by Lucy Flower @MrsLFlower

'What do you think Lucy?'

A table full of expectant faces crowd my vision. I feel the familiar and tell-tale flush of heat crawl up my neck as I consider what to say. In truth, I have no idea what to think. Usually I make do with a thoughtful nod to someone else’s point of view, increasing in vigour the more eloquently they articulate themselves. Panicking, I echo someone else’s words, and slump in relief when attention shifts away from me.

by Katie Ridgway @MissMeeks14  #BirthdayCelebration

At #WomenEd we often talk about impact and with the movement’s fifth birthday around the corner, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the profound impact being part of this group has had on me. 

by Jess Mahdavi-Gladwell @drjessm   #BirthdayCelebration

On March 7th I was privileged to attend the @WomenEdSE #LeadMeet. It was brilliant on so many levels, I got to see my friend Kate Evans (@purekathryn76) in a different role and saw her shine (I also got to meet her mum who is a legend!).

by Kerry Jordan-Daus @KerryJordanDaus

Thank you Francesca Martinez for your beautiful book, What the xxxx is normal? (!). It’s been on my reading list for some time, but in the COVID-19 lockdown context, well I was looking for something to read, and there it was. And it was just what I needed to read. Because this certainly is not xxxxxxx normal! But it’s important that I make it normal because what is normal?

by Kaley Riley @MrsRileyEnglish

On Friday, I attended interview. On arrival, the other candidates and I got chatting. We all spoke about our current roles, why we had applied and the usual, tense pre-interview small talk amongst competitors who are- essentially- trying to scope one another out. I mentioned, as part of this small talk, that I had applied a year ago for the same school, and a similar role, but was unsuccessful. I could see their surprise.  ‘Oh really? Why were you not appointed?’  ‘It is very brave to apply again after getting knocked back!’

They were right. It was brave, but it was also telling of my commitment to wanting the role (albeit, this time around, much more senior), my resilience and of my sheer dogged determination.

by @WomenEd Strategic Leaders        @AlisonKiel @EquitableEd @JulesDaulby @keziah70 @LizAMFree @ViviennePorritt

#WomenEd is hurtling towards its fifth birthday in May and, when we pause to reflect, we have collectively achieved so much. Five years ago, the original founders shared a collective vision of what we hoped to achieve and agreed an initial strategy to achieve this.

by Christina Watson @cmw_kendal

In January 2019 I moved 9000 miles to the unique and beautiful Falkland Islands to be a Deputy Headteacher and, after deciding I could be 10% braver, I became Principal of the small secondary school in September 2020.

by Anonymous @noonetoldmehow

Just over a year ago I went to my first WomenEd Unconference. I was nervous, I knew no one in the community and I didn’t quite know what I was doing there, going for, or looking for. I met a wonderful community of women and men who were just interested in the female perspective. But the one message that stood out above all else was the call to all attending or viewing online to be 10% Braver.