To ask if Co-Ed is better than single sex..

I think a lot depends on the child and the school.

I went to a single sex school, it was the wrong school for me but others loved it.

I’m not sure of the answer in todays world. I went to both. First SS then co-ed, co-ed was more fun but I definitely noticed the prioritising of boys by everyone, teachers and other students. I think single sex for girls is probably best, gives them breathing space away from male dominated spaces helps them build up a strong core of self confidence.

DD is at single sex, it’s been very good for her as she prefers STEM subjects so hasn’t had to face the hurdle of boys dominating those subjects (as I faced at my co-ed). She’s going on to study maths and computer science at A Level. There is a lot of female-positive role modelling at the school. She has a brother, male relatives and friends, so she’s not totally isolated from the male population. And a lot of teenage boys just don’t treat girls well so it’s better to be away from that.

I am also pleased she never had to deal with the issue of sharing toilets or changing rooms with boys.

The downsides are all the dramas! She now tries to stay out of it as much as possible but it was quite difficult for a while, until she learnt to avoid the girls that were always creating a problem about everything, and found a better friendship group.

Or a change in bra! If you wear a black or white bra under any white shirt it will show through. You need a nude/beige tshirt bra (and then you’ll get a loud debate about whether you are or are not wearing a bra).

Kids aren't bloody mmeant to be segregated from each other! Fuck's sake

I went to single sex and enjoyed it. I would tend towards coed (as I found it a little difficult interacting with boys at uni), but the reports of the sexual harassment and disruption in class are making me think twice. Though in reality we only have coed in the area

We did it the opposite way round to conventional wisdom – DS went single sex and DD2 went co-ed.

I do think a lot of it is down to the individual DC rather than some generalisations about girls not being able to do science or boys not being able to do drama at co-ed. I mean, if we're just quoting personal anecdotes my DD2 has 6 STEM GCSEs, 3 STEM A levels and (now) 2 STEM degrees. She also represented her school in 8 or 9 different sports so I'm not seeing lots of evidence that she was held back by the boys…

But she's very strong-minded and fiercely independent (her health issues have forced her to be), so I guess maybe she is just a strong enough character to not put up with too much shit.

I found coed. Better for boys and single sex for girls. Results seem to support this generally but obviously some schools buck the trend and some individuals do better in certain settings.

My 2 children are in very different schools. I have a DD in a single sex school and a DS in a co -ed school. My Ds is very flamboyant and in primary he had no male friends so it was unfair to put him in the equivalent boys school. His school is rated good by OFSTED not outstanding like his sisters single sex school. It is in quite a rough area but he is thriving their and has loads of friends.

DD's single sex school is OFSTED outstanding and very academically pressured. There is alot of bitchiness and in a very affulent area and you have lots of very rich girls who flaunt their wealth and instagram stories of their frequent Gucci/chanel purchases.

At my DS's school there is alot of poverty and alot of kids who parent themselves - there is quite a bit of disruption and fights usually caused by the boys.

In reality I actually prefer the ethos of the Co ed school. I don't think the girls would behave like this in a co ed environment . Saying that the academic results in the girls school blow the co ed school out the water.

My nephew goes to the boys single sex school and is thriving also but it is a very macho environment and he is a typical lad who loves footie and his x box. She doesn't wants her DD to be in a girl only bubble of bitchiness and wealth so she is going to the co ed school that my son is at.

I live in a grammar area where we have a choice of 6 single sex schools. We are very lucky some areas don't have this option.

I went to single sex and thought I hated it. However, I think it was really my home life that was shit. It was a single sex comp. Compared to my bestie in a co-Ed, I was very sheltered. Sexual assaults were rife, pressure to have early sex, and good old sexism. I was in a culture where “strong girls” would be asked to move furniture, and where maths, science etc were free from domineering males. My kids all go to single sex schools. I think (personally) it's better that way 11-16, then co-ed 6th form when everyones a bit more mature.

I hated my all girls' school. I've never felt at ease in an all female environment (still don't). I pay a lot of money to send my kids to a coed instead of a SS (private instead of grammar - coed non selective state options weren't good). Plenty of thr boys do drama and the girls do STEM and sport.

Statistically girls do better in single sex schools, boys do better in mixed.

I went to a single sex selective (grammar) school and my brothers went to boys single sex grammars. Very common where I live. I absolutely loved it. Best days of my life. I have nieces who go single sex and are thriving and a nephew going to a single sex. Nephew is very academic and has come out as gay. Has been suffering bullying in all boys school and considering moving. I think for him a co-Ed school would be better as perhaps more diverse/ more accepting?

My dd is coming up to transition time and I want her to go to single sex. She finds the boys in her class very irritating and frequently talks about how they disrupt the class and their behaviour gets the class kept in at break- she's keen on girls only.

So I went to a single sex and know no different - very happy with my experience. There will be typical bitchy behaviour regardless of school for girls as it is a typical trait. I really didn’t expect to experience the sexism I did when leaving school.

I’m lucky I haven’t experienced sexual assault within my school / academic life but I strongly believe my single sex edu action prepared me as well as possible about what was acceptable male behaviour and what wasn’t, so I would like to think now I’d be able to stand up for myself and have done since.

I work with my DH in education now (consultants) and I wouldn’t dream of sending my child to a coed. DH will only work in a coed for his own personal enjoyment of a job as he likes the “banter” both genders give, but he makes many safeguarding reports a day. A DAY.

The world may not be single sex but it is made for one in mind only. So give girls the best opportunity going forward whilst they’re young and malleable.

I know I wouldn’t be as successful as I am without going to single sex school

Neither is the world, the working world or the social world made up of adolescents.

To be fair, those statistics are from 7 years ago. But I would be amazed if things have improved.

More than 600 rapes in three school years. In schools.

@LarryTrotter @whenwillthemadnessend

I was literally just listening to Laura Bates talking about this on a R4 podcast. Here’s an article with more detail.

Specifically about a rape a day, just to clarify.

I can well believe 1/3 report sexual assault during school life.

DH and I went coed and we assumed that’s what our kids would do. But DD got a place at an all girls selective school so we gave it a try. It has been an absolute revelation and I am now very pro single sex for girls. The freedom that she experiences - academically, socially, physically- is a world away from my years of constant sexual harassment and put downs any time I out-performed a boy.

DD has a female cousin the same age that she is very close to who is in a coed school. From listening to them chat the female friendship issues are the same at both schools (although at the coed there is an extra layer of conflict over boys/boyfriends) but the misogyny, harassment and gender stereotyping at the coed school is just as bad as in my day. My niece has fallen into the ‘maths/science is hard’ mindset whereas DD is loving challenging herself and planning to do chemistry and further maths in senior school.

DS is at a boys selective. I feel he would be equally fine at a coed however he chose the school because it’s very sporty as well as academic and he’s happy there. It’s also next door to DD’s school which is convenient.

Really? In the UK? Wow, I've never heard this statistic! Do you have a link or can you point me to where I can read more about this? Thanks.

We are sending DD to a single sex school in September as it is a better fit for her, and also for all the reasons previously cited in this thread. But I also like the set up at the other local school. The boys and girls are taught separately but share the same space at break and lunch.

The world is not single sex

The working world is not single sex

The social world is not single sex

So? The world of a child and the world of school are not the same as the adult working or social world in loads of ways. Plus it is possible for girls to socialise and do extra-curricular activities outside school which are mixed.