Newsletter Brighton & Hove High School GDSt
Issue 14 January 2015
Dear Parents and Girls, We’re now well into the 21st century, but attitudes still persist that women’s brains are incapable of doing physics – and it’s not just old men who think this. In a recent survey of first-year female physics students at the University of Melbourne more than 50 per cent harboured perceptions about physics not being “for women”. “Women are generally not as good with numbers as men, so physics is more difficult to subject them to,” one student wrote. “Not to stereotype but women are generally not as good as men in physics hence they feel discouraged to continue,” another said. The survey also suggested that female students are reluctant to go on with physics because classes are male dominated and usually taught by male lecturers, tutors and laboratory demonstrators. The students also didn’t see that physics could lead to different careers such as banking and finance. Most students, says Jacinta den Besten who carried out the study, believe physics only opens up options in research and teaching. Such limited – and limiting – perceptions of physics and other STEM subjects are something we need to guard against, even in a school such as ours where STEM subjects are popular and are taught and championed by both male and female teachers who are excellently qualified and passionate about their subjects. I was, therefore, delighted to welcome into school this week Estelle Rowe, MBE who is an old girl of the school and who is the National Director of Headstart and First Edition for the Engineering Development Trust. She has been recognised nationally for the impact of her career in engineering education during which she has energetically tackled false perceptions of engineering and science. By her personal example and effort she has helped thousands of young people to view technical careers in a new light and helped companies to realise the importance of the development of the future workforce. Estelle spoke to girls from years 10, 11 and 12 who are interested in pursuing maths, science, engineering and technology subjects at university and encouraged them to look beyond the obvious STEM career paths. Having joined BHHS in 1969, Estelle left to study Engineering at Cambridge in 1976. I was stunned when she told me that, at that time, all girls applying to Cambridge had to sit an entrance exam whilst boys all got conditional offers. She also told me that when she was at school the PE staff every term awarded each girl a grade for ‘posture’! We may yet have some way to go in terms of changing attitudes to science but I’m grateful to Estelle for reminding me that we also have made huge strides over the past forty years in the education of women and girls. Have a good weekend. Jennifer Smith
dates
Mon 19th Y11 Futurewise interviews; continue; Momentum rehearsal (p4-5); Hullabaloo Community Choir, 6:30-9:45pm; Tues 20th Y11 Futurewise interviews; Oxbridge Conference (Eastbourne College), 2-4:30pm; Y11 Parents’ Eve, 4:30-7pm; Weds 21st Y11 Science ISA (all day); Y7 Music Scholarship interviews; PA Senior School Social (in 604), 7-9pm; Thurs 22nd Momentum rehearsal (all day); Momentum (The Old Market), 7pm; Fri 23rd Momentum (TOM) matinee, 2pm & eve performance, 7pm; Saturday 24th Y11 English controlled assessment catch up (Second Chance Saturday), 9am-12pm; Sunday 25th Hockey trip (Wembley, 9am8pm) Upcoming... Mon 26th Y9 GCSE interviews with SMT; 10G Guild Week; Sixth Form Scholarship exams/ interviews; Berlin trip meeting for parents of students, 5-5:30pm; Tues 27th Sixth Form Interviews Weds 28th Y7 Sports Scholarships and interviews; Y8 Parents’ Eve, 4:30pm; Thurs 29th Y11 GCSE Drama rehearsal (p4-5) and performance, 7pm; Fri 30th Y9 SMT interviews continue ;Y12 & Y13 Drama trip to Othello, London 2014-15 Issue 14: 1