schools of the Year Awards.

Congratulations to all the GSA schools who won and were highly commended, our CEO Jeanette Cochrane relished celebrating with you at the ceremony in London, last night.

Winners
🏅 St Swithun’s School – Independent Girls’ School of the Year
🏅 City of London School for Girls – London Independent School of the Year
🏅 Old Vicarage School – Small Independent School of the Year
🏅 Berkhamsted School – Best Use of Education Technology
🏅 Jersey College for Girls – Diversity, Equality, Inclusion & Justice
🏅 Mayfield School – Student Wellbeing

Highly Commended
⭐ James Allen’s Girls’ School – Independent Girls’ School of the Year
⭐ Edgbaston High School for Girls – Best Use of Education Technology
⭐ St Teresa’s School, Effingham Sixth Form – Student Careers Programme

Seeing so many of our Member schools recognised across such a wide range of categories speaks volumes about the power and purpose of girls’ schools. Huge congratulations to our Heads, and the colleagues and school communities that stand behind every win and commendation. by @gsauk

24

3

3 days ago

Girls are speaking up, challenging outdated stereotypes and making their voices heard. But what role do girls’ schools have to play in today’s world?

We caught up with Helen Jeys, the new President of the Girls’ Schools Association @gsauk, to talk about why girls’ education matters more than ever, the tired old myths that need putting to bed and why giving girls the confidence to speak up is so important.

It’s a thought-provoking read that challenges assumptions and explores why the conversation around girls’ education is far from over 💬

🔗 Tap the link in bio to read the full article! Two children smiling and holding scientific goggles to their faces. The text on the image reads: "Is there a future for girls' schools education? New Girls’ School Association President Helen Jeys tells Muddy why girls’ education matters more than ever. by @gsauk

33

2

4 days ago

🏆 Woman of the Week 🏆

This week, we're celebrating Layla, a pupil at Wimbledon High School, GDST, who has been selected to represent Great Britain at an international artistic gymnastics competition in Germany this October.

At just 13 years old, Layla is one of only six gymnasts chosen from the elite athletes in the GB Development Squad. Earning a place is a remarkable achievement and reflects years of commitment and quiet determination in the gym.

On top of her demanding training schedule, Layla also attended a five-day British Gymnastics national squad camp this summer as she continues to develop at the highest level of her sport.

Her journey is a brilliant example of what girls can achieve when they're encouraged to aim high, and we'll be cheering her on from across the GSA community.

Good luck in Germany, Layla! 🤸‍♀️ by @gsauk

30

0

9 days ago

👋 A warm welcome to all our new followers! If you've recently joined us, here's a little more about who we are.

Since 1874, the Girls' Schools Association (GSA) has championed girls and young women through an education designed for them. Our Members are the Heads and leaders of girls' schools across the UK, who together educate and inspire over 90,000 students.

Our schools are wonderfully diverse, from independent to state and city to rural, yet they share one purpose, which you'll hear in the voices across this carousel.

Throughout the year, our events bring Members together to develop professionally and connect with a community that truly understands the rewards of leading a girls' school.

Research also sits at the heart of what we do. We commission and share evidence that shows the modern relevance and enduring power of a girls' education, so we can shape the national conversation with confidence.

Join us, find out more about the GSA and the unique benefits of our membership over on our website. The link is in our bio. by @gsauk

13

0

12 days ago

🏆 Woman of the Week 🏆

This week, we're celebrating Katy Parrot, alumna of Redmaids' High School and newly promoted Sergeant in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps.

An endurance athlete and dedicated military professional, Katy has spent the last decade as a Combat Medic, building a career defined by resilience and service.

In our ‘Captains of Their Ships' film created for our 150th anniversary, Katy reflects on how her confidence was shaped at a girls' school

As she said: “I think a lot of my confidence has come from the fact that at a girls' school there is nothing that is stereotypically for girls or boys, everything is open to everyone.”

That foundation runs through everything she does now, and through the example she sets for the women she leads and inspires.

That's the power of girls' schools, and the ripple effect of women like Katy on those coming up behind her.

Congratulations, Sergeant Parrot. We can't wait to see what you achieve next. 👏 by @gsauk

18

0

16 days ago

Across the months our CEO, Jeanette Cochrane, heads out to spend time in GSA Member schools, and this new series shares a little of what she discovers along the way. September took her to Walthamstow Hall, St George's Ascot, Haberdashers' Girls' School and St Mary's Gerrards Cross.

Reflecting on her experience, Jeanette said: "I love to spend time in our schools, discovering the remarkable stories that lie at their foundations. From schools created for the daughters of missionaries, to a girl's school that once educated a young Winston Churchill (whose report card is a humbling reminder that potential can flourish in unexpected ways), to seeing students embrace both state-of-the-art robotics and the simplicity of learning outdoors in forest schools, I am continually inspired by the diversity, creativity and ambition that define GSA schools."

Here's some particular moments that stayed with her from each visit…

📍 Walthamstow Hall
"It was powerful to see today’s girls leading school improvement, directing house drama and competing in sport at the very highest levels. A school with its history very much present, but with its girls firmly looking forward.

📍 St George's Ascot
"I was able to see five GSA schools competing together in a badminton tournament. It was great to see girls embracing a sport many of them might not otherwise have played, with real energy, competitiveness and camaraderie."

📍 Haberdashers' Girls' School
"What struck me was the way the school preserves the strengths of a girls-only education while making intelligent use of its shared site and partnership with the boys' school. One student, a leader in the Combined Cadet Force, spoke about leading both boys and girls – a brilliant example of girls not simply seeing themselves as female role models, but as leaders for everyone."

📍 St Mary's Gerrards Cross
"One small thing that stayed with me was the school's "Positivitree", where girls nominate one another for positive actions during the week and the Junior Head Girl team selects examples to celebrate in assembly. It was a lovely expression of girls noticing, encouraging and supporting one another." by @gsauk

14

0

18 days ago

Earlier this month, girls from our schools across the country headed to Loughborough University for our Girls Go Gold Masterclass, hosted by the GSA with Masterclass Sports Tours and Loughborough University

It was a day packed with experiences, including panel discussions giving insights into life as a student athlete and women’s sport on the world stage. Speakers included Olympians Jazmine Sawyers and Freya Colbert, who spoke openly about the confidence and resilience it takes to reach the top of their sport.

Then it was time to play the games. Girls tried their hand at netball, football, rugby, athletics, hockey, badminton and tennis with our CEO Jeanette Cochrane and Helen Jeys, Head of Manchester High School for Girls and President of the GSA 2026/27, cheering everyone on.

This popular annual event keeps growing and is a reminder of what girls schools do so well, encouraging girls to play sport, try a new game and give them the confidence to keep playing.

Find out more about our 2026/27 Student Events programme over on our website. by @gsauk

38

1

20 days ago

🏆 Woman of the Week 🏆

This week, we're celebrating Tessa Coates, alumna of Oxford High School, whose series 'Ride or Die', an action-adventure comedy she created and wrote, has just launched on Prime Video.

Her creative work spans multiple platforms. She's built a successful career in stand-up comedy, is part of the sketch group 'Massive Dad', and is co-creator of the award-winning podcast 'Nobody Panic', which she's also adapted into a book. Her work shows real creativity and a sharp eye for storytelling.

Girls' schools nurture exactly this kind of creative confidence: the belief that ideas matter, that taking risks is worthwhile, and that your work can inspire and reach others. Her career is proof of what's possible when you start from that foundation.

Brilliant work, Tessa. 🎬 by @gsauk

4

0

23 days ago