Ashville pupils come together to mark global movement event promoting ‘girl power’
Published on isbi School News dated Monday 20th of October 2025
Hundreds of pupils at a co-educational Harrogate school have come together with others across the globe to celebrate International Day of the Girl.
Ashville marked the event – initiated by the United Nations – by creating a video and a special assembly recognising the power of girls, and amplifying their voices, actions and leadership in today’s world.
Exploring the movement’s 2025 theme “The girl I am, the change I lead”, pupils examined how schools, families and communities can work together to nurture girls as confident, courageous leaders of the future.
Head of Ashville College, Rhiannon Wilkinson, said: “International Day of the Girl gave us the opportunity to celebrate not just the girls they are now, but the girls who they are becoming – and the women that they will become in the future.
“It is our privilege to walk alongside them, and it is our responsibility to raise the bar, and to remind them, every single day, that they have the power to change the world.”
At Ashville, equipping girls with not only the skills and opportunities to succeed but also the tools to shape the world which they inherit, starts at an early age.
At Ashville Prep School, for boys and girls aged 2 – 11, staff are deepening a culture of leadership for every pupil, with a particular emphasis on empowering girls. Staff have undertaken ‘Girls on Board’ training which supports pupils in making sense of friendships and builds the confidence that underpins effective leadership.
The school is also welcoming inspirational women from across its community, including staff, parents, alumnae and guest speakers, to share their stories and demonstrate that leadership comes in many forms. Within the Prep Leadership Team, a book club is sparking thoughtful conversations with insights that inform leadership opportunities for all pupils. The Prep School is also looking closely at expanding its co-curricular offering, giving girls even more opportunities to explore their interests, discover new passions, and step into leadership beyond the classroom.
“Whether that’s through sport, music, caring for our community or taking on new challenges, we are shaping girls who will not just navigate the world as it is, but will lead it into what it could be,” said Head of Ashville Prep School, Abigail Hiley.
“I see our girls as our future scientists, artists, engineers, innovators and leaders, and we have a responsibility to nurture in them the confidence, resilience and self-belief they need to thrive.
“I want them to leave us not only with strong foundations for the next stage of their education, but with the courage to speak up, to lead and to change the world around them.
“Above all, I want every one of our pupils at Ashville Prep to know that they are capable of more than they’ve ever dreamed. With self-belief, courage and opportunity, there is no limit to what they can achieve.”
She added: “The need for that belief and opportunity has never been clearer.
“Women now make up nearly half of the UK workforce, and around 40% of FTSE 100 board members are female, which is more than double what it was a decade ago.
“Yet, only about 10% of FTSE 100 CEOs are women. The gap is narrowing, but progress remains uneven, reminding us how important it is to proactively prepare our girls for the leadership roles they deserve in the future.”
