Girls' Brigade - Sections in Girls' Brigade

Sections in Girls' Brigade

In Scotland, the Girls Brigade is divided into the following sections:

  • 4 to 7 years - Explorer (Primary 1-Primary 3)
  • 8 to 11 years - Junior (Primary 4-Primary 7)
  • 12 to 18 years - Brigader (1st Year-6th Year)

In England and Wales, the Girls' Brigade is divided into the following Sections:

  • 4 to 8 years - Explorer
  • 8 to 11 years - Junior
  • 11 to 14 years - Senior
  • 14 to 18 years - Brigader
  • Optional 14–15 years (Year 10 in English school's system) - Foundation
  • Optional 15–16 years (Year 11 in English school's system) - Intermediate
  • Optional 16–17 years (Year 12 in English school's system) - Advanced
  • Optional 18+ years - Leader (Can take only after completing the three above stages as a Young Leader)

Girls cannot carry onto the next section of Young Leaders Training without completing the previous section. They may however start at a slightly older age. However if someone joins Girls' Brigade later in life and has not previously participated in Girls' Brigade they can complete Officer Training in order to gain Leader status.


As of 31 March 2005, there were 6,109 Explorers, 7,534 Juniors, 4,016 Seniors, 1,913 Brigaders, 405 Warrant Officers, 124 Supernumary Officers, 1,967 Officers in 707 Companies within England & Wales. All Officers are now called Leaders.

In other countries, the names of the Sections (sometimes called Units) may vary, as may the ages of girls in those units. These age variations are usually based around the local schooling ages. Explorers may be called Cadets. Brigaders are sometimes called Pioneers. In some countries, there are 4 different Sections or Units. For example, in Australia, the Units are:

  • Cadets - 5–7 years (Prep - Yr. 2)
  • Juniors - 8–11 years (Yr. 3 - Yr. 6)
  • Seniors - 12–13 years (Yr. 7 - Yr. 8)
  • Pioneers - 14–21 years (Yr. 9 to 21 years of age.)

In New Zealand the Girls Brigade companies are divided as follows:

  • Juniors - 5–8 years old (New Entrant/Yr. 1 - Yr. 4)
  • Seniors - 9–12 years old (Yr. 5 - Yr. 8)
  • Pioneers - 13–17 years old (Yr. 9 - Yr. 13 i.e., during High School)

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