By Unknown

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When Dr. Roopan Gill looks back on her time at Trafalgar Castle School, she remembers a place where girls were expected to lead, question and create — and where doing so was not only encouraged but celebrated. “Trafalgar gave me the foundation to believe that my voice mattered,” said Gill, Class of 2002, now an OBGYN and co-founder of the global nonprofit Vitala Global Community. “In that environment, I developed the confidence to step into leadership roles early.”

Her story reflects a growing body of evidence that all-girls schools play a unique role in developing confidence and ambition. Trafalgar Castle School in Whitby has been doing that work for more than 150 years.

Research suggests that girls in single-sex schools are more likely to raise their hands, take risks and see themselves as leaders. Nearly 87 per cent of girls’ school students feel their opinions are respected at school, compared with only 58 per cent of girls in coed environments, according to a study by Allegheny College’s Dr. Richard A. Holmgren.

Other studies echo that pattern. Dr. Katherine Kinzler of the University of Chicago found that girls in all-girls schools not only demonstrate greater confidence in female leadership but also grow more interested in leadership positions as they age. Coed peers, meanwhile, tend to lose that interest.

That advantage is clear at Trafalgar, where 87 per cent of students say the school has encouraged them to find their voice and more than 94 per cent cite leadership opportunities as one of its greatest strengths.

The school’s academic track record is strong — more than 85 per cent of students make the Honour Roll, nearly 90 per cent graduate with high honours and 100 per cent receive offers of post-secondary admission. But Trafalgar’s Head of School, Melissa Knight-Johnson, said the real difference is how students learn to contribute and be heard.

“One of the things that came out in our most recent student survey is that 70 per cent of our Grade seven to 12 students feel their voices are included in decision-making,” she explained. “And we’re talking about teenage girls. Hitting 70 per cent — thinking that we’re listening to them — is pretty good.”

That approach starts early, from classroom norms in the lower grades to leadership courses every senior student must take before graduation. By Grade 11 and 12, students are expected to practice leadership in tangible ways — running clubs, teaching workshops or contributing to the school’s strategic plan.

It’s all captured in Trafalgar’s motto — “Nothing a Trafalgar Girl Can’t Handle”. As Knight-Johnson puts it, “It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about knowing how to ask questions, leverage resources and use the skills they’ve developed. And they know they have the sisterhood of Trafalgar behind them.”

Gill credits that environment with shaping her path. At Trafalgar, every leadership role was held by a girl — something she said normalized ambition and made it natural to imagine herself in positions of influence.

“Being in an all-girls school meant there was no ceiling on what we imagined possible,” she said. “It instilled the belief that women belong in every room — whether in science, medicine, technology or business.”

That belief now underpins her work as a physician, humanitarian and social entrepreneur tackling global health inequities. As co-founder and executive director of Vitala Global Community, she leads initiatives that expand reproductive healthcare access across multiple countries. In 2023, she was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women — a testament to the confidence and resilience she says were nurtured at Trafalgar.

“The legacy shows up in my courage to innovate and my resilience to lead boldly,” Gill said. “The confidence and leadership cultivated at Trafalgar are visible in every aspect of my work.”

Trafalgar also fosters something harder to quantify — belonging. More than 78 per cent of students say they can be themselves at school — a foundation that makes confidence possible.

As Knight-Johnson explained, students don’t leave Trafalgar asking for permission. “They’re not asking for a seat at the table. They’ve already got it.”

Gill agreed. “An all-girls school is one of the greatest gifts you can give your daughter. She’ll grow up in an environment that nurtures both ambition and community — empowering her to step into the world ready to lead.”

Discover more Trafalgar Girl advantages and sign up to attend an admissions open house at trafalgarcastle.ca.