The Telegraph – Eleanor Doughty
” Teenage life can be hard work. Not just for the teens themselves, battling through a modern marathon of Snapchat, decoupled AS-levels and the continuous presence of Kim Kardashian on their televisions, but for parents too. Whether children attend day or boarding schools, the pastoral system is of the utmost importance. Last year, Oxford High School started a campaign to erode the perception of Little Miss Perfect. The initiative, to defend high-achieving teenage girls from the reasoning that being absolutely perfect is the only acceptable position, was well reported in the press. The proliferation of eating disorders has been a frequent avenue of criticism of all-girls’ schools, although the Girls’ Schools Association is rightly trying to dissociate itself from this damaging image. But tackling teenage issues doesn’t start and finish with eating habits and 11 A* grades at GCSE. It’s about a complete package of wellness, confidence and happiness. Peer-led learning can be a game changer for young and developing teens. As many parents will have experienced, trying to suggest something to your teenager “cold”, as a grown up – can be less than fruitful. But let a cool older girl or boy make the same suggestion, and often “hey presto” is the effect.”(more)