Breaking the Barriers of Leadership

On a crisp spring morning, 20 women gathered at Hornsey School for Girls for more than just professional development. They were there to participate in Haringey Education Partnership’s inaugural International Women’s Day event on March 7, hosted by the inspiring Bennie Kara.

True to its theme – breaking the barriers of leadership – the day provided an opportunity to share and explore women’s experiences in education, foster learning from one another, and discuss strategies for resilience in overcoming gender-based barriers.

Joining educational speaker, trainer, and writer Bennie Kara was an impressive panel of women leaders, including Fran Hargrove, HEP Deputy Chief Executive; Jackie Bowers-Broadbent, Executive Headteacher of Buxton School; and Jenny Smith, Headteacher of Frederick Bremer School.

The day was filled with raw, and at times deeply vulnerable discussions as the leaders reflected on their personal leadership journeys. They spoke about leading with resilience and confidence, dismantling myths about leadership, and confronting the many challenges women in leadership roles face.

Drawing on the strong influences of their upbringings and the power of collaboration, they emphasised the importance of establishing core values within schools and building a shared sense of purpose.

Heather De Silva, HEP Lead for Professional Development, said she wanted the day to have a relaxed and supportive atmosphere, ensuring a safe space for exploring difficult and often personal topics.

“One of the aims of the conference was to enable the women, through the speakers, to talk about things they don’t feel comfortable talking about outside of that space. It was [about] creating a space where they could talk about their vulnerabilities, talk about things that are happening to them and [to show] that they’re not [alone].”

She asked the speakers to try and spotlight some of those vulnerabilities that women have at school and in their daily life, “things that we feel guilty about in ourselves”.

Discussions centred on the pressures women feel to be everything to everyone while often neglecting themselves. The speakers expressed the importance of challenging the idea that self-care is selfish and to recognise that prioritising their wellbeing is just as vital as their commitment to family and career.

The event was more than just about leadership – it was a vital space for self-reflection, empowering women to amplify their voices and step forward with confidence.

“The whole point was to build our confidence as women, to build our resilience and the ability to open up about where we feel we need to be stronger or where we feel that we are overlooked.”

The conference was a key highlight of HEP’s Women’s History Month celebrations, which also featured esteemed former ASCL President and headteacher Evelyn Forde, MBE, as part of the HEP Leadership 55 series, and renowned curriculum expert Christine Counsell, who led a powerful session on women in history, uncovering hidden voices and bringing them to the forefront.

“This month has very much been about looking and bringing women to the front of our conversations and exploring those voices that are often not always heard but should be.”

Jonathan is the interim Lead for Digital and Communications at HEP. He has a passion for storytelling and has previously worked as a journalist and communications advisor in New Zealand.