Putney High School Head Jo Sharrock Speaks at the House of Lords

September 2025: I was invited to speak at the House of Lords. The subject: ‘Designing the Future of Girls’ Education’ and the purpose, to share our expertise and experience in offering girls a truly transformative education – one that removes barriers, breaks stereotypes and develops invaluable skills that will last your daughters a lifetime.

Our audience was wide-ranging and cross-party; those who have the potential to take what we know and develop it in other schools and settings, fuelling our goal to reach as many students as possible.

Along with colleagues from the GDST – fellow Head Teachers, Trustees and our CEO – we presented the findings of our landmark GDST Insights report that provides a roadmap for how education can empower all young people.

It was especially wonderful to be joined by students from our own family of schools, who spoke with the confidence, poise and warmth characterising all of our talented and courageous GDST girls. It was they who reminded all present that the future we’re shaping here is not just tomorrow’s promise, but alive and flourishing in our every day, here at Putney and across the GDST.

At the same time, just a few steps away in the Lord’s Chamber, echoed another conversation. Members scrutinised a planning bill line by line, raising questions for the Commons to reconsider. It was a reassuring reminder of something very precious at the heart of our democracy: true public service in action – in these uncertain times this institution continues to work hard for us, giving time and care to legislation that will affect us all, respecting different views and responding to them with consideration and due respect.

It was, in many ways, the perfect backdrop; a living demonstration of something we here at Putney cherish: civil discourse, intense scrutiny and the ability to hear and weigh different perspectives. One of our GDST students put it beautifully in her own speech:

‘I’ve learned the importance of understanding multiple perspectives…A school with a culture of debate doesn’t just teach students to fight for what they believe – it teaches them to listen, to learn and to compromise.’

That our host herself too, Baroness Finlay of Landaff, was a former GDST pupil and parent, shows the positive role our schools have played and continue to play in society since their foundation.

And this is only the beginning. Later this term, we have been invited back to Parliament, this time to the House of Commons, where we get to have a steer in the next part of the conversation.