Empowering girls as part of a positive school community
GFS offers fun, interactive and curriculum-linked sessions for girls in primary schools. Our work supports RSHE, wellbeing and wider personal development by helping girls build confidence, think critically and develop healthy relationships.
We know schools are already working hard to support pupils. Our sessions are designed to add value by creating a safe, girl-focused space where pupils can talk honestly, feel heard and explore the pressures they may be navigating.
Our schools work is currently available in London and Greater Manchester, with delivery in for schools in Liverpool coming soon.
What we offer
We work with girls in Years 4, 5 and 6, offering age-appropriate sessions around two key themes:
Gender stereotypes and critical thinking
Helping girls recognise stereotypes, question limiting messages and explore how wider influences can shape what they believe about themselves and others.
Healthy relationships and confidence
Supporting girls to understand friendships, boundaries, emotions and conflict, while building self-awareness, self-worth and confidence.
Our sessions can be delivered in a range of formats, depending on your school timetable and the needs of your pupils.
Introductory Assemblies
20 minutes
A short session to introduce key themes, raise awareness and start pupils thinking about topics such as stereotypes, friendship and positive relationships.
Core Concept Sessions
1-hour
An interactive session that gives girls time to explore a theme in more depth, share ideas, think critically and connect the topic to their own experiences.
Skills Builder Workshops
3.5 hours
A more in-depth workshop using discussion, creative activities and group work to help girls practise key skills, reflect on their strengths and build confidence.
Wherever possible, we will work flexibly with your school to find a format that fits your timetable.
Teachers tell us their session has a real impact, with 93% saying it helped girls understand what a stereotype is.
How our sessions support pupils
Our activities are designed to support girls’ social and emotional learning.
Sessions help girls reflect, connect and feel confident to explore the world around them by developing practical skills that can include:
- Critical thinking about wider influences
- Self-awareness and emotional literacy
- Confidence and self-worth
- Communicating needs and boundaries
- Empathy and managing conflict
- Making positive choices
- Building and maintaining healthy relationships
By the end of our sessions, girls should have greater awareness of the topic, practical tools to navigate everyday challenges, and more positive feelings about themselves and others.
Our preventative approach complements school safeguarding, wellbeing and RSHE work by supporting girls early, before common pressures and challenges become harder to manage.
Find out more about our approach here.
More than 90% of girls said they left with a clearer understanding of how stereotypes can influence their own lives and those of others.
“I will remember how I feel about myself. I feel confident.”
Why we work with girls
Girls can face particular pressures around confidence, friendships, appearance, stereotypes and expectations.
Working with girls in a dedicated space allows us to explore these issues in a way that is relevant, age-appropriate and meaningful to them.
A girl-focused setting gives pupils time to reflect on their experiences, strengths and relationships with their peers.
It can also help create a more open environment where girls feel able to speak honestly, take part fully and ask questions without judgement.
Where appropriate, we may also be able to share anonymised insights from sessions to help schools better understand the needs and experiences of girls in their community.
Bring GFS to your school
If you are based in London or Greater Manchester and would like to find out more about GFS sessions for your school, we would be happy to talk through what might work best for your pupils.
Contact us at: schools@gfs.org.uk
Teachers reported the main challenges girls face include friendships, confidence, self-image and teamwork.
