Inspiring confident, resilient leadership in every girl

The HER VOICE: Leadership for Life programme blends visibility of female role models from businesswomen and alumnae to current pupils with assemblies that applaud female achievement and lessons that build a sense of self. Inspiring and purposeful experiences are woven naturally through school life, with events such as the inaugural HER VOICE: Leadership for Girls event, a cornerstone of the school calendar. Bringing together over 50 girls from across the area, the one day event hosts five interactive, practical and reflective workshops to inspire a lifetime of leadership. In September 2025, the event successfully encouraged pupils to articulate their ideas and recognise the value of their perspectives as they explored communication, confidence, ethical decision-making and teamwork. 

International Women’s Day is also a key moment within the programme. Celebrated through a full day of workshops led by accomplished women from a wide range of fields, the event invites girls to think broadly about ambition, resilience and the many paths leadership can take. It reinforces the message that there is no single definition of success, while encouraging curiosity and open dialogue. In the week leading up to the event, departments across the school come together to explore themes such as the women’s rights movement, female empowerment and finding one’s voice, ensuring learning is both meaningful and connected.

Leadership at Queen Mary’s is also modelled through connection. Built on the belief that girls must “see it to be it”, the school’s monthly Twilight Talks bring leading businesswomen into school to share their stories with pupils and parents alike. These evenings are warm and conversational, offering honest insights into careers, challenges and choices, followed by thoughtful Q&A sessions. Girls learn that leadership journeys are rarely linear, and that perseverance, adaptability and self-belief matter just as much as talent.

Beyond these events, leadership is nurtured daily through opportunities to take responsibility, support others and contribute meaningfully to a close-knit community. In a school where everyone is known, girls feel safe to try, to fail and to try again. This sense of belonging underpins Queen Mary’s motto, “her best day, every day,” and reflects the school’s belief that happy girls grow into confident leaders.

The inaugural HER VOICE: Leadership for Girls event is a cornerstone of the school calendar (Image: QUEEN MARYS SCHOOL)

Queen Mary’s is proud of its small, family-feel environment, where ambition is encouraged without pressure and individuality is celebrated. Nestled within the 40-acre Baldersby Park estate between Ripon and Thirsk, academic excellence sits alongside emotional intelligence, creativity and wellbeing. Pupils benefit from small class sizes and improved academic outcomes of, on average, one grade per subject. The school’s rich co-curricular programme includes over 60 clubs, with debating, STEM, coding, horse riding, hockey, music, and dance among the most popular.

To discover how every girl at Queen Mary’s is supported to make each day her best day, families are warmly invited to attend Open Events on 6th March and 25th April, book a private visit, or speak with the friendly admissions team on 01845 575000 or admissions@queenmarys.org. To learn more, visit queenmarys.org/leadership.