MORE than 100 girls from Cowley International College had the chance to chat to a range of professionally successful women with careers ranging from barristers to vets and journalists.

The aim of the 'speed dating' session was to show the 109 Year 8 girls that women from all walks of life can achieve their goals, despite any challenges they may face.

The girls, aged 12 and 13, heard from five speakers and then two women would sit with a table of eight girls and talk about their career paths, answering questions, until a bell rang and the women would move on to the next table.

Founder of the Girls Out Loud organisation, which brought the event to the school, Jane Kenyon, said she believes girls from areas like St Helens, where aspirations have been found to be lower than average, can benefit from the session.

She said: "This is a taster event and the aim is to get the girls thinking about what's possible.

"The main programme we are running is called Big Sister, Little Sister and this will involve 20 girls who are coasting being given a one-to-one mentor to help."

She added: "Today we've brought along four women who start things off by telling their back stories in six minutes."

One woman described how she became a barrister despite being told in her youth "only people who go to Oxford or Cambridge can do that", "you have to know somebody" and "you can't be a barrister with your accent".

Another women, who said she had been bullied about being overweight and had struggled with English as a child, described how she gained the confidence to become a production journalist and now works in advertising.

Cameron Sheeran, principal at Cowley International College, which is in Hard Lane, said: "Our mission is to create independent, considerate, healthy and aspirational people that communicate well.

"We are keenly focused on giving our students the best chance of a fulfilling their career goals after they leave education.

"Engaging with Girls Out Loud to inspire, motivate and remove any confidence barriers to success is an important step in helping Cowley's young girls to be well-rounded citizens who realise their full potential."