Co-ed v Single-Sex secondary schools

guest42 · Post by **guest42** » Mon May 12, 2008 2:08 pm

The other concern I have with single-gender schools is given that relationships are going to happen in a few years I would prefer them in school rather than the alternative which, for the single-gender grammar school children around here, appears to be hanging around the outside of dodgy city centre pubs from the age of 14!

T.i.p.s.y · Post by **T.i.p.s.y** » Mon May 12, 2008 2:14 pm

guest42 wrote:The other concern I have with single-gender schools is given that relationships are going to happen in a few years I would prefer them in school rather than the alternative which, for the single-gender grammar school children around here, appears to be hanging around the outside of dodgy city centre pubs from the age of 14!

I think this depends on your area, the school they go to and how you try to introduce them to the opposite sex. If one merely wants to isolate them from the opposite sex for their teenage years then that is not healthy, but I'm sure most parents are happy for their kids to socialise in other ways, and will actively seek out ways for them to do this.

guest42 · Post by **guest42** » Mon May 12, 2008 2:21 pm

Well I understand the theory!! I am just not sure in practice how viable this is once they get into later teens.

Sam's Mum · Post by **Sam's Mum** » Mon May 12, 2008 4:34 pm

Hi Guest 42

My DD is at a co-ed prep school and the girls are no less bitchy! Guess that's just girls for you.

guest42 · Post by **guest42** » Mon May 12, 2008 5:27 pm

I'm not sure whether that makes me feel better or worse! I guess as a male I just don't GET it

Schoolbaglady · Post by **Schoolbaglady** » Mon May 12, 2008 5:53 pm

We thought about this one long and hard too. Our daughter is an only child and as we're such aged parents all her cousins are in their 20's and 30's. However, perhaps because of her year group right through primary having always been so boy heavy, and containing some rather disruptive elements, she expressed the wish to try a girls' school for secondary. There's also the option for possible change of school at A Level.
I went coed all the way through my schooling (aeons ago) and this didn't seem to eliminate the usual levels of girl nastiness which I think find a way to express whatever the gender makeup of the environment. I also remember being hideously distracted at A Level by a certain toothsome classmate...

T.i.p.s.y · Post by **T.i.p.s.y** » Mon May 12, 2008 5:56 pm

I wish I'd got as faras A'levels before I got distracted - unforunately it hapned much sooner than that for me.

Schoolbaglady · Post by **Schoolbaglady** » Mon May 12, 2008 6:16 pm

Late starter on all fronts, that's me. But seriously have no idea how this is going to work out. Feel there are pros and cons for both systems and only time will tell. Also, obviously, depends on sort of child you have. This whole moving onto secondary business seems such a leap in the dark and will probably have got it all wrong - but hey, that's the parental role, surely?!

T.i.p.s.y · Post by **T.i.p.s.y** » Mon May 12, 2008 6:20 pm

Thats what I like about 13+ schools. They can be co-ed from 3-13 and then only spend 5 years in single-sex when academically it's the most important time for exams.

Bexley Mum 2 · Post by **Bexley Mum 2** » Mon May 12, 2008 8:28 pm

I think if I had a daughter I'd be worried about subjecting her to an all female environment. I went to a mixed grammar and remember lots of bitchiness and nastiness from the girls; none from the boys. We have an all girls grammar near us and I get the impression it's all a bit intense.

Boys on the other hand, seem to me to be soooooo laid back. I just don't get the impression of any unpleasantness at my sons' all boys grammar.

AND, more importantly, there are so many studies which show that boys learn differently to girls and a single-sex school can focus on the best ways of teaching boys. There was an item in the news recently about the fact that boys are much better at English if they are taught in single sex classes. I can testify to this as my eldest was barely-competent at writing in early junior school, but is now considered gifted at his all-boys grammar. I do get a strong impression from his school that they know how boys tick and they know how to get the best out of them.

I know many would argue that they have to learn how to get on with girls but, it is only for 5 years, and, as Tipsy said, it's such an important 5 years for academic achievement. And, I might add, being at an all boys grammar didn't stop my eldest acquiring a girlfriend during his first term...