To not see the point of single sex schools?

[GertieTheGuineaPig]

Sorry but I really don't.

I just think it's crazy to separate people based on gender, you would never do the same thing with race for instance, so why gender?

I admit I don't have much experience with single sex schools, I went to a coed school like most people did and I loved spending time with both boys and girls whilst I was in school. I don't think I'd have had the same experience or enjoyed it anywhere near as much if it had just been all girls.

Do people who go to single sex schools tend to find they have trouble mixing with the opposite gender later in life? The working world isn't single sex so why should school be?

I studied Sociology (yes, an ...ology) and research showed that girls and boys achieved more if they were with their own gender with ne'er a boy or girl to look at except outside school.

I went to a single sex secondary school through my own choice (it was the best in the area). I have never had a problem with mixing with boys or men, we certainly socialised with them outside of school, and I think it actually gave me more confidence if anything. My career is very male dominated and I don't think I would have taken this path if I had gone to a mixed school. I would be happy for my DSs to go to a single sex school.

I went to an all girls grammar school. I've never had any problems mixing with the opposite sex & have always had plenty of male friends.

It's proven that girls do better in a single sex environment. If DD turns out to be able enough for the 11+ and if she wants to of course, then I would be very keen for her to go to my old school.

And just to mention, mine wasn't a grammar, it was a bog standard comp.

The school my dds go to is co-ed in the juniors, separate for most of secondary (on two campuses) then co-ed in 6th form. Drama productions are mixed, cadets and D of E are done together and all outward bound type things and some other school trips are done together. I think this is a great compromise. The school is very clear on the philosophy behind this system and on the advantages of teaching the boys and girls separately. They get excellent results for both boys and girls (this is Scotland so they have the qualifications for university entrance before they go into 6th year, for the most part). The girls seem very confident, very focussed and have strong friendship groups. They seem quite relaxed about body image and appearance in general.

I teach engineering at a university and girls who have been to single sex schools don't seem to have any problems.

The thing that makes me think it was good is that it wasn't till planning something with the boys' school when I was 17 that I can remember ever being treated differently just for being a girl, and I was really taken aback when it happened

I really echo this.
I went to single sex and I never experienced sexism, or patriarchy or degenerate comments etc at school. When I first heard/found someone dismiss me because of being female, I was shocked, and quite quick and able to stand up and say so, because of the confidence instilled in me at my single sex school.