As a nation we
struggle with women in high office. The Church of England is currently in turmoil over the ordination of women bishops, an issue I first highlighted two years ago, the European Commission is considering introducing quotas to tackle gender imbalances on company boards where only 10% of members are women, and our Parliament still struggles to achieve more equal representation of women MPs in Westminster, despite supportive pledges from party leaders.
So I congratulate brave Norfolk headteacher Tim Phillips who has appointed two head girls at Acle High School, breaking with the tradition of choosing both a head boy and head girl, as the two girls were the best candidates. Twenty-four of the school’s 56 prefects applied, 18 girls and six boys.
The Eastern Daily Press reports that in a selection process involving a written application and rigorous interviews by the head and two senior teaching colleagues, it was decided that Melissa Willrich and Alix Williamson should both be appointed head girls. To rub salt into the wounded pride of any male contenders, they will be supported by two deputies who are also girls, Melissa Busby and Gabriella George.
“The strongest by a long way were all girls so we chose two head girls and two deputy head girls,” said Tim Phillips.
I hope these girls continue to succeed achieving leadership roles later in life. With fewer boys motivated to apply to become school head, and girls here taking an exceptional lead, it is quite clear we have some exceptional future women leaders in Norfolk. When does it all become so difficult for women to achieve high office in the same way as their male counterparts?
I don’t understand why they have head girls or boys …. What do they do?? and yes I would say a very brave Headmaster indeed.
As long as they were chosen my merit and not by political correctness.
He should have stayed with the normal convention of one of each sex.
Are we really to believe that in his whole school not a single boy was up to the challenge ?
If so then I would suggest this isnt a very good headmaster or indeed school if it is allowing boys to be so unmotivated and lagging behind the girls.
Perhaps he should split the sexs and see what happens.
Any good teacher will tell you that trying to get boys to pay attention and use their brains is always more of a challenge than with the girls ( especially at this age ) but good teachers have ways and means.
Perhaps they need a whole new set of teachers.
Isee your point, but I’m somewhat worried about what this says to boys, given that some schools have had to start “men in school” projects to address the gender imbalance among staff.