The Queen’s School Signs Global Declaration to Champion Girls in Sport

The Queen’s School in Chester has joined Active Cheshire and leading regional partners in signing The International Working Group on Women and Sport's Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration, a global commitment to advancing equality for women and girls in sport and physical activity.

This milestone marks Queen’s dedication to tackling one of the most pressing challenges in youth sport: the sharp drop in participation among teenage girls.  Almost two thirds (64%) of girls drop out of sport before they turn 16, often disengaging during adolescence due to barriers such as confidence, access, and cultural perceptions.

Joanne Keville, Headmistress, said:

“Sport is a powerful tool for confidence and wellbeing, and for many young people it’s an important social pillar. By working with partners across Cheshire, we want to ensure that more girls not only start playing sport but continue to enjoy it throughout their school years. Signing this declaration is a promise to keep doing more so that girls have equity of opportunity to participate, compete and build careers in sport.”

The Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration sets out ten principles for gender equity in sport, from equal access and leadership opportunities to challenging stereotypes. As part of the commitment, Queen’s is working with Active Cheshire to complete a diagnostic evaluation against these principles and develop an action plan to embed them more deeply into school life and outreach initiatives. 

Hilary Davies, Director of Development, added:

“Queen’s has a strong sporting heritage, with pupils competing at club, county, and national level. The launch of our new Astro pitch earlier this year marked a significant investment in facilities, creating the only elite-grade hockey pitch of its kind in Chester. This is about more than infrastructure though – it’s about breaking down barriers and inspiring girls to stay engaged in sport, whether for enjoyment, health, or high-performance pathways.”

The Queen’s School was one of ten organisations from across Chesire that officially signed the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration. Other signatory partners included Active Cheshire, who organised the signing, Brio, Cheshire East Council, Climbing Hut, Everybody Health & Leisure, LiveWire & Warrington Borough Council, Mind Body Balance, The Wishing Well & Warrington Wolves Community Foundation.

This commitment extends beyond the school gates. Queen’s is exploring community partnerships and outreach programmes to encourage participation among girls who might otherwise miss out, supporting Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals for health and equality.

About The Queen’s School:

Located within Chester’s historic Roman walls, The Queen’s School is Cheshire’s leading independent school for girls aged 3 to 18. The school consistently achieves outstanding GCSE and A-level results, placing it among the top performers nationally. Alongside igniting girls’ academic potential, Queen’s is dedicated to developing confident and well-rounded young women through a rich co-curricular offering spanning sport and the arts, as well as STEM, enterprise and leadership opportunities. The school has a strong sporting heritage, with students regularly competing at club, county and national level and securing places in national finals.

Pictured - Hilary Davies, Director of Development at The Queen’s School, signed the declaration with Lisa O'Keefe MBE, Secretary General of IWG Women and Sport and former international athlete.