International Women's Day

Routh Assembly today was given by Maanabi, Henrietta and Augustin - pupil Peer Mentors.

“Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.” This is a quote written by Maya Angelou, an American poet and civil rights activist, and it still remains true today.

In 1918, women in the UK won the right to vote in parliamentary elections—a crucial step in the fight for a proper democracy.

In 1974, women gained the legal right to open their own bank accounts without needing a man’s permission, giving them financial independence.

And in 2010, the Equality Act was passed, prohibiting sex discrimination at work in the UK—ensuring fairer treatment in workplaces across the country.

These milestones were not handed to us—they were fought for by women who refused to accept inequality. Their courage and determination paved the way for future generations, and it is now our responsibility to continue pushing forward.

And although the UK has made significant progress, many women around the world are still fighting for their most basic rights.

Globally, 130 million girls are still denied basic education simply because of their gender.

In 15 countries women don’t even have the same ownership rights as men.

We have the opportunity to speak up, while many don’t. Therefore, it is our responsibility to say this loud and clear: ‘Accelerate Action’, for without action, there is no change.

Additionally, this week, there will be posters of pictures and information about influential women around the school. Your challenge is to identify each woman from the poster and email your guesses to Miss Leech. The first to do all of them will win a prize next Monday. There are a total of six posters around the school, each in a different department that’s associated with the woman in the picture.

And lastly, there’s a tuck shop on Thursday during break in humanities, and lunch in the LRC. This is to raise money for ‘Girls Not Brides’, a charity organization aiming to end underage marriage across the world, so be sure to bring cash or card.


Some of you will have read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The story is set in 1930s Alabama during the Great Depression, and a black man is falsely accused of assaulting a white woman. Atticus Finch is the lawyer who has the job of defending the man, Tom Robinson, and he says to his children: You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view… Until you climb inside of their skin and walk around in it.”

That skin might belong to someone of a different race, religion, sexuality, gender and so on…but we never really understand how others, who might be different to us, feel until we try to see things from their perspective, to try to walk around in their skin.

I’ve said before that as a white, heterosexual, able bodied, Christian man, I’ve had an easier time of it than many…and because of that, I need to try to see things from the point of view of those who have had things less easy. All of us need to play our part ensuring that the community here, and in the world beyond, is inclusive, kind and fair – so that all have the same opportunities and the opportunity to be the best they can be.

And secondly, regardless of who we ourselves are, our background and the characteristics we have, we need to try to understand things from the perspective of others who are different to us. We need to climb inside their skin and walk around in it. Thank you Maanabi, Henrietta and Augustin.