Girls' school celebrates 120 years

9:15am Wednesday 21st May 2008

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One of the country's first girls' secondary schools has celebrated its 120th anniversary with a speech and prize-giving day.

Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School, in High Street, Barnet, was founded in May 1888, 40 years before British women got the vote and in an era when education for women was generally frowned upon.

Headteacher Kate Webster used the speech day on Friday to inspire her pupils to continue to break down gender barriers, invoking Queen Elizabeth I, from whom the school takes its name, as an "ideal role model".

She said: "It is 450 years since Queen Elizabeth first became queen. She was very much a woman in a man's world and had to prove herself to be very strong to keep her place on the throne. She is therefore an ideal role model for a girls' school.

"It is also 90 years since women first got the vote. It wasn't a full victory, as only women who were married or over 30 could vote for the first ten years. Presumably the men in Parliament thought that married women would be able to be told who to vote for by their husbands."

Ms Webster warned pupils not to take equality for granted and added: "Today we have equality legislation, although that equality may not yet be as perfect as we would wish. Although there are as many women as men in the workforce, on average we are less well paid and less likely to be in the top jobs.

"However today no-one can tell you that you can't do something because you are a woman. Be confident that you can and will be the best you can be, both now and in your future lives."

REBECCA LOWE