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Original poster

Single Sex Schools vs Mixed School

18 replies

SaharO · 02/11/2020 17:12

Hi ,

I am looking for advice which schools are better for DD single sex or mixed ? Any experience of AHS or SHF would be helpful.
Thank you,
Sahar

OP posts:

PeaceFilly · 02/11/2020 17:16

Depends on the child really. Ideally I'd opt for single sex and perhaps a mixed sixth form.

Pipandmum · 02/11/2020 17:26

My daughter goes to private mixed school but wants to go to single sex sixth form, the main reason is the boys are too disruptive and noisy. She's in top set since last year for most subjects and says they are a bit better but still thinks they are distracting and take too much of the teachers time. She is quiet and studious and wants to learn, not be 'entertained' by the boys showing off.
My son however would never consider an all boys school. He'd be the one showing off.

MerchantOfVenom · 02/11/2020 17:34

Single sex for me, all the way.

I went to one, the research says they’re better for girls. No question for me - DD will be going from year 7 (it’s the school she wants to go to, as well).

Happy to admit to a complete double standard, though - as DS goes to co-ed. I don’t think all-male environments are good for boys in the same way all-female environments are very good for girls.

And of course, an ‘all-female environment’ doesn’t mean she will be locked away for seven years and never exposed to, or able to socialise with boys.

It means she gets to learn without distraction, stereotype and harassment (my years 7-8 were co-ed, and the harassment from boys started in year 7 - 11 years of age).

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purpledagger · 02/11/2020 18:42

My Mum sent me to a mixed school because she went to a single sex school and said all the girls were boy crazy because they didn't get much interaction with boys.

We are applying for secondary school for DS and have put a mixed school as our first choice. When we apply for DD I think we will also apply for a mixed school.

I think for me, I'd like my children to learn with both sexes. It's not just about academic performance.

doctorhamster · 02/11/2020 18:43

My dd is in a single sex school. She's in year 8 now and I have no regrets. The sixth form is mixed.

TeenPlusTwenties · 02/11/2020 18:51

I hope you're not in England and applying for secondary next Sept as if you are then the deadline was 31 Oct.

I think you need to look at the individual schools and the child.

I was educated single sex all the way through (including my college at university). I definitely missed out on something.

Maldivesdream · 02/11/2020 18:58

I think sending your child to the same sex schools as themselves will possibly create issues later on in life. So far now it’s seems fine but the reality is in a work place you will have no choice but to learn to interact with males and females.

I think for me it’s like your trying to suppress something. It’s not natural.

MerchantOfVenom · 02/11/2020 19:31

As I said above, you’re not in prison. I spent 5 years at an all-girls school. 6 hours a day, five days a week. You do get to ‘interact’ with the opposite sex outside school hours.

Then University is obviously co-ed. Lots of ‘interacting’ there.

Clearly - everyone should do what is right for them, and more specifically their child.

Maldivesdream · 02/11/2020 19:40

@MerchantOfVenom I gave my opinion I never directed my point of view at you personally.

I know it’s not a prison I never suggested that did I.
As a shy child with not much confidence I feel like it would of effected me. I think the poster that mentioned boys/boyfriends some people become wild a bit like when parents are too strict and then the child rebels.

This is not a competition. Weekends is 2 days out of 7 days, also uni is later on in life (years from now) so to be completely fair you may not notice any negative points just yet or there maybe just positive experiences for your children.

SunniCameHomeWithAVengeance · 02/11/2020 19:49

Statistically girls do better in single sex schools and boys to better in mixed sex schools. I would choose single sex for my DDs.

MerchantOfVenom · 02/11/2020 19:55

Weekends is 2 days out of 7 days, also uni is later on in life (years from now) so to be completely fair you may not notice any negative points just yet or there maybe just positive experiences for your children.

But there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest this happens.

And I’m not talking about my DC. I am in my late 40s, so I rather think any negatives would’ve emerged by now.

I’m sure that some girls who go to SS schools do go wild around boys. Just as we all know plenty of co-educated girls who go wild around boys. Probably more, I’d venture...

Maldivesdream · 02/11/2020 20:02

-I am in my late 40s, so I rather think any negatives would’ve emerged by now. ---

You sound that up yourself “any negatives” probably pass you by. Your clearly right not everything is researched I gave my opinion and it didn’t sit well with you it seems

Noideawottodo · 02/11/2020 20:06

My dds all went to single sex schools, brilliant. Dd1 now lives in a mixed house at uni, with a steady boyfriend and lots of male friends. I believe they are the best type of school for girls.

Kpo58 · 02/11/2020 20:09

I went to a single sex school and I hated it as I had nothing in common (apart from sex) to the other girls in my year. I would have been much happier at a mixed school.

I would see what your DD's friendship circle is like before deciding. If it's just girls then a single sex school should be ok, but if it's mixed then go for a mixed school.

MerchantOfVenom · 02/11/2020 20:19

I gave my opinion

Clearly it’s only you who’s entitled to give their opinion (speaking of ‘up yourself’...)?

Frestba · 02/11/2020 20:23

I wanted mixed for Dd. Personally, I prefer the dynamic. It's not affected her grades. It's enabled her to form a bigger variety of friendships. Yes, she could have done that at uni. But that's 7 years later.

Etinox · 02/11/2020 20:41

Broad brush single sex for girls.
But there are other factors to consider. Siblings, curriculum, journey time etc. Mine went to mixed primary SS secondary and now are both in their 20s with great mixed friendship groups.

whiteroseredrose · 02/11/2020 21:56

We gave DC the choice and both chose single sex schools. DD was very pleased to leave 'silly' boys behind when she went to secondary.

So far so good. She is in Y13 and loves school. She's done very well academically and has lovely friends.

I also went to a single sex school and it was right for me.

Both of us are science oriented and of course were in a class entirely of girls. DH went to a coed and there were only 2 or 3 girls in his physics class of 30.

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