England's World Cup Lionesses are living proof that strong girls become strong women through sport

A true increase in awareness of women’s sport must begin with girls at school. Teachers like me are up to the challenge

“We play for a nation that doesn’t even know our names.” That’s the tagline of Germany’s women’s football team in their official advert for this year’s World Cup. It's a shocking admittance of invisibility, given the team has eight European Cup victories, two world championships and has helped Germany achieve second-place in the Fifa Women’s World Rankings. These are women who play to win. They are smart, talented and undeniably competitive. But there is something deeply troubling about their own nation’s ignorance towards their work.

Media attention is certainly part of this. Women in Sport research found that coverage dedicated to women’s sport amounts to less than 4 per cent of global sports media. And while initiatives such as the BBC’s Change The Game commitment to broadcast more women’s sport is welcome news, the overall attention to women’s athleticism is staggeringly low.

We need another figure to take charge of the issue so that girls and women get the attention they deserve in athletics. Schools are poised to be the most influential actors in the fight for recognition of women in sport, encouraging girls to stay involved in sports as they get older and recognising how vital it is for female coaches to be positive, healthy role models.

This call to action comes at a time when recent research on attitudes towards physical activity in teenagers showed that only 45 per cent of girls see the relevance of the skills they learn in physical education classes to their lives, as compared with 60 per cent of boys. Simultaneously, the research also shows that schoolwork pressures, low confidence and body image issues are much larger barriers to taking part in physical activity for girls than boys.

With this in this mind, PE and sports should be a priority for schools looking to empower girls so they develop a connection to physical activity that goes beyond performance and becomes an actual part of their toolkit. As teachers, we know that children are much happier after they’ve run around for an hour. Yet, according to the World Health Organisation, 84 per cent of girls aged five to 15 in England do not get their recommended 60 minutes of activity a day.

We believe strongly that changing the attitudes towards girls’ sports involves nurturing their sporting careers from an early age.

At Blackheath High School, where I work, we know there’s value in making sure our girls find the fun in being active by offering a diversity of opportunities. While the little ones make the memories of bonding with their teammates through circus-themed gymnastics days, Year 10 and 11 girls are introduced to the high-power, mentally strengthening attributes of rowing. We’ve also diversified the curriculum to ensure sports are viewed as legitimate paths for both health and as professions, by removing rounders and replacing it with cricket.

Both physically and mentally, sport gives girls the chance to learn about themselves and their bodies in a safe, supportive way. Our school ensures that girls get that support by connecting them with professional and retired professional athletes through a visiting series and by working with amazing female coaches.

The hope is that creating role models and encouraging professional sports playing will lead to girls wanting to excel and become elite players. Of course, we are not expecting every girl to be the next Nicola Adams OBE, but integrating professional sport into the daily lives of girls can set them up to learn about what makes them feel strong and competitive.

At the forefront of this movement is the major point that sport and physical activity have too many benefits for girls to ignore as they grow up. Women who are physically active live longer, avoid cardiovascular diseases and have an easier time adapting to endocrine changes. Psychologically, girls who continue to play team sports as adults have a better time managing stress and are effective team players.

A true increase in awareness of women’s sport must begin with girls at school. Strong girls become strong women. Now, more than ever, we must smash the stereotypes that male sport is the most fun to watch, play and support. Our girls need to know that their physical abilities are valued just as much as their male peers. As teachers, we are up to the challenge.

Carol Chandler-Thompson is headteacher at Blackheath High School in south London