Podcast Episode: 150 & Beyond
As we celebrate our 150th anniversary, Mrs Paul featured on the Education Corner Podcast, reflecting on the pioneering women who shaped South Hampstead’s ethos of female empowerment, and outlining our plans for the future.
“I have a lot to say about the role of female leaders in society. I’d start by celebrating the women who founded our school, those trailblazing Heads who were so courageous in setting up South Hampstead. They were incredibly brave in the way they foregrounded education for young women… This history of women standing up for women’s rights, and empowering themselves through education, has really continued throughout the school’s journey.”
Mrs Paul also highlighted how this long-standing commitment to equality has fostered a wider culture of compassion and community at South Hampstead High School.
“South Hampstead has a long history of supporting refugees who were victims of conflict during the Second World War; this goes right up to today in supporting Ukrainian refugees. We’re very proud of that legacy of women supporting each other, standing up for each other and I think it really feeds into school life in so many different ways. It permeates what we do.”
This philosophy is directly reflected in the work of present-day students. In the last year alone, two pupils spoke at the House of Lords about the benefits of an all-girls’ education, while the former Head Girl interviewed feminist writer Laura Bates on gender equality. “One of the things we’ve been reflecting on in our anniversary is how the core of the school has remained so true to its founding values.”
As part of the anniversary celebrations, South Hampstead has invested in the development of two new wellbeing initiatives, designed to place community at the heart of school life. The renovated rooftop will serve both as a communal and educational setting, with trees and an interactive screen for outdoor lessons. Alongside the renovated rooftop, the school has installed a new wellbeing space, providing students with a dedicated room for exercise, complete with a range of new equipment. The new spaces were developed collaboratively with students, demonstrating a commitment to empowering girls and ensuring their voices are heard.
“We consulted the girls about what they wanted in these projects… It’s a real testament to how we want to celebrate our anniversary through our girls’ voices.”
Anniversary festivities will culminate at the Royal Festival Hall in July. “We’ve commissioned a piece of music which we plan to launch at our finale event for our anniversary. We’re going to bring the whole school together… from our youngest students up to our oldest girls and their parents. It will be an incredible occasion.”
The school is also a part of the Girls’ Day School Trust, which provides girls with the opportunity to access an expansive network of support beyond the school walls.
“Being bound by the ethical principle of giving as many girls as possible the opportunity to access fabulous education is an incredibly important moral purpose. The GDST describes itself as a family of schools… that sense of being a family unifies the group. The GDST is there for the girls for life. If you join a GDST school, you join an incredibly large community of alumnae… The sort of opportunities that gives the girls is so incredibly powerful.”
“I believe so strongly that an all-girls’ education is the best possible preparation for adult life for women. What is incredible about an all-girls’ environment is it allows you to be free of gender stereotypes in all kinds of ways. They learn to use their voice with pride.”
This is reflected in the school’s Debate Hub and a new oracy qualification for Years 10 and 11, one of the only examples of its kind in the UK.
“It teaches girls that using their voice effectively and powerfully is something that will serve them beneficially throughout their entire lives.”
Careers education begins in reception, while the Academic 27 project sees the school working with a range of employers to really understand the skills they see as highly valuable, both now and for the future. After celebrating the best GCSE and A Level results in the school’s history, Mrs Paul plans to build upon this success, including developing a South Hampstead qualification in AI skills.
“It just feels like an amazing chapter in the school’s history and I’m really proud to lead the school at such a moment.”
Read the full article, featured in the autumn edition of Education Choices magazine, here.