Congratulations to our Deputy Head Academic, Mr Michael Smyth, for his inclusion in ‘Triumph Like a Girl: An Anthology for Hope’, published by the Girls’ School Association (GSA). Made up of selected letters from GSA Heads, colleagues in education and alumni, and students’ haiku and haibun poetry, the anthology celebrates 150 years of the GSA.

Michael’s entry examines attitudes to girls’ schooling from the Victorian era and includes information from Dr Elinor Cleghorn’s excellent book ‘Unwell Women’. The letter concludes by asking who or what the modern-day gatekeepers and barriers to true gender equality in education are, and how they might be dismantled. Readers will be pleased to know that two Smyth trademark elements are present... A questionable joke starts the letter. A reference to a certain St Mary’s phrase is included in the final sentence: “We should make no apology for empowering young women to be the best version of themselves, to win their own race and triumph, like a girl.”

The anthology also includes a contribution from former St Mary’s Head, Dr Helen Wright (2003-2012). If you would like to read any of the contents, we are delighted to hold a copy in the Library, or you can order your own directly from the GSA (Triumph Like a Girl An Anthology for Hope Orders).