On Wednesday 5 March, we marked International Women’s Day with a Senior School assembly, led by girls and boys about the roots and continuing importance of feminism.

As a co-educational school, we have a unique opportunity to use occasions like this – and as part of our Wellbeing and Personal Development curriculum - to support our pupils in understanding and respecting each other’s differences and strengths, enabling them to grow together into young adulthood as equals.

Our Senior School Pastoral Deputy Head, Ms Speirs, and some of our Sixth Form Front Bench talked to their fellow pupils about the injustices still faced by women around the world, including in the UK, and the role we all play in accelerating action, the theme of this year's International Women’s Day, to tackle it. Our school Poet Laureate Nymrah recited a piece written especially for the occasion. Lower Sixth student Aimee urged pupils to support a collection in school for Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid that she has organised as part of her studies and the school’s commitment to charitable giving. In a particularly powerful moment, Upper Sixth student, Afonso, addressed the boys and young men in the room to remind them that feminism must be just as important to them, as it is to their female classmates.

“It’s not just about women standing up for themselves,” he said. "It’s about all of us standing up for fairness, seeing women and men as equal. What you say, what you do, what you hear and what you choose to ignore is what will make the real difference. 

“As men, it starts with how we talk to and about women. It’s about making sure our words and actions reflect the men we actually want to be, not what our friends or others try to influence us to be. If every one of us makes that conscious change—standing up against sexism instead of staying silent—then society becomes a better place for everyone.”

Upper Fifth Sixth student Thomas also took to the stage to perform an incredible solo of I've Grown Accustomed to her Face from My Fair Lady.

On Friday, we encouraged the traditional wearing of purple for International Women’s Day by staff across both the Senior School and Preparatory School campuses; a visible reminder to pupils of Solihull School’s enduring commitment to encouraging equity and mutual respect.