Above all, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the girls, their parents and carers, their SHiFT Guides, other dedicated professionals, colleagues, and researchers who shared their time, experiences, expertise, and trust, in contributing to this work. Your voices have shaped this report and its recommendations, and they must shape the future of policy and practice.

Whilst every conversation I engaged in throughout developing and writing this report deepened my understanding, challenged my own biases, and strengthened my commitment to changing outcomes alongside the girls in these systems… Policy and practice must, and can, evolve to better support this invisibilised group. To truly improve the situation, we must learn from past mistakes, explore alternative models for solutions, and, most importantly, recognise that girls themselves hold both the knowledge of the issues and the key to meaningful change.

Ella Armstrong, Learning and Insights Lead