The Global Action Research Collaborative on Girls’ Education

For two years, the GDST has been part of the Global Action Research Collaborative programme, which builds both a network of girls’ school educators from around the world and a library of valuable and relevant research on girls’ education. A leadership development opportunity, research fellows write up and present their findings on a global stage, engaging with like-minded and passionate educators from schools and countries all over the world.

For the past two years they have presented their findings at the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools Annual Conference — most recently in June 2024. Our 2024 fellows variously presented in Baltimore around the theme of collaboration. Topics they considered included: ‘How can we as educators create environments and opportunities for girls to tap into their natural collaborative talents, while also developing the resilience to take the risks required to succeed?’ and ‘How do we support girls to develop comfort with risk-taking and embrace the courage to creatively engage with the group to achieve a common goal where all voices are included in the solution?’

Hear from our 2024 GDST research fellows

One of the 2024 fellows, Rebecca Musson – from Norwich High School, GDST –  reflected on her time as a member of the programme:

“My reasons for applying to be a GARC Fellow were many. By auditing and investigating student perception of PSHE and its impact in June 2023 I identified an area where we needed to make some evidence-based improvements. An impending ISI inspection and the spotlight on personal development were additional considerations. As an experienced pastoral leader, I was also very aware of post-pandemic challenges for our students and keen to enhance their ability to form positive relationships. I was also concerned about the support needed for girls in particular to successfully navigate the fast-moving online world of social media. Finally, I am a keen reader, enthusiastic researcher and lover of learning so the opportunity for upskilling and working with other like-minded educationalists and research specialists was too good to miss! Being a GARC Fellow has not only taught me how to be a confident action researcher but I have gained international colleagues and friends to extend my professional network and help me to share the ground breaking work we do as the GDST and celebrate the world class education received by our girls.”

GARC fellows from around the world

Our 2025 fellows were also conference delegates as their conference programme was supplemented by sessions on research skills and honing their action research plans around the theme of Creating a culture of empowerment and engagement by positioning girls as agents of their own learning.  One of our 2025 fellows, Teifi Gale from Kensington Prep GDST who is due to present her research at next year’s conference in Philadelphia, identifies what she has gained from her participation in the programme so far:

“Having embarked on the GARC program in January 2024, the main thing I have gained so far is confidence. It was quite a step outside my comfort zone to apply for a programme with such exacting standards and a demanding schedule, but I have already seen how doable it is alongside my normal teaching responsibilities. It is an incredibly well-structured programme, allowing fellows to fit their reading and research around their day-to-day responsibilities.

Meeting other GARC fellows from around the world in Baltimore was even more inspiring and empowering than I had hoped it would be. It was fascinating hearing how girls’ education is unfolding in other countries, and discovering similarities in terms of the challenges we face and the aspirations we have for the girls in our care. Finding a community of passionate, like-minded people has given me renewed energy and boosted my confidence in what I am doing in my setting to promote happy, healthy, curious and creative minds.”

The GDST Difference

The Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) is the UK’s leading family of 25 girls’ schools including 23 independent schools and two academies. In March 2023, the GDST published ‘The GDST Difference’  – a booklet compiling our own research, and analysis of the findings, setting out to break down why GDST schools and all-girl learning environments can offer the best start in life for young women.

Discover more about The GDST Difference