16th March 2018 – Churston Ferrers Grammar School

Happy International Women’s Day 2018

On Thursday 8th May, Churston Ferrers Grammar School joined the ranks of women, and men, all over the world in #PressForProgress this year’s campaign for International Women’s Day. In a quest to promote gender parity and highlight possibility, students were invited to talks and workshops given by a number of successful and inspiring women. The message was clear: ‘we will press for progress and celebrate women’s achievements’.

Ex-student, now BBC Introducing presenter and freelance journalist Sarah Gosling gave a practical and frank talk discussing her career path, her feminist stance and how she has dealt with sexism in the workplace. Students left feeling empowered and increasingly confident in standing up for what they believe in and how to make the next steps in their career.

Award-winning, television commercial producer Sally Humphries enthralled year 8 explaining the importance of budgeting and technical accuracy when making a commercial recreating one of the most famous moments of WW1 – the Christmas truce – for supermarket chain Sainsbury’s. They were also given an insight into the making of ‘The Switch’, the 2016 world cup advert starring none other than Cristiano Ronaldo.

Finally, Churston was delighted to welcome Astro to Atlantic – the four female teammates from Kingsbridge and Salcombe Hockey club who are planning to row 3000 miles across the Atlantic to raise money for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust. The women spoke about their friendship and the hardships they will endure – rowing around the clock, two hours on and two hours off while facing sleep deprivation, 60ft waves, salt sores, exhaustion and seasickness in the hope of breaking the current female fours world record. In order to raise money for their endeavours, several staff and students pitted themselves against another ex-student, gold medallist, Giselle Ansley, in a 500m row sprint challenge.

It was an incredibly positive and uplifting day as students gained an understanding of their capabilities to bring change and that greater gender equality will have enormous benefits for everyone. It was even more poignant as we looked back 100 years at the achievements of the courageous suffragettes and suffragists; change can happen – we can make it happen.

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