St Mary’s girls celebrate Women’s History Month

Recognising the importance of Women’s History Month, 1-31 March, girls at St Mary’s Colchester have been celebrating women’s contributions to history, culture and society.

St Mary’s Lower School pupils as young as age 5, in Year 1 have been researching inspirational women. From the first African American First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama and the best-selling novelist of all time, Agatha Christie to Ana Carrasco, the first woman in history to win a World Championship in solo motorcycle road racing! Year 6 pupils studied Michelle Obama’s autobiography, ‘Becoming’ and considered strategies to continue to help build self-esteem in the school’s female community.

Girls in Years 7, 8 and 9 at St Mary’s Senior School also immersed themselves in projects on historical female figures as well as current prominent women. Year 7 have been focusing on a topic study about the daughter of Henry I, ‘Queen Matilda, the Queen who never was’, developing a new book about how she came close to becoming England’s first female king.

St Mary’s Principal, Mrs Hilary Vipond exclaimed: “We at St Mary’s strive to achieve the highest standard of education for girls, in a complex and changing world. We encourage our pupils to have a go at new challenges, and to look up to inspirational females throughout history, therefore our girls are not afraid to put themselves forward to be a leader. This focus, combined with the strong emphasis on historical education, provides a pathway for our students to experience a better future for women.”

For anyone wishing to visit St Mary’s Kindergarten, Lower School or Senior School, a series of Open Days are running in April and May by appointment only. Places can be reserved at www.stmaryscolchester.org.uk or by contacting the Registrar registrar@stmaryscolchester.org.uk