Boys only secondary education - experiences please

[babyjames]

Please talk to me about your experiences of boys only for secondary education.

[parentteacher]

i am teaching at an all boys mainstream school. I think they do really well, and they benefit from not having to think about girls during classes. Also, boys do develop later than girls (clear evidence watching 6th form lessons with girls when all the boys can do is giggle about fairly inane things, whereas girls much more focused). Boys still think it is hilarious to draw willies on ALL their books - WHY???

[ameliagrey]

Can you give a bit more info about your concerns and what you DS is like?

[babyjames]

He is only young still so don't really know yet! I know can't really make such a big decision yet but we are trying to decide if to move house for better State schools whilst prices are cheaper in the area we like. If we don't move now we may lose the chance! We have the option of a bursary at a small coed Indie school then a government part funded boys secondary. You pay fees but not full amount. I am keen on extra sports, music and drama. Would boys concentrate better without distraction of girls or are they just very rowdy!

[BackforGood]

My ds goes to an all boys secondary. Well, the 6th form is theoretically joint with the girls' school round the corner. He has loved it (done 5 years now). Difficult to put into words really, but I think most of the staff there really "get" boys, and have obviously chosen to teach in an all boys' school. I certainly don't think they are rowdy through being boys only. I'm not sure what your concerns are. ds's only negtive thought when he moved up were that there wasn't really any singing there, but that could be dependant on the school /music tacher as much as the fact it's all boys.

[JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar]

We decided against. I can completely see how teachers at a boys school might "get" boys, as BackForGood says, however I really do think it depends on your son. Having said that the main reason we decided against the boys school near us is that it is quite traditional; it's that that wouldn't have suited ds more than there not being any girls.

I wouldn't have been able to make the decision tbh until ds was that much older.

Out of interest, how does this part government-funded school work? I didn't think the state funded any independent schools, at least not in England.

[happygardening]

When we were looking for a senior school 4-5 yrs ago I asked lots of teachers for their opinions on coed versus single sex. i was surprised that nearly all sat firmly on the fence (in my profession we're not know for our fence sitting). I have DS1 at coed, DS2 at single sex we choose these schools not because of this but because of the other things they offered my individual children. Having experienced both I think that the teachers in the single sex are very boy orientated and that this is probably a good thing, but on the other hand the one on the coed likes the contact with girls. Now I'm sitting on the fence! From my own experience boys do not need girls to be a "civilising influence" or to "moderate their behaviour."

[millpond]

My DS moved to a single sex school last September and is so much happier there than he was at a co-ed. I can't quite put my finger on it, certainly the whole place and the teachers are geared up for boys, but the boys themselves seem to behave differently without girls around. There seems less of a pack mentality, lots of room for differences and an acceptance of individuality. Discipline is certainly stronger.

I would never have thought that my DS was boys school material, but he certainly is, I obviously just didn't recognise it....hopefully you will know which suits your DS best!

[Colleger]

In my experience, being around girls often brings the worst out in boys!

[minesawine]

I looked at both boys and co-ed schools for my son who starts in September. I chose the co-ed in the end because I felt the atmosphere was much better in the mixed school and certainly the behaviour less boistrous with less rough and tumble. I think it is never to early for boy to understand and work with females. I would go co-ed every time.

[ameliagrey]

OP_ how have you got a bursary at this stage and what do you mean by a Govnt, part funded sec school? Is the 2nd school private and if so why is it part funded? This should not make any difference to your choice of sex anyway.
re. bursary- usually they are given after you have applied and sometimes taken an entrance exam.

[Suffolkgirl1]

DS1 is at all boys secondary. Absolutely loves it. Many more good friends than he had at primary. Socially he mixes with girls on the bus, at scouts, youth club etc. We choose the school for academic reasons rather than because it was single sex but I have never regretted it.
There is lots of research regarding boys and girls and their different learning styles. Interestingly a good indi near me although co-ed educates the girls and boys completely separately until 6th form for this reason.

[Theas18]

All my 3 are at nominally single sex schools. I say "nominally" because there 2 schools are on the same site and so travel is mixed and extra curricular stuff- orchestras etc are part mixed, part joint (why is there a boys school clarinet ensemble and a girls school clarinet ensemble, but a singly huge joint flute choir.... dunno!). Extra curricular drama is mixed mostly but with interesting twists depending on which school is "hosting"- last year the boys put on a midsummer nights dream, and had girls in the "female roles" but the funkiest, punkiest black and neon boy fairies for instance...

6th form is again sort of joint with some communal and some separate areas. Subjects that have lots of applicants eg sciences have several boys and several girls 6th form classes but music, with 4 kids doing A2 is of course, mixed.

DD1 has been through the whole school and it was great for her.

DS is year 11 and it has suited him fine, but he'd do well in a mixed environment too- he's mature and focused- I can see that girls can be a distraction if the boys want to "play up" to them.... Mind you girls hold no mystery really either for him having 2 sisters.

THey don't really ever "miss out" on having girls around in this setting but I think boys only for lessons is good for them.

[babyjames]

Not to sure about the bursary offer at the moment. We have been investigating schools for a while and expressed interest in this one a while back. They wrote to us and said the school is offering a number of bursarys and Scholarships to celebrate 100 years. The Secondary School is a State Maintained Boys Boarding School which allows day students. You pay fees to board and you also pay as a day student but much less than Private. I think there are about 35 around the country. Thanks for posting. Very interesting.

[JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar]

Ah, so it's a state school and not an independent. Sorry to split hairs.

[ameliagrey]

I think you should think about it much nearer the time. This all seems a bit theoretical- how old is your DD?

[ameliagrey]

sorry- DS!

[JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar]

Meant also to say, be sure you'll fulfil the admissions criteria before buying a house (bearing in mind schools can change hugely in a few years) on the basis of a school.

I get the impression that state boarding schools are there to meet quite specific niche markets (children of parents in the forces or who live in remote areas, for example).