Mixed or single sex for a girl?

What a vile thing to say. My dd enjoys being in a girls school...it's actually a very supportive environment and she has good friends. It suits her better. She noticed a difference straight away compared with her mixed primary. She said it is far easier to concentrate in class without boys disruptive behaviour.

Our eldest daughter is in an all girls school (local availability) and it suits her down to the ground. She has recently been diagnosed with ASD and the school have been amazing so that may have coloured my view a bit. However - she has no interest in friendships and couldn't give a hoot what people think of her so we haven't had any of that sort of drama. I don't know if it will be as good a fit for my youngest when it is her time to go - she would prefer a mixed school, so we will look at the co-ed schools near my work.

So yes - depends on the child and it depends on the school. If you think that the school that your son currently attends cannot control the teen boys that are there, and that he and his friends are disrupting their female peers education maybe you should consider placing him in an all boys school.

Do people really allow their 10yo child to decide where to go for secondary school?!

I don't think single sex schools affect a person's relationship with opposite sex as long as they have an active social life, clubs etc where they can mix. Both mine went SS and both as young adults get along fine with the opposite sex.

It really depends on your DD and what school she likes most.

DD chose to go single sex as did DS and looking back (in their 20s) neither regret it. It was the right choice for them.

They kept in touch with friends who went coed and the levels of bitchiness and humiliation sounded similar.

If your DD wants to go to school with her brother I'd let her. If both are good there is no reason to not.

I chose mixed for my DD. We were both heavily involved in the choice. However based on what I know about her personality, mannerism and outlook on education - I felt comfortable allowing her to go to a mixed school.

I think there is nothing wrong with girls school - I know many parents choose single sex schools based on their children's personalities as well as academic performance.

I experienced both as a teen and ime the girls in the single sex school were boy mad, for not babies boys as someone you could be friends with and were far worse behaved than the mixed school. I was so shocked! They couldn't believe I had make friends!

These days if a boy pings a bra strap he’s going to get cancelled pretty quickly

My girls went to a good mixed comp. They are academic girls and have done well there. They both made friends with boys which I think is very healthy and normal. Yes there are a few characters but the teachers seem to manage it all well. If the school gets good results then go for it. I think it’s good for siblings to go to same school if they can so they have things in common. It can be very easy for dif gender siblings to grow apart as teens and a bit of school gossip etc might be bonding

As an experienced secondary teacher I always find a heavily boy weighted or mixed class easier than a female dominated group. Just something in the dynamics. Behaviour is superficially better but there is definitely more of an undercurrent. I say that as someone who would say that behaviour/classroom relationships is a strength.

I'd not take a job in an all girls school although I would be happy in a boys school.

And what does research indicate about children who are sent to the school of their parent's choice rather than their own? I doubt that study has been done.

If the OP's daughter prefers a mixed school, she should go to a mixed school.

@VoiceofRaisins56 I suppose it depends how you measure good behaviour. The level of bullying was far higher in the girls' schools in comparison to the mixed schools that I taught in.

We chose social over academic and with b/g DT’s - it was important to us that they were at the same school.

My DD's ended up in a single sex school due to availability in my area (independent sector). Despite excellent grades, I regret this.
Thankfully DD2 went co-ed for sixth form.
Research indicates girls do better in single sex education academically but not in other ways...

Having taught in both, I would definitely pick a mixed school if the decision were solely mine but ultimately I'd listen to what your DD wants.

I would let her do what she wants as they are both good schools

I don’t think single sex or co-Ed matters really (I mean I know girls in single sex do slightly better, but I imagine it’s only significant on a population level)

Good post @thing47 - the "academically" bit is often ignored but it is key as far as I am concerned. Academics are very important, but they are not the only important thing.

At the risk of stating the bleeding obvious, the research often quoted only concerns the academics, ie girls do slightly better academically in a single-sex environment. There is no evidence that they do better socially.

For every girl who hated a single-sex school environment, you'll find another who loved it. For that reason, it really is down to individual preference, yours and your DD's, combined with knowledge of the school, knowledge of your own daughter etc. @VoiceofRaisins56 you have a big advantage here in that you're already familiar with one of the options - why not take your DD to the all-girls school once or twice? Chances are, she will either definitely 'see' herself going there or not.

I went to a girls grammar. I loved it, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea. Too narrow an experience.

I would look at things like how many girls take stem subjects for GCSE/A level compared to the boys. What are the pass rates for girls compared to boys.
I would look carefully at the ethos of the girls school - you want one which instills a sense of confidence in the students.
Personally having gone to a girls school where all subjects were freely accessible and treated equally, where all girls could speak in class without being put down, where we could enjoy PE without being stared at, and could walk down a corridor without having bra straps pinged, I know what my choice would be. Both my DCs went single sex.

If I had a daughter, my preference would be for single sex. I went to a single sex secondary. We did see boys - school bus, mixed drama events and language exchanges, after school clubs, plus it was just a small town anyway.

But she'd like to be with her brother (though she won't be sharing lessons, and he'll leave before she does, though that's presumably a little while off.) You know and like the other school, it's easier to get to. It's a difficult decision... I think I'd want to hear from girls (or mothers of girls) in the school to hear their experiences.

In this case, I think I'd be more in favour of the mixed school - whereas, had the daughter been the older child, I'd have probably gone for single sex without question.