On the 8th of March, 100 students, 20 staff and over 30 women from local businesses and institutions gathered at Derby’s Museum of Making to mark International Women’s Day. These businesses and institutions include Rolls-Royce, Alstom, JCB, Valliant, the British Army, Derbyshire Fire Service, Derby Theatre, Nottingham Trent University, University of Derby.
Students spent the morning talking to our external guests, hearing about all their different roles, experiences, and backgrounds. Giving them an invaluable insight into women who they wouldn’t get to talk to on an average day.
Students also listened to guest speakers Hannah Dines, Paralympian and presenter of Channel 4’s Tokyo Paralympics coverage, and Becky Daykin, a former Selston High School Student and now the coordinator for Deaf-initely Women which supports and brings together deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind women. Both speakers spoke passionately while the students listened with respect, before eagerly asking questions about how women can be supported in achieving equity.
After a networking lunch, students were treated to an exclusive tour of the Museum of Making, specially developed with a focus on how women have contributed to the local area and beyond.
Katrina Kerry, Headteacher of Manor Academy who attended the event said:
“Today was a real privilege both to attend our International Women’s Day as a senior member of staff and also to present the welcoming address to students, staff and the exceptional guests invited. A focus of not just Manor Academy but the whole Two Counties Trust is to empower our students to lead in the future. Today’s event was an incredibly positive step in the direction of creating the next generation of women in leadership.”
Alice Hills, English Teacher Selston High School
It has been a pleasure to see students being inspired and empowered today; having the opportunity to speak with successful women in a variety of fields has clearly opened their minds to the numerous possibilities they could choose to pursue after their secondary education ends. I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that they will come away from the event feeling more confident, that no door is closed to them upon the basis of sex, and that really, they can set their mind to anything as long as they are ambitious and motivated. It has been a brilliant day!
