Norwich High School for Girls recently celebrated its 150th anniversary with a special fundraising dinner held at the historic Assembly House, Norwich. The event, hosted by Head Alison Sefton, brought together alumnae, parents, staff and friends of the school to commemorate this significant milestone and raise funds for the school’s 150 Bursary Fund appeal.

The evening was a powerful reminder of the school’s enduring values and its commitment to supporting the next generation of girls. In her opening address, Alison Sefton emphasised the importance of ensuring that a Norwich High education remains accessible to all, highlighting the fact that many bright and driven girls are unable to attend the school due to financial constraints.

Alison opened the evening by describing the founding of the school, noting, “In the twenty-first century it is difficult to imagine a society without education for girls but that is the situation that the people of Norwich found themselves in back in 1873.”

Alison highlighted the historical context of girls’ education in the 1870s, explaining, “Whilst the Education Act brought with it a curriculum for girls as part of the compulsory education system, it focused on ‘domestic skills’ – with classes in laundry, home management and needlework.” She emphasised the progress made since then, stating, “In the last 150 years we have broken down those stereotypes but I would argue that we still don’t have a level playing field.”

The 150 Bursary Fund appeal aims to fund five life-changing bursaries, a goal that Alison described as “a legacy worthy of our founding pioneers” and one that will ensure Norwich High’s continued role as “a beacon for girls’ education for generations to come.” She spoke passionately about the profound impact of bursaries, noting how they enable students to flourish and go on to achieve remarkable success in various fields. With the school receiving over 50 bursary applications each year, the need for increased funding is clear.

“So like the people of Norwich who gathered 150 years ago to demand access to quality education for girls in Norwich, we gather tonight for me to ask you to consider supporting us in a different way to ensure that we continue to have the funds available to reach girls who might not otherwise have access to Norwich High,” Alison stated, urging attendees to support the bursary fund.

A highlight of the evening was a keynote speech by Harriet Green OBE, a distinguished global business leader. Alison met Harriet at the Norfolk Cambridge Society talk she was giving on “Leading Major Companies – A Woman’s Perspective” in September 2024. Inspired by what she heard, we reached out to Harriet to ask if she would like to be involved in the work we were doing as a school. “Harriet has inspired us to be bold in our fundraising efforts and has supported the process leading up to this evening’s event. Being a student at Norwich High gives girls the opportunity to be part of a local, national and global network dedicated to giving them the best opportunities to succeed in their chosen field. Harriet has been generous with her time and has mentored not only some of our students but also all of us to bring the vision for tonight and our bursary fundraising campaign to life.”

Harriet’s speech at the dinner centered on the theme of “Education, Girls and AI,” and emphasised the importance of women’s role in shaping the future. She opened by praising the school community, saying, “This is an amazing school because of the quality of teachers, the facilities the girls that come here have and the families like many of you in this room that facilitate an active, healthy educational community”.

Harriet discussed the transformative power of AI and its potential to reshape the future, while also stressing the crucial role of human intelligence, particularly that of women. She drew upon brain scan research to highlight women’s innate capabilities, such as empathy and intuition, and how these skills are essential in navigating an increasingly technological world.

Harriet also shared “six life lessons” drawn from her extensive career, including the importance of volunteering, taking calculated risks, developing personal learning strategies, practicing empathy, being punctual and cultivating grace and joy. She stressed the importance of lifelong learning, urging attendees to develop “a personal learning strategy where we are able to understand data, feel comfortable in a numeracy setting, have really good human communication skills, developing the talent for collaboration, not being afraid of new beginnings.”

Speaking before the dinner, Harriet Green emphasised the need for an education that empowers students. “We need education that enables students to have the confidence to learn, unlearn and relearn, and to be committed to personal learning strategies. Schools should provide facilities to build confidence and give students a voice,” she said. Acknowledging students’ concerns about the future of work, Green stated, “Students may be thinking, “Why am I bothering following the pathway through education when business may not exist in the same way in the future?” We are humans. I absolutely disagree with the argument that new platforms and capabilities are troublesome. It is our time now to be creative and grow through innovation. AI enables, but girls’ school students also develop the ability to think, learn and cultivate skills like bridge-building and collaboration, in addition to technical expertise. They need the confidence to learn new things and not retreat into misogyny.”

Harriet concluded her speech at the dinner by encouraging the audience to support the bursary fund, emphasising the importance of investing in girls’ education and empowering the next generation of women. “I hope that this speech has planted some seeds as we invest in the future of women, because our time is now,” she said.

The dinner was a resounding success, raising significant funds for the 150 Bursary Fund appeal. Guests contributed through donations, bids in a silent auction and other forms of support. The event not only celebrated the school’s rich history but also reinforced its commitment to providing a transformative education for girls for many years to come.

Harriet Green is a dedicated and accomplished global leader, currently serving as a director and executive chair, with a focus on mentoring, business coaching and purpose-driven global initiatives. She is deeply committed to philanthropy and community engagement, both locally in Norfolk, where she promotes carbon-zero living, and globally. Her significant contributions include founding the Academies for Youth with Potential, demonstrating her passion for education and empowerment. Harriet has held key leadership positions across multiple continents and sectors, including IBM, Thomas Cook Group and the electronics industry. She has received numerous honors and awards, including an OBE for services to electronics, and has been recognised as a top influencer by LinkedIn and Fortune.