Challenging Girls, 2006

The Charity joined forces with the City Parochial Foundation to address the growing concern at the underachievement of white working-class girls in schools. Nationally they have low staying-on rates, and are less likely than others to continue in education and training. A project at Parliament Hill School tried out strategies to raise achievement. It showed that progress can be made with higher attendance levels, better behaviour, improved results and higher self-regard.

These findings were presented at Challenging Girls, a conference sponsored by the Charity and City Parochial Foundation in partnership with Camden LEA, in July 2006 at the Roundhouse. Christine Peters, the former head of Parliament Hill School, chaired the Conference and the keynote presentation was by Kate Myers, Emeritus Professor of Education at Keele University. Barnaby Shaw, Head of London Challenge at the DfES, explained the wider context. There was also a series of presentations by the girls themselves. Their direct involvement was an excellent way of presenting the change that had occurred in their view of education.