My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

Advantages of Single sex education for BOYS?

14 replies

lljkk · 05/10/2012 11:17

Any experience or opinions?

OP posts:
Report
milkshake3 · 05/10/2012 11:40

watching with interest as we are trying to decide between single sex and coed.....

Report
3nationsfamily · 05/10/2012 11:56

My DS (11) has just moved to a boys only boarding school. Already one of the biggest differences is his interest and participation in music and the arts. He is in the choral society and the chpael choir- singing most days. He is not a particularly super duper chorister but had been involved in the Gang Show with cubs, but in his previous school he had dropped out fo the school choir as he was one of only 2 boys. He has aucitioned for the little drama production too, whereas at my DD (mixed) school there are about 6 boys vs 45 girls on stage in the school production each year- although more boys in backstage/ teccie roles.

Too early to tell yet as to the academic advantage for him personally- but the school does have a higher participation in modern languages than is average for boys at GCSE level.

The school do regular activities with the partner girls schools in the area which includes joint drama productions, CCF camps as well as discos and Ceilidhs (we are in Scotland). I certainly see lots of teenage girls cheering on the sidelines of the rugby pitch on a Saturday afternoon after which seems to be the main socialising time!

Report
Theas18 · 05/10/2012 12:07

DS just done GCSEs at boys school on same site as girls. Lots of partner activities - music/drama etc . Socialising on the bus/after school. 6th for part shared for minority subjects.

As 3nations says boys sing more at boys schools and that has been very important to DS. Music generally is very well supported and they continue as they get older, without and obvious gender preference- there are plenty of flute playing boys and trombone/tuba playing girls for instance (though I probably shouldn't tell you that DS was chosen at primary to play his beloved french horn because he was big and strong enough to carry it!! Poor reason to choose but it worked for him!).

It seems that it's OK to be an all rounder- to both sing a lot (treble and now bass) or play chess but also be in the 1st team for rugby or what ever. There isn't a sterotype that " big masculine guys don't play the flute" etc

Academically there is no stigma to arts subjects either. THough there is a very strong science bias higher up the school - I think that reflects parental pressure and the fact that the ethnic mix is probably asian > others.

Ds was bullied at primary but not at secondary. He just fits in. Too many variables to work out exactly why though.

Report
BackforGood · 05/10/2012 22:38

To be fair, a lot of the replies on this thread might help you.

Report
Anteater · 05/10/2012 23:37

Defo agree that SS education is so good for many boys. My 13yo DS sings in choir (like an angel of course!), takes singing lessons (GR6 i think) plays in the Orchestra and brass bands, is not distracted in lessons and has fab time when on hols. If possible its a no brainer to me.

Report
ll31 · 06/10/2012 20:01

ds in mixed school and is participating fully in music,arts etc - dont see the issues posters describe. it is prob more the particular school that makes difference!

Report
1805 · 06/10/2012 21:47

I like it for my ds (y6).
He has a large group of boys to choose friends from.
All boys partake in everything. There is no worrying about what is 'girly' - people just do what they want to do, be it music, art, sport, academics, whatever.
Also, the boys are expected to behave like boys at playtime, and run, play football and throw balls around. Lots of sport and playtimes too.
For my ds it works very well.
As with any school though, you have to match it to your dc. This type of school will not suit every single boy in the world.

Report
23balloons · 07/10/2012 11:22

ds has gone from a mixed primary to a single sex secondary and is thriving. He found in the primary the teachers (all female) favoured the girls. He wasn't coping well in year 6, he is genuinely not interested in girls atm and was furious when a couple of them got his phone number and started texting him. He didn't want to take a girl to the end of year disco and is infinitely happier in an all boys school. He is super sporty and not interested in drama/singing so that isn't a part of it for him. He is at a sports academy school and the extra curricual sports are amazing, most days there are 2-3 on offer, this really suits him.

I am not saying it would suit all boys as a friend of his has had girlfriends since year 4, he is very musical and spends about 2 hrs a night on the phone texting & talking to girls. You need to work out where your own ds would thrive.

Report
happygardening · 07/10/2012 12:18

There's a very good video on the Winchester College website about boys and singing in single sex choirs. If someone told me how to link it in on here i would!!
Obviously single sex is not perfect especially for full boarders but I hope and believe the advantages out weigh the disadvantages. In a single sex school everything is boy orientated in my DS's situation right down to the endless boxes of breakfast cereal and doughnuts.

Report
Oldandcobwebby · 07/10/2012 12:27

As a boy, I had the choice of either single sex or mixed state grammar schools.It would have been hell for me in an all male school. All they seem to think of is sport ffs, and being away from my female friends would have sent me rushing to buy some rope. I cannot imagine a more mentally unhealthy environment than a school full of teenage boys.

Report
happygardening · 07/10/2012 13:09

Whilst I agree with Oldandcobwebby many boys schools especially in the independent sector are sports obsessed there are a few out there which are not.
Im not sure it has to be a "mentally unhealthy environment."

Report
creamteas · 07/10/2012 17:38

My DC go to single sex comps. They are are catchments schools, and I was skeptical about it before they went. But it has been great.

There is much less of a tendency to see subjects as masculine or feminine so they don't restrict themselves academically. The boys school is not overly macho and quiet non-sporty boys are part of the community (The school does have excellent pastoral care, so of course it might be that).

The two schools are linked, and have joint drama productions and team up for any mixed sports events such as school swimming competitions etc

I think it works really well.

Report
happygardening · 07/10/2012 18:12

Couldn't agree more only 4 boys in my DS's mixed comp do art to GCSE where as at my DS's inde

Report
happygardening · 07/10/2012 18:13

Couldn't agree more only 4 boys in my DS's mixed comp do art to GCSE where as at my DS's independent boys school the up take is significantly higher.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.