Girls on Board is an approach which helps girls, their parents and their teachers understand the complexities and dynamics of girl friendships. The language, methods and ideas empower girls to solve their own friendship problems and recognises that they are usually the only ones who can. By empowering girls to find their own solutions, parents need worry less, schools can focus more on the curriculum and the girls learn more effectively – because they are happier.

The sessions turn a mirror on the students and get them to reflect on their behaviours in an attempt to raise empathy between them, improve the awareness of the group dynamic, and empower the individual with the skillset to navigate social pressures, inevitable fallouts and awkward scenarios. The students work through thought experiments, display their acting skills in improvised roleplays and shine a light on some of the negative behaviours that emerge from insecurity. The sessions are high energy, and the students never fail to impress. The core message underlines the importance of friendships at their age and the importance of managing these interactions themselves.

Teachers and parents can help by providing a listening ear, a non-judgemental space and guiding students should they ask for it. Getting involved in fluid, dynamic, nuanced and complicated friendship fallouts can often exacerbate the issue. This can be very difficult when we observe the emotional response of the students, however, the skills they learn through these challenging periods are invaluable.

Mr Thomas has led Girls on Board at Norwich High School for over two years and the school became official licence holders of the Girls on Board programme in 2021.

Please contact Mr Thomas j.thomas@nor.gdst.net if you have any questions about Girls on Board.