No Good Girls Here
By Wayne Revitt, Head of Junior School
What Does it mean to raise girls who are not good but bold, brave and wholly themselves?
This powerful provocation lies at the heart of a cultural transformation that has redefined the Junior School experience at Penrhos. It is a question that challenges outdated norms and embraces the dynamic needs of young girls growing up in a rapidly changing world.
At Penrhos, we have moved beyond the so-called ‘Curse of the Good Girl’ – a term coined by Rachel Simmons to describe the emotional toll of perfectionism and people-pleasing on girls. For too long, being ‘good’ has meant being compliant, quiet and risk-averse. Today, our Junior School champions a different vision: confident, courageous and authentic learners – girls who lead their own lives.
This journey began with a strategic and values-driven pivot. We reimagined Early Learning through a new vision that honours curiosity and wonder – the natural instincts of our students. From there, we aligned with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), reinforcing the Penrhos Strategic Plan and our commitment to a future-focused education. The result is a profound cultural shift driven by student agency, emotional intelligence and inclusive leadership. Programs like Dragon Explorers, Dragon Quest and the IB Learner Profile foster resilience, curiosity and ethical courage in our students.
Real transformation, however, requires more than new programs – it demands a mindset shift.
Inspired by Carol Dweck’s work on growth mindset, we’ve nurtured a school culture where setbacks are embraced as opportunities for learning. This is especially vital for girls, who have historically been socialised to fear failure. Our classrooms are now brave spaces where trial, error and reflection are encouraged. Girls are no longer expected to be perfect; they are empowered to be real.
We’ve also brought families along this journey. As I often remind them,
“Childhood is not a race.”
We invite parents to reconsider conventional measures of success and embrace a values-based education that champions self-awareness, global citizenship and compassion. Our motto, Love Grows Here, captures this ethos perfectly – it reminds us that excellence and empathy go hand in hand.
The shift is visible. Enrolments have soared. Our IB Evaluation Report commended the school’s emphasis on student voice, agency and embodiment of the IB Learner Profile. Our girls no longer sit quietly in rows – they lead assemblies, initiate service projects and debate with confidence. They are not merely ‘good’ – they are brave, creative and ready to shape the world. They are a ‘force for good.’
As we share the Penrhos story with our contemporaries across the state, nation and globe, we do so with pride. We’re revolutionising girls’ education and raising a generation of girls unbound by expectation and liberated by possibility. Because at Penrhos, Courage Starts Here – and there are no good girls, only great ones.
