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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it’s unfair single-sex schools aren’t an option for many (perhaps even most)?

408 replies

patienceandprudence · 02/10/2021 22:59

I have one single sex state school (and in fact there is only one private) in my county. It is in the county town, which we are not in the catchment for. It would take an hour and half to get to by public transport anyway.

Since it has been proven many times over that girls do better in single sex schools, why on earth aren’t there more options for those of us not in 11+ counties? I think it’s a great shame, and it doesn’t seem to be a thing that’s even being thought about.

OP posts:
AdultHumanFemale · 02/10/2021 23:08

Hm. Hasn't it also been proven that boys benefit from co-educational learning environments? That may be your answer...

SheldontheWonderSchlong · 02/10/2021 23:09

Totally agree - there should be far more all-girls schools especially as the rates of sexual assaults in schools are ridiculously high. Frankly I view them as necessary to keep our daughters safe.

LizzieBet14 · 02/10/2021 23:10

Unless my daughter was really keen, I'd choose co-ed every time.

MrsRobbieHart · 02/10/2021 23:10

@AdultHumanFemale

Hm. Hasn't it also been proven that boys benefit from co-educational learning environments? That may be your answer...
Yep.

Unfortunately OP I think if you want a single sex school for your daughter you’ll probably have to fund it yourself and open as an academy.

Bibbetybobbity · 02/10/2021 23:11

Completely agree with @SheldontheWonderSchlong

HadEnoughofOtherThreads · 02/10/2021 23:13

No. We have a DD & a DS and are only considering co-ed.

SirSamuelVimes · 02/10/2021 23:13

I'd love to send DD to a single sex school, having taught in both single sex and co-ed.

Unfortunately there's only single sex private schools in my county. No way I can afford it.

Valhalla17 · 02/10/2021 23:17

Frankly I view them as necessary to keep our daughters safe.

Please dont assume my son is a violent sexual predator...or that he will grow up to be one.

SheldontheWonderSchlong · 02/10/2021 23:20

@Valhalla17

Frankly I view them as necessary to keep our daughters safe.

Please dont assume my son is a violent sexual predator...or that he will grow up to be one.

No, you're right. All these boys and men assaulting girls and women are motherless.
Adelais · 02/10/2021 23:26

I agree, I really think my dd would be happier in an all girls school. Unfortunately there’s none in my county and can’t afford private.

ToykotoLosAngeles · 02/10/2021 23:28

Everyone I know who went to all girls schools had a miserable time living as a small fish in a pond of larger, bitchy fish who held grudges.

Macncheeseballs · 02/10/2021 23:29

Some counties have grammar schools which are perceived to give a superior education, I guess if it means that much to you, move

Justajot · 02/10/2021 23:31

The only one in our county is a private girls school. No boys school option, no state options.

I'd quite like the option.

ZenNudist · 02/10/2021 23:33

Where I live the Grammars are mainly co-ed but the next good state option is single sex.

If ds fails the 11+then he is likely have passed for a state faith grammar that is all boys. I will probably send him there. I'm not too worried about it being all boys (it's a lovely school) but I'd rather he went co-ed.

kieronsmum · 02/10/2021 23:33

there are no state single-sex schools in my city, must be like this for about 20 years. good girls schools if ur willing to pay.

TractorAndHeadphones · 02/10/2021 23:33

YABU.
Many areas don’t have much choice of school- let alone the population needed to sustain a co-Ed, girls and boys school respectively.

Also having dated/worked with many people from single-sex schools I’m in no hurry to send my DC to one.

sammyspoon · 02/10/2021 23:34

We had the option and seriously considered single sex school for our daughter. She had no preference. For various reasons she ended up going to the mixed school and recently told us how glad she is being at a mixed school. She is very aware that there are really nice boys and less nice boys. There are also nice girls and less nice girls. I think it's great that she's developing the awareness. Also the school is running toxic masculinity sessions for the boys.

WinoAnon · 02/10/2021 23:34

I'm in NW and there are lots of single sex secondary schools. They are religious but not private.

I went to one myself and found it very bitchy but I was a sensitive soul and possibly would have struggled more in a co-ed.

Cookingbynumbers · 02/10/2021 23:34

We live in catchment for a girls state school. Dd actively said no and chose to go to a mixed school. All the adult women who went there that I am friends with hated it. I think it suits a particular type of girl, and that’s not my dd. I went to a mixed school and was perfectly happy. Segregation is not the answer to promoting harmony between any different groups of people.

BadgeronaMoped · 02/10/2021 23:34

My first thought here is that as a teenager, I would have hated to be at a girls' only school. It was fun having a mixed-sex friendship group, hanging out and chatting, also fancying various boys over the years we were at school together. This was at a fairly bog standard secondary school with students from ordinary "working class" sort of backgrounds.

DeborahAnnabel · 02/10/2021 23:34

Blame the patriarchy. If it was proved that boys perform better in single sex schools than girls, you can bet your bottom dollar that there’d be an abundance of single sex schools.

ZenNudist · 02/10/2021 23:36

Dh and DBIL went to all boys grammar. They're fine.

I don't remember boys adding much to my education at coeducational private school.

Anyone who says how shitty their all girls school was should realise it likely wouldn't have been improved by boys.

SirSamuelVimes · 02/10/2021 23:39

@DeborahAnnabel

Blame the patriarchy. If it was proved that boys perform better in single sex schools than girls, you can bet your bottom dollar that there’d be an abundance of single sex schools.
Yup.
TaraR2020 · 02/10/2021 23:42

Nope, I don't agree with single sex schools

Ugzbugz · 02/10/2021 23:45

I went to an all girls school, no idea why but would never ever ever recommend this ridiculousness.