From the data, we learned that one of the most profound characteristics of our students is that they feel strongly empowered and willing to own and use their ‘student voice’. Hence was created the Ivanhoe Girls’ mantra of "Our Girls Speak For Themselves".

Schools often have catchy mottos or brand statements that are aspirational and may or may not be well founded. However, for Ivanhoe Girls’, there has never been a more true statement than Our Girls Speak For Themselves. 

The statement talks not only about our students, but also largely about our school culture and how that culture nurtures, in our students, their individual voices. Student voice is fostered through a commitment to and strong belief in student agency and all the benefits that come with empowering young people to feel safe, to have their voice and to be accountable for their actions.

When I reflect on how our students used their voices in 2021, despite being mostly in lockdown, I am immediately drawn to an array of varied examples. The year commenced with our School Captains and Prefect Team sharing their theme of Let’s Own It. The theme was formally introduced to the School at an assembly by one of our Year Level Liaison Prefects, Mia , who so eloquently stated at the conclusion of her presentation “We have talent, we have important things to say, we are all different in the best way, and that is a fact that no amount of judgement is going to change. When we make a mistake, or when we’re worried about what people will think, seriously - Let’s Own It.”

Mia’s powerful and stirring presentation really set the scene for 2021. It was only a little while later that I received an invitation to ‘Zoom meet’ with the Student Representative Council members who were seeking information about how the School supports sustainability and how some of their ideas may enable the School to become even more sustainable. Shortly thereafter I met with the Student Climate Council who wanted to discuss the implementation of an indigenous garden in the School that would provide a place for students to learn about indigenous culture and food. 

More recently, I had the joy to watch some Year 11 students take on the role of Youth Parliamentarians using their voices to successfully debate and ultimately have ‘passed’ by the Youth Parliament their ‘Bill’ to create an equivalent of Worksafe for sexual harassment in the workplace. 

Our students are indeed talented, they do indeed have important things to say and they certainly use their voice effectively in a range of interesting and important ways every year.

As the Principal of Ivanhoe Girls’, I am often asked two key questions by prospective parents: 

1. Why should I send my daughter to an all-girls’ school? and
2. If I choose an all-girls’ school, why then should I choose Ivanhoe Girls’?

In response to Question 1, I talk about the plethora of research that clearly shows the immediate and long term benefits to girls of learning, developing and maturing in an all-girls’ learning environment. In particular, I talk about the significant benefits to girls in the following five areas:

• safety, happiness and a strong sense of belonging
• higher academic outcomes and higher participation in *STEM subjects
• increased aspirations and greater leadership opportunities
• enhanced social and emotional wellbeing
• role modelling that breaks stereotypical norms

All five areas listed above contribute to the creation of a school culture that nurtures and openly encourages student agency and student voice. We cannot underestimate the pervasive and subliminal messaging that girls across Australia receive every day when they listen to music, watch television, read magazines, look at billboards or advertising.

While many gains towards equality over many years have been made for women and girls, our society is unfortunately still largely dominated by the male voice. In knowing and accepting the answer to Question 1, my answer to Question 2 is simple. 

Parents should send their daughters to Ivanhoe Girls' because our unique school culture will allow their daughters to find their own voice, to speak for themselves and to speak for those who have a diminished voice in our society. 

The Ivanhoe Girls’ culture is underpinned by our students’ unique perspectives on learning, teaching, and schooling, and our belief that they should have the opportunity to actively shape their own education.

Student agency requires a genuine willingness on the part of a school to listen to the student voice. Genuinely listening to the student voice requires a school to actively enable students to contribute to decision-making processes and to collectively influence outcomes by putting forward their views, concerns and ideas. At Ivanhoe Girls’ the strongly embedded culture ensures that the student voice is not only heard but actively sought.

I am so proud that our students often and loudly speak for themselves.

Dr Deborah Priest
Principal