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Original poster

All Girls School

28 replies

tigertwist · 02/06/2013 09:22

Hi
DD off to an all girls (state GS) in September and as the time is getting closer was wanting to hear from anyone who may have experiences of an all girls environment for their DD.

She's my pfb so am worrying about every little thing! She's in a mixed primary and used to having the boys around and yet is more than happy to go on to an all girls school too. I guess as her parent am worrying that the 'bitchiness' may be more rife? Do they mix well with boys out of school socially? Do they still do the 'fashion' 'make up' thing even when no boys around?

I know there are pros and cons to everything- including single gender education but having no personal experience of it myself would really value people's opinions.

OP posts:
Rainbowinthesky · 02/06/2013 09:50

The majority of boys and girls from ds's school went to single sex secondaries. Nearly all of them kept in touch via social media and meet ups and ds is still good friends with many of the girls now he is in the sixth form.

Callofthefishwife · 02/06/2013 09:47

I went to an all girls school and loved it. My school days experience is that is was no more bitchy etc than the co-ed school I moved to during year 9 (due to house move). Out of the 2 I preferred the all girls.

Roll forward 25 years and my DD has just started at a girls school (last Sept into yr 9). Academically I am impressed, Socially - dissapointed. Its hard to tell because she is my eldest so we are experiencing teenage life for the 1st time - but all her friends seem so insecure in themselve, bitch about every aspect every 2 minutes, rip each other to shreds on every level possible - feeding the insecurties. DDs self esteem has taken a huge nose dive. DD has seen self harm first hand on several occassions - it seems the norm. She has seen friends make themselves sick after lunch.

Are these normal teenage girl stuff seen in any school - co ed or otherwise?? Maybe?? I dont know. Are these just more prone in girls schools?? Again no idea but I have had others say to things that sting a bit like "thats why we went co-ed" - so perhaps everyone else was in on something I was not. Who knows - these issues maybe just this prevailent in my DDs school for whatever reason and not the norm.

Either way I am dissapointed and the school has not endeared itself to me and I feel I am always on red alert for the next shitty thing I will hear and be told. Once again - is this normal for teen parenting???

They do fashion, make-up, waxing, peircing, hair dye etc and whatever the latest phase is. They are like sheep (lack of self esteem??) and makes me want to scream. Individulaity seems so uncool.

scaevola · 02/06/2013 09:36

The pros tend to be academic - separate education means that there is no gender based assumptions about girls or boys being more suited/able in particular subjects. Also, there is no on site sexual distraction or gender bullying. And things like a flooded skirt when dealing with erratic early periods are more likely to be met with sympathy than teasing.

The cons tend to be social - lack of exposure to the opposite sex gives the opportunity for stereotyping and mythologising. This is, I think, the easier one to counteract though out of school activities.