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At Queenwood, a Year 5 initiative is having a powerful impact. Led by Pastoral Care Coordinator, Mrs Pip Turner, the Independence Project has sparked surprising confidence, capability, and pride in students, proving just how much young people can achieve when given the chance.
The Year 5 Independence Project at Queenwood encourages girls to step beyond their comfort zones, and the results have been remarkable. From everyday tasks to small but meaningful acts of responsibility, students discover new confidence and capability. For both girls and their parents, it has become a powerful lesson in trust, resilience, and learning to let go, just enough.
“A sense of belonging is deeply human, but feeling needed, not needy, is what truly empowers young people,” says Mrs Pip Turner, Year 5 Teacher and Pastoral Care Coordinator. “At Queenwood, we believe independence isn’t just beneficial, it’s essential.” As young girls begin to navigate the path to adulthood, the ability to act with confidence, make decisions, and take manageable risks builds lasting resilience and self-belief.
There’s growing concern about the rise in mental health challenges among young people. In The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt explores how smartphones and social media are reshaping childhood, and not always for the better. His deeper message is clear: young people need real-world experiences. Time to play, take risks, face challenges, and grow.
“We believe in safe risk-taking, and the deep growth that comes from stepping beyond your comfort zone.”
— MRS PIP TURNER
Because that’s what growing up is meant to be. “Children thrive when they’re given the chance to try, fail, and try again, without overprotective oversight,” says Pip.
Inspired by these ideas, Queenwood introduced the Independence Project for Year 5. Loosely modelled on the American Let Grow Project, each student chose a task they’d never done on their own before, anything from cooking a family meal to managing household laundry for a week. The tasks were selected in partnership with parents to ensure they were challenging.
The impact was immediate. “I never knew I had the courage to complete hard activities by myself,” said Mia. “It felt like freedom was washing over me,” added Sybil.
Parents were equally surprised and impressed by the growth they saw. “She’s very capable and can easily do more,” one parent remarked. “This project allows her to grow in confidence, and it has shown us what she’s truly ready for.”
The project reflects Queenwood’s continued commitment to stretch students in meaningful, age-appropriate ways, building confidence through challenge. “We believe in safe risk-taking, and the deep growth that comes from stepping beyond your comfort zone,” says Pip. “And we believe in our girls. When they test their limits, the benefits are exponential. They gain confidence, learn to manage fear, cope with setbacks and crucially, their parents learn to step back, and let them grow.”
The success of the Year 5 Independence Project is a timely and powerful reminder that when we trust young people with responsibility, they rise to the occasion. Sometimes, all they need is the space to surprise us.
If the idea of raising confident, capable, independent girls resonates with you, see for yourself what’s possible at Queenwood. Book a tour, and discover a school where girls are trusted, challenged, and supported to grow into their best selves.
