St Albans schools have organised a host of activities to celebrate International Women’s Day today.

Samuel Ryder Academy in Drakes Drive is holding a week of special lessons, assemblies and activities celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

Staff and pupils selected ‘real life female superheroes’ representing different subject departments, with lessons themed around female role models, and an International Women’s Day-themed assembly is being held today. The school encouraged both pupils and staff to make a ‘selfie pledge’, where they take a selfie stating what they will do to #pledgeforprogress, with a prize for the best pledge.

Deputy headteacher Lucy Miles said: “This week we will take the time to discuss and vocalise our own pledges for the #PressToProgress IWD campaign and take part in a number of activities across the curriculum: from looking at our real life female ‘superheroes’ to lessons on the suffragettes and female directors in the film industry.”

Sandringham School in The Ridgeway ran assemblies last week explaining the history of the movement, and today is taking a group of 10 student leaders to present at a gender equality forum at Sir John Lawes School in Harpenden.

The school is also inviting women in their Women Learning in Education Network to take part in a Twitter chat at 7pm.

Headteacher Alan Gray said: “We have been running a heavy stream of girl-orientated extension activities designed to develop self-confidence and understanding of how they can achieve.

“For example, there are regular trips and links with top universities and female only STEM visits to places like Google etc. The result of this activity is to have significantly increased the uptake of girls into STEM subjects.”

St Albans Girls School (STAGS) in Sandridgebury Lane is hosting a networking event entitled ‘Inspiring Women’ from 8am to 10.40am, enabling Year 12 pupils to meet a variety of inspirational women. This will be followed by a speed networking careers event with Year 8 pupils.

Herts Ad reporter Franki Berry will also co-host Danny Smith’s West Herts Drive Time from 4pm to 7pm, interviewing inspirational local women.