Hi Niamh,
It’s good to hear that in recent years you’ve noticed a dramatic shift in perceptions around gender roles and the general outlook is more progressive. Whilst you have put forward a number of reasons for this shift I think you should very much focus on the work that has been done in your school collectively to change the mindset. As you mooted dur to societal influences many of the children coming to school for the first time already identify certain characteristics and roles as belonging only to boys or girls because of gender preconceptions and there is a significant job of work to be done at school to challenge and debunk these myths It takes time and perseverance and from what you’ve outlined its something your school has succeeded in doing. Hats off to all involved.