A leadership programme for young women at the Bermuda High School is to hold its first middle school conference over the Easter break.

“She Leads: A Real World Readiness Programme“ was launched in 2019 through a partnership between BHS and HSBC Bermuda for young women heading into their final year of high school.

The 2019 and 2021 summer cohorts were made up of students from BHS, the Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy.

In 2022, the programme was expanded to welcome students from the Bermuda Institute, Mount Saint Agnes Academy and one home school.

Linda Parker, the head of BHS, said the conference, from March 27 to 29 would offer a condensed version of the leadership and development programme to M3 pupils.

She added: “By imparting some of these skills and tools earlier, we can really help set these young women up for success as they move into high school and beyond.”

So far, almost 80 young women have taken part in the programme.

“She Leads” is aimed at connecting students across schools, teaching coping skills for stress, tools to boost confidence and strengthen resilience, public speaking skills, and leadership capabilities through networking, personal strengths and character development.

Ms Parker said the Easter course would offer a “mini version” of the transformational week.

Sessions will run from 9am to 3.30pm at the BHS Innovation Centre.

Judy Doidge, the HSBC executive sponsor, said: “It has been rewarding to be a part of the journeys of 80 young women in the ‘She Leads’ programme.

“We continue to be grateful for the community’s support over the past three years and now look forward to offering this unique public-private opportunity to our female middle school students, helping to empower them as they progress both academically and personally.”

Ms Doidge thanked the BHS charitable trust for its support.

Students in M3 will be nominated by their schools to take part.

Home-schooled students who wish to take part can contact the She Leads co-ordinator, Julie Butler, at jbutler@bhs.bm, and further details can be found on the BHS website.

Details on the upcoming She Leads summer programme will be released in the weeks ahead.

The programme is scheduled to run from July 3 to 7 at BHS and is open to young women from all schools on the island.