My Mum

Hello, my name is Zaynah and today I’m going to talk about International Women’s Day and somebody who inspires me every day – my mum.

International Women’s Day is a day when people around the world celebrate the achievements of women and girls. It is also a time to remember how strong, brave and important women are in our lives. When I think of a strong woman, the first person who comes into my mind is my mum.

My mum inspires me because she works so hard. Every day she wakes up early to drop my brother off at the bus stop, get my sister ready and do my hair. She keeps me organised and always makes sure I have everything ready for school.

Another thing about her that inspires me is how caring she is. My mum always makes sure that my family and I are safe and happy. She reminds us to try our best and never give up, even when things are difficult.

My mum also teaches me to always be kind and respectful. She always says to treat others how you would want to be treated. This is a very important lesson because if everyone did this, the world would be a much better place.

She never gives up, even when she is tired or when things are difficult. She always does the best for me and my family. Seeing her strength makes me believe that I can be strong and achieve all of my goals too.

Because of my mum, I have realised that a strong, inspirational woman doesn’t have to be someone big and famous. It can be someone who makes every little thing count. Sometimes it means doing the small things to help the people you love.

My mum may not know this, but she will always be mine and my siblings’ hero.

I hope that one day I can be as kind, hardworking and strong as she is.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Zaynah, Year 7

Malala Yousafzai.

Hello everyone, my name is Muhammad and I would like to talk to you about one woman that I’m inspired by. Obviously, as an 11-year-old, I’m in awe of how my mum manages everything every day, particularly how she shows the resilience to put up with mine and my sister’s antics!

However, I thought I’d go for someone a little less predictable and decided to share my thoughts on Malala Yousafzai.

For those who don’t know, Malala is an important figure in the world. Initially, she fought for women to have equal access to education. Unfortunately, this made her a target and she was tragically shot in the head by an extremist group.

Miraculously, she survived this almost fatal attack. For most people experiencing something like that, it would likely be enough to make them feel unable to continue expressing their views. However, Malala used this tragedy to motivate herself further. She has shown incredible mental and physical strength and continues campaigning and fighting for education.

Malala Yousafzai was the youngest person ever to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. She has also created a foundation called the Malala Fund, which supports girls and women in Pakistan and around the world to have access to at least 12 years of education.

Coming from a South Asian background myself, and seeing the strong women in my own family succeed in their work and education, Malala is an inspirational figure in my view. My mum and aunties were encouraged to study, and I cannot imagine being held back from this.

Therefore, the work Malala has done to encourage girls from disadvantaged communities to have access to education is incredibly important.

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen to my inspirational woman speech.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Muhammad, Year 7 

Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I was an inspirational character from the day she was born.

Elizabeth was born into a time of confusion and conflict. Her mother, Anne Boleyn, had caused one of the greatest constitutional crises the British monarchy had ever known.

Challenging the power of the throne and exerting unheard-of feminine power over a king, into this chaos was born a future female pioneer, Elizabeth, in the year 1533. Elizabeth is described in history as being intelligent, quick-witted and well educated. She was cultured and a linguist. Looking back, she was an educational trailblazer for women of her time, who were destined to become wives.

By the age of two, political events had already begun to shape Elizabeth’s destiny with the execution of her mother. This was when she was declared illegitimate to the throne. Although regaining her place in the line of succession at the age of ten, Elizabeth had to stand by and watch her half-brother Edward VI rule. This was then followed by the tyrannical reign of her Catholic sister, Mary.

The rule of Mary I was one of fear and trepidation for Elizabeth, as she inspired many plots and power grabs amongst the Protestant lords of the land. Many lost their lives or were tortured in the pursuit of Elizabeth’s accession to the throne. Elizabeth herself spent a year in prison during Mary’s reign, on suspicion of inspiring support for Protestant rebels. In 1558, however, Mary died childless, at which point Elizabeth finally succeeded to the throne with the desire to rule with good judgement and to prove what women are truly made of.

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Have you ever wondered where “girl power” really began?

Not with pop stars or superheroes, but with real women who ruled the whole country when most people didn’t believe women should have a voice.

Queen Elizabeth I didn’t just sit on a throne, she proved that women could lead, fight, inspire and change history.

Today we still feel the impact of her courage every time a girl stands up, speaks out, or believes she can do something amazing.

Tilly, Jameela  and Charlotte

Year 8

Ann‑Katrin Berger

German footballer Ann-Katrin Berger’s journey has become a powerful symbol of resilience, visibility and leadership in women’s sport, making her an inspiring figure to celebrate on International Women’s Day. Her influence reaches far beyond the penalty box, touching on themes of health, equality and representation that matter deeply to women and girls around the world.

Berger’s story is shaped by extraordinary courage. Twice diagnosed with thyroid cancer, first in 2017 and again in 2022, she returned to elite football after each battle, reclaiming her place among the world’s top goalkeepers. Her determination to compete at the highest level, even when her health was uncertain, has become one of the defining chapters of her career. Her journey is widely recognised as a testament to perseverance and mental strength, demonstrating how she overcame both diagnoses to return to top form for club and country.

For many women, especially those facing their own health challenges, Berger represents the idea that setbacks do not define you. Her openness about her diagnosis and recovery has helped break down the stigma around illness in sport, showing that vulnerability and ambition can coexist.

On the pitch, Berger has been a key figure in the growth of women’s football. Her performances for Chelsea, Germany and now Gotham FC have earned her international recognition, including standout moments in major tournaments and domestic competitions. Her impact has contributed to the rising profile and visibility of the women’s game worldwide.

By excelling in a position that is often under-celebrated, she has also helped shift perceptions of what female athletes can achieve. Young goalkeepers, in particular, see in her a role model of technical excellence, bravery and professionalism.

Berger has inspired many through her authenticity as well. She has been open about her personal life, including her relationship with fellow footballer Jess Carter, helping to increase LGBTQ+ visibility in sport. Her willingness to live openly and confidently provides representation that many young people rarely see in elite athletics.

International Women’s Day celebrates women who challenge expectations, uplift others and push boundaries. Ann-Katrin Berger embodies all three. Her story reminds us that women can lead, endure and excel even in the face of profound challenges, inspiring the next generation of girls to pursue their ambitions fearlessly.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Sophie, Year 10

Katherine Johnson

Today I would like to speak about an extraordinary woman whose brilliance, determination and courage helped change the course of history – Katherine Johnson.

Katherine Johnson was not a celebrity in the traditional sense. She did not seek fame, nor did she stand in the spotlight. Yet her work quietly shaped some of the most important achievements in human history. As a mathematician working at NASA during the early years of the Space Race, her calculations helped send astronauts safely into space and bring them home again. At a time when both women and African Americans were widely excluded from scientific fields, Johnson rose above the barriers placed before her with remarkable intelligence and perseverance.

Born in 1918 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Katherine Johnson showed exceptional mathematical ability from an early age. Numbers made sense to her in a way that they did not for most people. She attended college at just fifteen years old and later became one of the first African American women to work as a mathematician at NASA’s predecessor organisation. However, her path was far from easy. She faced the harsh realities of racial segregation and gender discrimination, working in an environment where women—especially Black women—were rarely given recognition or authority.

Despite these challenges, Katherine Johnson refused to allow prejudice to define her limits. Instead, she let her work speak for itself. Her calculations were so accurate and reliable that astronauts trusted her personally. In fact, before the historic mission of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, astronaut John Glenn reportedly asked engineers to have Katherine Johnson verify the computer’s calculations before he would fly. Her confidence with numbers gave others the confidence to achieve what once seemed impossible.

Johnson’s work contributed not only to the Moon landing, but also to early orbital missions such as the Friendship 7 mission. At a time when computers were still new and unreliable, her mathematical insight ensured the accuracy of trajectories and re-entry paths. Her work quite literally helped humanity reach beyond Earth.

Yet Katherine Johnson’s inspiration goes far beyond mathematics. She represents the power of perseverance, intellect and quiet strength. She proved that talent knows no boundaries of race or gender, and that determination can overcome even deeply rooted injustice. In doing so, she opened doors for future generations of scientists, engineers and dreamers.

Her legacy was eventually recognised when she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2015. But perhaps her greatest achievement is not the medals or recognition she received later in life. It is the example she set: that excellence, courage and curiosity can change the world.

Katherine Johnson reminds us that true inspiration does not always come from those who seek attention. Sometimes it comes from those who work quietly, persistently and brilliantly behind the scenes.

And because of women like Katherine Johnson, the sky is no longer the limit—it is only the beginning.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Evelyn, Year 10

Dr Syeda Ali Shah

Dr Syeda Sana Ali Shah has spent over a decade researching and developing technology specific to oncobiology. Her drive comes from a commitment to making life-saving diagnostics accessible, particularly in regions with limited medical resources and financial barriers to adequate healthcare. As of 2025, she became the first and only Pakistani woman to be among the top 50 women tech leaders. This recognition as a health-tech scientist highlights her influence in shaping the future of medical technology across Asia.

She has revolutionised cancer diagnosis through the development of the “diagnostic patch”, designed to serve as a non-invasive method to detect breast cancer early. This technology aims to replace often painful and expensive detection procedures such as needle biopsies, which are known to carry a risk of infection. In developing countries, access to sterile equipment and specialist doctors can also come at a significant cost.

When she is not working on new cancer detection methods, she spends time researching the biological challenges faced by cancer patients in Pakistan and across the world. Two key areas of her research focus on the nutritional impact of vitamin D deficiency in blood cancer patients, seeking to understand how nutritional gaps can affect cancer progression and treatment. She has also published significant research on genetic markers in breast cancer tissues, helping doctors better understand tumour growth and metastasis, which is how cancer spreads.

Her journey is a powerful story of balancing scientific excellence with active social leadership. Her path to success was built on a foundation of diverse roles that eventually merged into her mission to fight cancer. Long before she became a renowned cancer biologist, Dr Shah was a prominent youth leader and activist. Her early career shows a deep commitment to public service. Between 2005 and 2011, she served in various leadership roles, including being a member of the National Youth Assembly and a youth advisory panelist for the UNFPA. In addition, she worked as a public relations officer for the Department of Information in the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Dr Shah completed her BS in Biotechnology at the University of Peshawar and her MS/PhD in Biosciences at COMSATS University Islamabad, where she specialised in the genetic drivers of cancer. She also developed a significant connection to Oxford, which proved to be a pivotal moment in her career when she worked as a research scholar at the University of Oxford in 2018. This international experience enabled her to study how environmental factors affect cancer development on a global scale.

In conclusion, Dr Syeda Ali Shah’s impact on the world is multi-faceted. She not only works in the laboratory but also combines her medical knowledge with her background in advocacy to ensure her research reaches the people who need it most.

Hurulaine Tahir

Year 12

I think Marie Curie is very inspiring because she devoted her life to promoting science. Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win two Nobel Prizes, the only woman to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields, and the only person to win Nobel Prizes in multiple sciences.

Curie received her second Nobel Prize for her discovery of two elements, radium and polonium.

Marie Curie’s work significantly impacted medical practices. During World War I, she recognised the potential of X-rays to help with battlefield medical care. She developed mobile radiography units, known as “Little Curies”, which were used to provide immediate diagnostic support to surgeons on the front lines. These units played a critical role in improving the survival and recovery rates of wounded soldiers.

Curie’s pioneering work in radiotherapy marked the beginning of cancer treatments using radioactive elements. This helped in treating tumours and provided a new method of cancer therapy, one that continues to develop today. Her work laid the foundation for modern radiation therapy, which is a cornerstone of contemporary cancer treatment.

Beyond her scientific achievements, Curie’s role as an educator and mentor had a lasting impact on future generations of scientists. She became the first woman to be a professor at the University of Paris, where she inspired many students, especially women, with her dedication to scientific research and discovery.

Curie’s journey began during a time when women faced significant barriers in science. Despite these challenges, she remained determined to pursue her education and eventually moved to Paris to study at the Sorbonne.

Marie Curie’s commitment to her ambitious career made her a great and inspiring role model. Her work not only inspired future scientists but also helped lay the foundation for greater gender equality in the academic world, particularly in the sciences.

Marie Curie’s legacy is to push scientific advances further for the benefit of as many people as possible. Her work is just as relevant today as it was during her lifetime. It remains at the forefront of cancer treatment and continues to improve therapies, making them more effective and less harmful.

Her name also lives on through the Marie Curie hospices and community nursing services, which provide free palliative care, information, and support for many people, regardless of their illness.

Yahya 

Year 12