“School gave me the space to learn what kind of person I wanted to be”
Famous faces from TV, sport and fashion share school memories for girls’ education campaign.
A star-studded lineup of UK celebrities, including Loose Women’s Charlene White and Olympic legend Becky Adlington, have teamed up with global children’s charity Plan International UK to highlight the importance of girls' education, as part of their annual International Day of the Girl campaign.
Presenter and podcaster Kate Lawler, actor & singer Molly Rainford, model Ellie Goldstein, celebrity stylist Ellis Ranson and actor Tillie Amartey also joined the lineup, posing with their childhood school photos and sharing personal memories from their school days.
According to the charity, four in ten girls globally will never finish school, with the photo series aiming to serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of girls’ education.
On the impact of her education, Charlene White said: “School gave me the space to learn what kind of person I wanted to be and what I wanted to do in the future. I wanted to be a journalist from 16 years old because I realised it could involve all the things that I loved doing at school. Without school, I’m not sure I would have ended up in that direction. Education is everything. It’s the starting point for reaching your potential. When girls can’t finish school, it holds them back from being in control of their own life.”
Becky Adlington reflected on how she’s changed since her school photo was taken: “I’m 8 or 9 years old in my school photo, and although at heart I’m probably still the same girl, I have absolutely changed since this day. Now I have more responsibilities and I’m probably a lot softer. Growing up in a sporting household where me and my sisters swam meant I always lived in the shadow of my big sisters. Now I feel like I’ve got more of a voice and my own identity.”
Feeling nostalgic, Kate Lawler said: “When I look at my school photo, I think ‘wow, look at your monobrow and your killer fringe’, which my dad cut with the kitchen scissors! I also look at it and feel nostalgic; school was a really happy time for me, I loved to learn, and I loved being with my mates in the playground. I think the impact my education had on who I am today is monumental. I did business communications at GCSE and got an A* - humble brag! Without those qualifications, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do things like a reality show, radio and podcasting.”
Reminiscing about her time at school, Molly Rainford said: “My favourite teacher was my nursery teacher, Mr Monroe. When I think about him, I think about the colour yellow because he was pure sunshine. My favourite subject was probably history. I’m very nosey and curious as a person, so I always loved history and learning new things. Education gives you the confidence to follow your dreams and to know that you have different options. Every girl should get that chance, it’s the starting point for everything else.”
95% of girls complete secondary school in the UK[1], and according to new polling from Plan International UK, 79% of Brits have fond memories of school, with nearly a third (30%) saying it was the best days of their life[2].
Yet just 61% of girls worldwide finish secondary school[3], with this figure dropping even further for girls living in areas of conflict. In a landmark survey of over 5,000 girls and young women affected by conflict, Plan International found that 52% of girls reported missing school as a result[4].
In places like Gaza, Lebanon and Ukraine, conflict has forced schools to close and damaged education facilities, making girls’ return to school even more unlikely.
Rose Caldwell, chief executive of Plan International UK, says: “It’s inspiring to see successful women reflect on how school shaped their confidence, resilience and self-worth. Yet, the odds are stacked against girls when it comes to education. Millions of girls globally face barriers like discrimination, poverty and conflict, which forces them out of the classroom and along a different path of child marriage, unplanned pregnancies and exploitation.
“All girls deserve the chance to learn, no matter where they are. Education gives girls a chance to gain vital skills and knowledge to shape their own futures, to earn their own living and choose if and when they get married.”
A donation of £4 per month could provide learner kits, workbooks and stationery for girls starting school, or a one-off donation of £20 could provide learning kits for five girls attending catch-up classes at school. Donate here.
Donations will help Plan International UK to provide girls with things like learning materials, school meals and period-friendly toilets, so that every girl can finish school and shape her own future.
Plan International UK Press Office Contacts
- Email: ukmedia@plan-uk.org
- Web: plan-uk.org/media-centre
- Freya Carr, Media & External Relations Manager – freya.carr@plan-uk.org
- Leah Godfrey, Media & PR Officer – leah.godfrey@plan-uk.org
For the full photo and video package, please contact ukmedia@plan-uk.org
Notes to editors:
[1] 95% of females graduate upper secondary school in the UK – Source OECD
[2] Plan International UK polling - Opinium surveyed 2,000 nationally representative adults across the UK. Survey data was collected September 2024
[3] 61% of girls around the world complete upper secondary education – Source UNESCO
[4] Plan International’s Still We Dream Report surveyed 5003 girls and young women across ten countries aged 15-24 who have experience of conflict, and 9995 young people in total.