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Original poster

All girls/boys schools- did you go to one and would you want your kids to?

113 replies

lking679 · 31/08/2021 21:47

Just thinking about this, I went to an all girls high school and to be honest at university and beyond was really immature around and about boys. I only have sisters too.
Did you find the same and would you want your kids to go to an all girls or all boys school? I don’t think I want mine to!

OP posts:
stayathomer · 31/08/2021 21:49

I went to an all girl's and I wish I'd gone to a mixed. There's no fixed around here so the boys are going to an all boys, am gutted as they had a good few good girl friends in school

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 31/08/2021 21:50

I went to an All girls sixth form. Loved it. Breath of fresh air not having to deal with boys dominating everything.

NiceTwin · 31/08/2021 21:50

I worked in an all boys school and also mixed sex.
If I had a boy, I would have liked him to go to single sex.
I have girls, I sent them to mixed over a girls school.

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Chewbecca · 31/08/2021 21:51

Yes and yes.

LadyCatStark · 31/08/2021 21:51

I did for a while and I said I wouldn’t want my child to… but he does! This is because he goes to a Grammar School and the 2 in our area are single sex (one for boys and one for girls). I’m still not convinced about the single sexedness but in all other ways, it’s a wonderful school.

ElvenDreamer · 31/08/2021 21:52

I went to a mixed school, boys were a massive pain in the neck when you were a girl who wanted to actually learn, I hated high school. Being around boys didn't help me be comfortable around them either. Would love for my DD to go to a single sex school so she doesn't have to put up with the same crap. She has brothers, and would love it herself too!

JuliaBlackberry · 31/08/2021 21:53

I went to an all girls state school (which no longer exists). I loved it so much, it was the making of me after a difficult primary experience and I still have many friends from high school. I'd love to send my DD to one as I think she would love it but not really the option where we are.

Smartiepants79 · 31/08/2021 21:53

I did. I thought I wanted a mixed sex education for my girls but in the end the girls school was so much better that we’ve chosen single sex as the compromise.

Slayduggee · 31/08/2021 21:53

I went to an all girls school and I’ve always swore I would never sent my children to a single sex school.

Bully was horrific, non stop bitching, and competitive under eating

follygirl · 31/08/2021 21:56

I have 2 brothers and went to a girls' school, I was fine.
I have a dd and a ds. They both go to single sex schools. My dd is now about to start upper sixth and has always been to a single sex school. She is confident happy in her own skin. She has a boyfriend and is happy to hang out boys as well as girls.
My ds is only 15 and not yet interested in girls. His single sex school is actually becoming co-ed which I'm happy about as he's not as outgoing as my dd and I think it will be good for him.
They both swam competitively for a few years, and I feel that this helped as well.
It's not for everyone but my kids are happy.

GoodnightGrandma · 31/08/2021 21:57

Yes and yes.

IvySquirrel · 31/08/2021 21:59

Yes and yes. There are so so many advantages to single sex IMO.

AlrightThereSkippy · 31/08/2021 22:00

I went to all girls schools and also was a bit silly about men!

I didn't want to go to an all girls secondary school, having already gone through primary at an all girls prep. So, I think I'd rather my DD made the final decision. I was a bit resentful my parents didn't give me a say in the matter, so that's the bit I wouldn't repeat with my own dcs. There is a good girls school where we live but no boys school, so DS won't have a choice.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 31/08/2021 22:01

Yes and yes but I think that’s more true for girls, generally parents want girls away from boys in the teenage years not the other way round

ILiveInSalemsLot · 31/08/2021 22:03

I went to a girls school and definitely want that for my dd. Girls put up with so much crap that they shouldn’t have to in mixed schools from pinging bra straps to more lewd comments and behaviour.

ElfDragon · 31/08/2021 22:03

I went to one, and had a fabulous time.

My dd goes to an all girls school, and again loves it. She was at a mixed primary, and says the difference now is huge, and she wouldn’t want to go to a mixed school.

My ds is coming up to the end of primary (mixed) and I think he will go to a mixed secondary. If I could find him the boys’ equivalent of dd’s school, then I would be happy to send him there, but all the all boys schools in reasonable commutable distance are not particularly suited to him (too sporty and alpha male)

parietal · 31/08/2021 22:04

yes and yes.

I liked being at an all-girls school because I could be as geeky as I liked (maths & science all the way) without feeling that was a boys thing. I was possibly a bit wild when I then got to uni, but better to be wild at 18 than at 14.

purpleme12 · 31/08/2021 22:05

I went to an all girl's school and wouldn't want mine to go to one
But then again reading the comments here it makes me wonder if I'd think differently if I'd been to a mixed school after all!

Notdoingthis · 31/08/2021 22:05

I teach in a single school which is fantastic, and I love it. However, I will move areas when my son reaches secondary age to avoid him having single sex education. I think mixing is really important.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 31/08/2021 22:09

I went to an all girls, and so did dds, but if I could choose again, I think I’d send them to a mixed. I’m sorry to say it, but all girls’ schools can harbour pockets of horrible bitchiness.

Chihuahuacat · 31/08/2021 22:09

Yes and Yes - I excellent at science and maths and my parents made sure I did mixed sex activities outside of school

SharpLily · 31/08/2021 22:11

I went to a mixed school - which wasn't necessarily great - but always have memories of my female cousins visiting, who both went to an all girls school. As soon as puberty hit they became OBSESSED with boys. When they came to stay they spent ALL their time maniacally seeking out boys and talking about them yet had absolutely no idea how to behave like normal humans around them. It was really embarrassing. It also meant they were less interested in studying than in tarting up for boy seeking missions and they found me very strange because I treated boys like other people rather than exciting adventures. Ironically it meant I had far more success and fun in the boyfriend department than they did.

They also had to deal with horrendous bitchiness and bullying at school that was alien to me.

Having seen the way they and their friends behaved I always knew I wouldn't want to send my children to single sex schools although I can see the advantages in some cases. I think it largely depends upon the personalities and characters of the kids.

Beamur · 31/08/2021 22:13

I went to both. Pros and cons to both!
DD goes to a mixed school, would like to go to a single sex one but it's not an option here.

purpleme12 · 31/08/2021 22:14

When I went from a small girls private school to sixth form college which was obviously mixed it was like a revelation!
Looking back on it it really did me good to move to that kind of environment. From a sheltered school to sixth form college which was so independent and full of so many different types of people and so mixed

Original poster
lking679 · 31/08/2021 22:14

Would your answers be different if choice was all girls grammar or a mixed grammar? I’m assuming the 11+ was select out ones not interested and likely to be disruptive in class. Expectations of attainment high in both!?

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