The Girls' School Association (GSA) has never been afraid to stick its head above the parapet. In 2009, the professional body for the heads of girls' private schools attracted column inches when its then president, Jill Berry, said girls shouldn't expect to "have it all" – a career and a family, that is. Her predecessor, Cynthia Hall, had sparked controversy when she said girls in mixed schools could be held back by "domineering boys".
Undeterred by the furore on each occasion, the GSA is about to publish its first book, a parenting title on bringing up girls. Due to arrive in bookshops next month, Your Daughter contains advice for parents on everything from teenage tantrums to tattoos.
The book builds on the GSA's interactive website, My Daughter, launched in 2009, which tackles topics such as alcohol abuse, eating disorders and confusion about sexuality, and also, naturally, offers parents advice on choosing the right school.
Both the book and website came about as a result of parental demand, says Gillian Low, who has just come to the end of her year-long stint as GSA president. "Heads were saying that parents were coming to them to seek advice on issues outside the educational agenda. As well as being anxious about homework, exams, revision or university, they were also saying 'my daughter is 13, she's throwing tantrums and slamming doors and we are having lots of arguments. What can I do?' They didn't know where to turn for advice."
