December brings the festive cheer of Christmas, but it is also the perfect time to look back at the seasons of new beginnings that shape us. Whether you are someone who still cannot wait for the autumn back-to-school vibes or you carry a bit of anxiety from years spent in classrooms, the seemingly endless cycles of education we all went through feel like a normal, almost mandatory part of life. But it was not always this way.

By Fiona Cross

As the year draws to a close, we want to pause and reflect on that journey from being excluded from classrooms and workshops to becoming leaders in industries once off-limits. It is a story of resilience, determination and transformation.

Education a Right and a Hard-Won Privilege

The right to education is something many of us take for granted, but for most of history, it was anything but guaranteed for women. Across the world, girls were systematically excluded from formal schooling, with the assumption that their place was in the home, not in classrooms or workshops.

Progress has been uneven, and in many ways, it is still ongoing. In Europe and North America, women began to enter universities in the 19th century, though usually in limited numbers and with strict restrictions.

The University of London became the first in the UK to open its degrees to women in 1878. Cambridge allowed women to attend lectures in the late 19th century, but it was not until 1948 that they were granted full degrees. The trades were even slower to adapt. Apprenticeships in engineering, plumbing or carpentry were seen as male-only well into the 20th century. The message was clear that education and skilled work were not a woman’s place.

And although a lot has changed for the better, the global picture remains very complex. Legal barriers, cultural traditions and economic hardship continue to prevent millions from completing even a basic education.

Women in Trades Today

How many times have you seen an article or just a headline about a first woman who did this or that? Quite a few times, probably. And while celebrating these milestones is important, it sometimes feels like we have to keep pointing out the obvious. Women can do these things, but should it not be completely normal?

Across the globe, women are breaking into industries once firmly shut against them. Still, in the UK, fewer than 5% of tradespeople are women. The number is slowly rising, but it also explains why those firsts still make headlines. Bias, lack of visibility and old stereotypes still discourage young women from considering a trade. Every success story chips away at those barriers. Every woman who earns her qualifications, manages a site or starts her own workshop makes the path wider for those who come after.

Learning, Earning, Empowering

So, as we reflect on the lessons of the past year, let us rethink what back to school really means. It is not just classrooms and textbooks; it is workshops, apprenticeships and hands-on skills. It is about celebrating the hard-won right to learn, and making sure the next generation of girls and women can aim higher, dream bigger and build the futures they choose.

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