Mixed for primary then single sex?

Spencerfig · 2022-07-10T19:21:34+00:00

Is this the way to go? Have three girls in a mixed primary, very happy but reading on here it seems single sex better for girls in secondary?

Bibbetybobbity · 10/07/2022 20:24

That’s what I did for dd, has worked well. No regrets 👍🏻

Keladrythesaviour · 10/07/2022 20:27

This is what I had - mixed primary and single sex grammar for secondary. It's not for everyone, but I loved being in a single sex school. We did have a boys school next door which allowed for mixing and dalliances and gossip, but classrooms were bastions of feminism. I feel it really allowed us to be ourselves, and to learn who we were as women without having to impress anyone in the room. We could be open about puberty (period pain etc) and be goofy etc without worrying about what others thought.
Saying that yes 9/10 could be very bitchy but everyone seemed to grow out of that.
I will definitely look at single sex education for my children when the time comes.

FusionChefGeoff · 10/07/2022 21:13

Keladrythesaviour · 10/07/2022 20:27

This is what I had - mixed primary and single sex grammar for secondary. It's not for everyone, but I loved being in a single sex school. We did have a boys school next door which allowed for mixing and dalliances and gossip, but classrooms were bastions of feminism. I feel it really allowed us to be ourselves, and to learn who we were as women without having to impress anyone in the room. We could be open about puberty (period pain etc) and be goofy etc without worrying about what others thought.
Saying that yes 9/10 could be very bitchy but everyone seemed to grow out of that.
I will definitely look at single sex education for my children when the time comes.

Yup all of this

Kite22 · 10/07/2022 21:18

Isn't this going to depend on everything about the schools that are near you ?

Where I live, there are quite a lot of single sex schools, but I understand that is quite unusual across the country.
I think you need to look at the schools that you might realistically get in to, where you live, and then look at the pros and cons of all of them.

CalistoNoSolo · 10/07/2022 21:19

Worked extremely well for my DD.

scissorsandsellotape · 10/07/2022 21:30

Girls tend to thrive academically in single sex but can be held back socially
Boys do better in mixed sex academically
I don't want my dd making life easier for a boy!

N4ish · 10/07/2022 21:31

Yes, that’s my plan. Mixed for primary, single sex for secondary and then back to mixed for 6th form. Some schools call it the diamond model.

FairyCakeSprinkles · 10/07/2022 21:32

I never understand the comments about bitchiness. Surely that happens in mixed schools too? Half the class is female and I can't see the boys stepping in?? Or am I misunderstanding how this works in a mixed school?

OP I went to a mixed primary and single sex high school before going to a mixed sixth form. Worked very well for me. Have very fond memories of my five years at high school.

DD and DS are I a mixed primary school. We will be putting a single set school down as our first choice for DD when applications open in September

easyday · 10/07/2022 21:38

S depends on your kids and the schools on offer.
My daughter went to a mixed school by asked if she could go to single sex for Sixth form. It's a better school all round.
Bitchiness is everywhere not just at a single sex school.

Luredbyapomegranate · 10/07/2022 22:00

I think it’s the schools ethos that matters. People get too excited about single sex or co-Ed IMO.

But all things being equal there’s good evidence girls do better and build more confidence in a single sex environment.

If you can involve your daughters in the decision once you have a shortlist you’re happy with, by 10 they will have there own gut feeling on it once they visit.

KangarooKenny · 10/07/2022 22:01

The single sex schools were the best performing in my area, my kids did well and were happy at them.
I’d choose a good single sex every time.

FinallyHere · 10/07/2022 22:06

While I understand why sixth form might seem like a perfect time to introduce a co-ed classroom, IME it's a rubbish time to add boys into the mix in a classroom.

So much pressure on girls to not be clever. So much time taken up by the usually noisier boys. Studies have confirmed that boys are given a disproportionately large amount of time and attention by teachers across the board.

It's only in later life that I have really understood how brilliant it was to be at a school where all the positions of responsibility were held by women.

SausageinaBun · 10/07/2022 22:24

My 11 year old wouldn't consider single sex after being in a mixed primary, so it might be a challenge to persuade your DDs to go to a girls' school.

Luckily we aren't in an area where the best schools are single sex, so it hasn't been a problem for us.

PoisonedIvydaffs · 10/07/2022 22:34

That’s what I did when I was younger. I’d love to do the same for DD, but sadly there are no single sex schools in our area. Shame, as I think it works really well.

Original poster

Spencerfig · 10/07/2022 22:37

Thanking you all for the replies... I'm hoping they are getting the social & mixing aspect in primary with the boys.. They enjoy the boys in school & all three are academic & love learning... It's a start secondary btw

OP posts:

DariaMorgendorffer · 10/07/2022 22:39

I think it's a great plan op.

Kite22 · 10/07/2022 23:39

It's a start secondary btw

What does this mean ?

Original poster

Spencerfig · 10/07/2022 23:45

Sorry I meant a state secondary!

OP posts:

Kite22 · 10/07/2022 23:51

Thank you.

I should probably have been able to work that out
It's been a long day!