A feminist writer and human rights activist gave teenage girls some parting words of advice as the pupils attended school for the last time.

Natasha Walter, author of Living Dolls: Return of the Sexism, told school-leavers at all-girls Parliament Hill School, in Highgate Road, to follow a career that inspires them.

The 47-year-old warned the Year 11s not to be swayed by others’ expectations, but to be confident in their own ambitions.

“Superhead” Sue Higgins opened the leaving ceremony with a reflection on the students’ journey from being girls to becoming women during the five years they have been pupils.

The emotional day was rounded off with an end-of-year prom. It was the last time pupils would attend before receiving their GCSE results in August.

Kate Brown, achievement team leader of Year 11, said: “The girls were really buzzing from hearing Natasha speak.”