Wednesday 11th February marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a global initiative dedicated to smashing stereotypes and celebrating the incredible contributions of women to the scientific world.

To mark the occasion, we are sharing reflections from our Head of Chemistry, Laura Cheatle. From alumna to educator, Laura’s journey has come full circle, and now she’s on a mission to inspire the next generation of scientists to lead with curiosity and confidence.

For Laura, returning to Norwich High School for Girls isn’t just a career move; it’s a homecoming. After completing her A Levels here in 2004, she earned a Masters in Natural Science (Chemistry) from Durham University. Following over a decade of teaching in South Yorkshire, she has returned to Norfolk to lead the department where her own passion for science began.

In many educational settings, a gender gap in STEM remains a persistent challenge. However, at Norwich High, we see a very different story. Here, Chemistry is in a remarkably healthy place, consistently ranking as one of our most popular A Level choices.

Currently, 30% of our Year 12s are studying Chemistry, while 45% of the entire year group has chosen at least one science subject.

What makes these numbers truly special isn’t just the data, it’s the mindset behind them. In an all-girls environment, the labels that often discourage young women from pursuing sciences simply doesn’t exist. Our students don’t see subjects as being ‘for boys’ or ‘for girls’; they choose what they enjoy and what excites them, entirely free from the weight of societal labels. After all, at Norwich High, 100% of students in every science class are girls!

This culture of ‘science as a norm’ is reinforced by the role models students see every day at Norwich High School for Girls. 88% of our science teachers are female, including the entirety of our Chemistry and Physics departments. When students see women leading in these fields, it becomes natural for them to envision themselves doing the same.

We believe that being a scientist is about more than just passing exams; it’s about a mindset of inquiry. We put a heavy emphasis on preparing students for life beyond school by giving them real independence in the lab.

“We trust our students with complex practical work and encourage them to lead within their groups,” Laura explains. “We help them develop the confidence to problem-solve when an experiment doesn’t go to plan. Those are the resilient, ‘fail-fast’ skills that really matter at university and in professional research.”

While Chemistry is often seen as a necessary stepping stone for Medicine or Veterinary Science, our broader goal is to foster a genuine, intrinsic love for the subject. We want our students to be curious about how the world works at a molecular level and to recognize the massive impact Chemistry has on solving global challenges.

By fostering an environment where girls are free to be curious, experimental, and ambitious, we aren’t just teaching Chemistry, we are empowering the scientific leaders of tomorrow.