As Head of Northampton High Junior School, one of the highlights of my day is visiting the classrooms and seeing the bright eyes, confident smiles, and contagious energy of our girls. Their enthusiasm reminds me that we are not just educating them for today, we are preparing them to be the changemakers of tomorrow.
At Northampton High Junior School, we aim to ensure that every girl knows she matters, that her voice counts, and that she has the power to make a difference. This belief is at the heart of everything we do. As you enter our junior school reception, you are greeted by a 20-foot blue tree, proudly displaying one of our key values: “We believe in our girls. And they believe in themselves.” It is our privilege and responsibility to nurture that mindset in all that we do.
A changemaker is someone who takes initiative to make a positive difference in their community, whether large or small. The world our girls will step into is full of opportunities, but also challenges: Climate change, technology and AI, social justice, global connectivity, and mental health, to name just a few. We want to support our girls in becoming active listeners, open minded thinkers, positive influencers, self starters, and problem-solvers.
In a girls’ school, the stakes are especially high. Historically, women have been underrepresented in leadership, innovation, and change making roles. Our goal is to change that by equipping our girls with the skills, mindset, and confidence to step up, speak up, and lead. At a recent Junior Heads conference, I was reminded of the power of collaboration and the GDST approach to empowering all our girls.
What does this look like in practice?
- Embedding Character and Values
Character development. resilience, empathy, teamwork, and integrity is at the heart of school life. Research tells us that these qualities not only lead to improved well-being but also foster academic success and meaningful contributions. Through assemblies, classroom discussions, mentoring, and project work, we encourage girls to reflect: What kind of person do I want to be? How can I use my strengths to help others? - Real-World, Purpose-Driven Learning
We want our girls to see learning as a way to make a difference. Whether in science, computing, geography, forest school or other subjects. We consider projects that might involve tackling sustainability issues, designing an app, exploring local community challenges, or working collaboratively to find solutions. - Role Models and Mentoring
Seeing women who have led the way in innovation, leadership, and activism makes a lasting impact. As you walk around the junior school you will see female change makers and role models on display. Peer mentoring, including our “Big Bear, Little Bear” program between Year 5, 6 and Year 10, also fosters leadership and the girls see : I, too, can lead. - Voice, Agency, and Action
At Northampton High, the girls’ voices are heard. Through our School Council, they share ideas, suggestions, and concerns. The school council has been responsible for our new seating area in the library, the whole school sparkle party, they have had input on next term’s clubs provision and we have just taken delivery of new graphic novels as requested by the council. Next term, we will be setting the challenge of leading a school fundraising event. Our girls don’t wait for instruction—they act. That sense of agency is at the core of being a changemaker. - Reflection and Growth Mindset
Making change is never easy. It requires resilience, reflection, and learning from setbacks. We encourage our girls to view mistakes as opportunities for growth, to ask questions, and to be curious. In classrooms, we nurture healthy debates and reflection encouraging the girls to think What difference did I make? What will I try next? - Celebrating Each Girl as an Individual
We celebrate each girl’s unique strengths and values, encouraging them to be the best version of themselves. We encourage our girls to reflect on their personal achievements and qualities, gaining confidence in their authentic selves. In our weekly celebration assembly we come together to highlight and celebrate the achievements of our girls.
What You Can Do at Home
Parents and carers play an essential role in developing future changemakers. Here are a few ways to reinforce this mindset at home:
- Ask your daughter: “What problem do you care about?” and help her think of ways she might make a difference.
- Encourage her to try something new—even if it feels uncertain. Growth happens when we step outside our comfort zones.
- Celebrate effort, not just outcomes. When she tries, even if things don’t go perfectly, highlight the courage it took to try.
- Encourage reflection: “What did you learn?” or “If you tried again, what might you do differently?”
- Lead by example: Share how you or someone you know has made a difference in the world.
I believe wholeheartedly in the potential of our girls, and with the right support, opportunities, and mindset, they will be the future changemakers the world so desperately needs.
By Lucy Stawt
Head of Junior School