Introducing the Girls on Board Approach at Woodhouse Grove School

At Woodhouse Grove School, we recognise the importance of fostering healthy and positive relationships among our students, particularly when it comes to friendships. Navigating friendships can sometimes be challenging for young girls, and the social dynamics within peer groups often bring about emotional difficulties. To support our students in managing these relationships effectively, we are excited to introduce the Girls on Board approach to our curriculum.

What is Girls on Board?
Girls on Board is a highly effective programme that helps girls understand the nature of friendships and the inevitable conflicts that can arise. It empowers them to take control of their relationships, equipping them with the tools they need to resolve disputes and manage social challenges with greater confidence and understanding.

The Girls on Board philosophy centres on the idea that friendship issues are a normal part of growing up. The programme teaches girls to recognise that their peers face similar challenges, which promotes empathy and reduces feelings of isolation or misunderstanding. It encourages collaboration and teamwork, helping girls to work through disagreements themselves, rather than relying solely on adult intervention.

The approach has been used successfully in schools across the country, resulting in reduced anxiety around friendship issues and a stronger sense of community among girls.

How We’re Implementing Girls on Board at Woodhouse Grove
Every girl at Woodhouse Grove will be introduced to Girls on Board through their PSHCE lessons at the start of the term. During these lessons, students will learn strategies for navigating friendship turbulence and how to develop healthier, more resilient peer relationships.

We believe that by equipping our students with these important life skills, we will create an environment where girls feel empowered to take charge of their own social lives in a supportive and understanding way.

Supporting Parents
We understand that friendship issues can sometimes extend beyond school life, and we value the role that parents play in supporting their daughters. To that end, we have provided a Parents’ Guide to the Girls on Board approach, which offers insight into the reasoning behind this method. We hope that this will help you understand how we are addressing these challenges at school, and we encourage you to join us in supporting your daughters as they learn to navigate their friendships with confidence.

We are excited to see the positive impact this approach will have on our students and look forward to seeing them develop stronger, healthier friendships.