This International Women’s Day, the Freemen’s community came together to celebrate the remarkable women who first walked the grounds when the school moved to Ashtead 100 years ago, as well as the confident pupils and inspiring staff who make up the community today.

Celebrations began on Friday 6 March with a screening of Hidden Figures in the Senior School Library. The film tells the inspiring true story of mathematicians Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, whose work at NASA helped launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit despite the racial and gender discrimination they faced. Around 30 students attended, creating a thoughtful atmosphere as they reflected on a story highlighting resilience, intelligence and equality in STEM.

On Monday 9 March, students and staff showed their support by wearing purple accessories – a colour recognised internationally as a symbol of justice and dignity. One of the highlights of the day was a doughnut sale, where more than 140 doughnuts sold out in just five minutes, demonstrating the enthusiasm and generosity of the school community.

Both events raised money for Binti International, a charity working to tackle period poverty and support girls and women worldwide. The celebrations were organised by the school’s EDI Committee, and Willow in U5 also delivered assemblies across the school, sharing the importance of International Women’s Day with fellow pupils.

Willow said: “This year, I had the incredible opportunity to lead an assembly for International Women’s Day, speaking to students across all year groups from F1 to U6. My aim was to celebrate the achievements of women, raise awareness about gender equality, and encourage students to reflect on the everyday behaviours and attitudes that shape confidence, opportunity, and respect in our school community.”

During the assembly, we explored how language and expectations can differ depending on gender. For example, girls are often labelled “bossy”, “emotional” or “dramatic,” while boys in similar situations might be described as “stressed” or “passionate.” These small differences may seem insignificant on their own, but over time they can influence how people see themselves and whether they feel confident speaking up or taking the lead. Highlighting these moments was important because equality is not about one group losing so another can succeed – it is about creating an environment where respect, encouragement, and opportunity allow everyone to thrive.

We also explored this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain.” In a school environment, this can mean giving others space to share their ideas, giving credit where it is due, and offering support when someone feels uncertain. These small actions build a culture where everyone feels confident contributing their thoughts and perspectives. The assembly also highlighted examples of global progress, while acknowledging ongoing challenges, including unequal pay, barriers to leadership, and restrictions on education for girls in some parts of the world.

It was particularly important that the assembly reached students of all ages. For younger students, it was an opportunity to learn about inspiring role models and understand that their voices matter. For older students, it offered space to reflect on the expectations that can shape how ambitious, confident, or outspoken people feel they are allowed to be. Seeing students listen thoughtfully, ask questions, and engage with these ideas was incredibly rewarding.

International Women’s Day is more than a symbolic event – it is a reminder to stay aware, ask questions, and challenge assumptions. I hope that through this assembly, students were encouraged to think about the impact of their words and actions and to contribute to a school community where equality, respect, and opportunity are values that everyone actively supports.