In a bid to address the scarcity of women in leadership roles and to develop our students’ understanding of leadership and sense of themselves as leaders, Jersey College for Girls has launched a new Female Leadership Programme titled ‘She Leads’.

Studies have shown women often make better leaders, and businesses that employ women in leadership positions do better. The whole school JCG leadership programme will help students increase their confidence, identify their strengths, and understand the skills of leadership enabling them to recognise themselves as leaders.

We want leadership opportunities to be inclusive of all year groups; Year 12 have already embarked on an intensive three-week programme this half term titled ‘The Art of LeadHERship’. 

The innovative curriculum will span the seven years of a student’s time at JCG and was developed, and will be led, by Gaëlle Deschamps: leadership trainer and coach to high-performing women. Mrs Deschamps explains that she is "passionate about empowering girls and women to thrive. My aim is to equip your daughters so they can identify as leaders and opt into Leadership opportunities. I am delighted to pilot this sector-leading programme with JCG."

Our Principal, Carl Howarth, has emphasised the importance of the programme stating: "As a College, we see it as our role to doing all we can to close the gender leadership gap and ensure our students receive equitable opportunities to thrive irrespective of gender. Our ‘She Leads’ programme will take our students beyond their comfort zone but not beyond their capabilities."

The ‘She Leads’ programme has 3 components: 

• The first: a classroom curriculum created and delivered by Gaëlle Deschamps, a leadership trainer and coach to high-performing women. Her curriculum ‘The Art of LeadHERship©’ is a transformative programme. 
• The second component: a choice of 15 ‘leadership in action’ projects, run by JCG girls for all girls on island, enabling your child to practise their newly acquired leadership skills and have a positive societal impact.
• The third component for Sixth Form students: opportunities created by KMPG, our sponsor for the Sixth Form programme, from skill workshops, talks, work shadowing and internships.  

As a College community, we are always looking for support for the initiatives we deliver to students. If you would like to get involved using your expertise or industry knowledge or indeed sponsorship of the programme to Lower and Upper school students, we would welcome your support in any of the following ways: 

• Becoming our partners on this journey. You can watch Gaëlle’s TEDx talk aimed at parents on ‘Shaping the Next Gen of Female Leaders in 4 steps’  

• Encourage your daughter to sign up to one or more ‘Leadership in Action’ projects (about which more details will follow). 
• Discuss with your child their passions, what would they like to lead on? What is she currently leading on but is unaware that it may constitute leadership? What good could they do for their community or society? What inspires them? Who inspires them? What positive change would they like to see happen? And could they be the one to lead it?