It seems as if every article I read at the moment is highlighting the jobs which will have disappeared in ten years’ time, and the bleak employment landscape for current graduates, thanks to the onward march of AI. Indeed, when I meet parents, their most pressing recent concern seems to be whether their daughter will secure a job in the future.
One of our greatest strengths as a school is the careers provision we offer. Alongside this guidance, girls’ schools build the soft skills that so many employers complain are lacking amongst recent graduates. GDST research shows that girls educated in single-sex schools develop the skills, mindset, and confidence needed for long-term workplace success. Free from gender stereotypes and classroom dynamics that can limit participation, they learn early to take intellectual risks and lead with assurance. In these environments, girls speak up, debate ideas, and see female role models in every field, from science labs to leadership positions, reinforcing that ambition and authority are not traits to hide but to hone.
Studies by GDST indicate that alumnae from girls’ schools are more likely to pursue STEM careers, leadership roles, and positions of influence. This is not just academic success; it’s the cumulative effect of being encouraged to question, collaborate, and occasionally to fail gracefully.
Beyond academic achievement, GDST students report higher friendship satisfaction and self-belief, key predictors of workplace wellbeing. They leave school ready not only to excel individually but to elevate others — skilled in teamwork, negotiation, and empathy. In essence, girls’ schools do not just prepare young women to compete in the workplace; they prepare them to lead it.