Our all-girl learning environment empowers students to speak up, aim high, and excel academically, according to one of our new Sixth Formers.
Akshaya N in Year 12 (pictured below), who joined STAHS last September from a mixed school, says male-dominated classrooms ‘made it very difficult as a woman to participate in class conversations’ – or even attract the teacher’s attention.
‘I felt resources [in lessons] were being pushed towards boys. Even outside of the classroom, boys took up a lot of the space on playgrounds and meant that me and my friends would be restricted to sitting at benches or walking the school hallways because there wouldn’t be room for us anywhere else.’
Akshaya feels there is plenty of room for her at STAHS, where the all-girls environment has empowered her to be ‘more outspoken’ in her views, while studying traditionally ‘male’ subjects like Politics and Economics. ‘I’ve felt more comfortable having a view that might differ from my classmates. I’m able to get my point across without being overly defensive. I also think I’m able to receive a lot more support and don’t have to necessarily prove myself in the same way that I would have to in my old school.’
And these haven’t been the only benefits of joining STAHS: Akshaya’s academic performance has also ‘significantly improved’, she says.
‘The teachers at STAHS really encourage contributions in lessons, and I’ve seen a change in my ability to understand a concept,’ she says. ‘I also think that my classmates’ incredible work ethic has enabled me to be ambitious in my pursuits rather than just settling with mediocrity. At STAHS, I’m constantly pushed to try and achieve the best possible outcomes, and this has positively impacted both my personal and academic life.’
She adds: ‘The support teachers give students surprised me quite a lot. In my old school, if I had a question during a lesson, there’d be a long waiting time until my teacher would acknowledge me, but at STAHS, all my teachers constantly prioritise ensuring I understand the topic before moving forward. As someone who has been to a mixed-sex school for all my life before coming to STAHS, it’s a massive change. However, if you really prioritise wanting to succeed academically, and receiving the best support possible, then I’d really encourage [you to come here].’
