15 Things That Going To An All Girls School Taught Me

For the past 7 years of my life, I have been attending an all girls school. The first five years were spent as a greenie (a reference to our ugly green uniform) and these last two have been as a sixth former. Girls schools are somewhat different to mixed schools. This is prevalent in the lessons I’ve learnt at this school, here are my top 15:

1. Periods. This is one of the most obvious things that going to an all-girls school teaches you, the ability to properly learn how to cope and understand your body when it is menstruating. Also learning how to use them in order to get out of class.
2. The fact that even though the girls know boys outside of school, if a boy (Especially German exchange students) steps foot in the school, it is every girl for herself.
3. As an all-girls school, the senior leadership team seem to believe that because we are girls, all we should learn about is women in powerful and inspirational positions. Rather anyone who has done something good for society.
4. All young male teachers are considered to be attractive (even if they aren’t). You often hear the words “peng”, “piff” and “hot” being muttered under the girls breathes as they walk down the hall.
5. As girls, we do often act up to the stereotype that is thrust upon us, but that’s alright.
6. Pulling up your tights at all moments is perfectly fine, whether it is during assembly, in class or in the lunch queue, pulling up your skirt to access your tights is completely acceptable.
7. Comparing and complimenting underwear whilst getting changed for P.E is normal.
8. We talk about our anatomy in extreme detail, especially when discussing periods or boobs.
9. There are almost daily bitching sessions within friendship groups. It’s an important part of the proceedings in an all-girls school.
10. Learning to delve into both extremes, either turning up to school with gold glittery eyelids and a full face of makeup or arriving looking like an alien, bare faced to accompany a messy bun.
11. Between all of us, we’re prepared for a disaster, one girl has baby wipes, one has hand sanitizer, all of us own sanitary items and one girl has a litre of water hiding in her bag. Apocalypse defeated.
12. The teachers are prepared with make-up wipes and nail varnish remover, in order to remove the lower years make-up. Even if you have sensitive skin or allergies they are prepared.
13. Walking down the corridors you often hear the word “skirt” being shouted, telling all the year eleven’s to roll their skirt down.
14. The rule about wearing socks before the spring is a rule to be broken. They can’t restrain us from wearing socks earlier in the year and tights all throughout the year.
15. Being who you are is important and being around girls who are all like you, feeling comfortable enough within yourself to express yourself as who you really are is part of being at the school. It’s not frowned upon to like something that isn’t stereotypical, just like it isn’t frowned upon to enjoy and love makeup, pink and glitter. We have a space in the school and in our friendship groups for anyone and everyone.

My school has taught me so many great things over these past  7 years and these 15 are probably the most relevant and dearest to me. They have all affected me at one point in my life and I think they are important to share.