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

[patienceandprudence]

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.

I went to a Girls secondary state school and really Liked it! Where I grew up there were only single sex schools available apart from 1 failing co-Ed. I now have a DD and DS, and where we live there are only co-ed state schools which I am struggling with

Single sex schools are weird unnatural environments and not something other countries encourage. It's also a breeding ground for bullying (especially all-girls schools)

Yabu
Shall we also have single sex companies ? Single sex public transport ? Single sex bars ? Etc etc ? And not allowed mixing at all?

Where I’m from the single sex schools are private religious ones , their marks aren’t any better than the school I went to which mix sex.

YANBU, I only wish I could send my child to a blondes only school. That way they wouldn’t have to mix with the delinquent brunettes. Segregation is the only way to ensure a happy society where people have empathy to those who are different. Much better to learn from books about others than to mix in real life and learn that people are people with shared interests despite sex, race, religion, etc.

@EasterIssland

Yabu Shall we also have single sex companies ? Single sex public transport ? Single sex bars ? Etc etc ? And not allowed mixing at all?

Where I’m from the single sex schools are private religious ones , their marks aren’t any better than the school I went to which mix sex.

I think a huge amount of women would be very grateful to have the option of single sex public transport (eg train carriage) and bars etc.

@Miliao

YANBU, I only wish I could send my child to a blondes only school. That way they wouldn’t have to mix with the delinquent brunettes. Segregation is the only way to ensure a happy society where people have empathy to those who are different. Much better to learn from books about others than to mix in real life and learn that people are people with shared interests despite sex, race, religion, etc.

Yes, because brunette on blonde sexual assaults and rapes in schools occur all the time.

Fucks sake.

Segregation is not the answer. Using resource to prevent these things from happening so often, is key.

“ I think a huge amount of women would be very grateful to have the option of single sex public transport (eg train carriage) and bars etc.”

Every single or the vast majority Of pubs to be mixed like the op is asking for the schools to be? Doubt it ! No family / friends celebrations with mixed sex … not after work drinks etc … not being able to find a partner …

@thinkbiglittleone

Segregation is not the answer. Using resource to prevent these things from happening so often, is key.

This

@EasterIssland

“ I think a huge amount of women would be very grateful to have the option of single sex public transport (eg train carriage) and bars etc.”

Every single or the vast majority Of pubs to be mixed like the op is asking for the schools to be? Doubt it ! No family / friends celebrations with mixed sex … not after work drinks etc … not being able to find a partner …

I mean * single sex only pubs

I wouldn’t want to send my DS to a single sex school, I always found having a mix calmed the bullies down! I was friends with girls and boys but was exclusively bullied by other girls, especially during PE when we were segregated.

@Valhalla17 you do realise girls can also sexually assault other girls right?

My mum was educated at a girls grammar and was absolutely resolute that me and my Dsis went to a co-ed. Not only because of the bullying but she also had no clue how to talk to men as equals when she left at age 18 and didn't want that for us. I had friends of both sexes a school, we were peers, so when I got to uni and landed in halls with a few single sex educated 18yr old boys who couldn't speak to me as an equal person it was incredibly strange and the only girl I met to have gone to an all girl's school had similar issue speaking to boys, no problem flirting, but couldn't speak to them as peers. I'm sure this doesn't apply to all single sex educated people obviously but it was really wierd and I don't think single sex schools prepare you for real life.

I'm not sure I understand your point @Staryflight445

I'm not here to argue, I appreciate everyone is angry and pretty terrified at the moment (me included) but I take exception to boys being automatically tarred with the same brush...

I went to a single sex secondary, and if I had a daughter, I would order it. There was some bitchiness, though not tons, and I suspect that also happens in mixed schools (and now I work in a male dominated industry, I suspect it happens in boys schools, too - it just gets a different name.) It could also be very supportive.

I'm still friends with people I was at school with and this is the year we turn 50. Quite a few of us work in STEM roles.

It's not like we never saw boys. We saw them on the school bus, in town, at youth clubs, swimming club, DofE, and so on. 6th form had shared classes with the boys school for some subjects, and there were some shared drama productions and language exchanges and stuff.

Last week, I went to the pub for a colleague's retirement - I was the only woman in a group of about 15. I then spent a weekend away with a similar number - all women. Both experiences were good in different ways. Whether any of this was a reflection of me having had a single sex education, I can't say, but it didn't kill my ability to mix with men. Or women.

All schools have different cultures, and all children are different - a good school, whether single sex or mixed, won't suit every child. It's great to have a choice for that reason - but some areas, especially smaller towns with rural catchment areas don't havea large enough population for that to be an option.

I'm very lucky to be able to send our dds to an all girls prep. They are super hot on any perceived trouble between girls and so a lot of pastoral work to ensure no girls are left out/unhappy. They promote female scientists and female authors and the houses are dedicated to historical female great authors - females and feminism is promoted massively. There is also a huge focus on sports. My dds are very happy there.

I chose this school because I was worried about the rise in sexual assaults on children from other children.

When they finish at the prep, they will either go on to an girls grammar or an all girls private school which is a bit of a drive but I will do it. There is not a cat in hells chance my dds will go to a co ed secondary. And before any one jumps down my throat they have boys as friends that they have grown up with since baby groups/friends sons ect.

Girls do do better in a sex school.

My dd didn’t want to go toa girl’s secondary, so she didn’t apply. After 5 years at a coed, including making friends with lots of boys but also suffering from sexual Harassment, she is now at an all girls 6th form where she is very happy. So i’m glad she has the opportunity.
In areas where they have single sex schools, sometimes the girls school is oversubscribed, the boys school is oversubscribed and nearby coeds are disproportionately full of boys which is off putting to girls wanting a coed education. It must be quite tricky to manage on a borough level.

Boys school undersubscribed that should say

[quote Staryflight445]@Valhalla17 you do realise girls can also sexually assault other girls right?[/quote]
Stop it. Is this just the same 'but women can rape too'?

The percentage of girl on girl sexual assault is minuscule compared to male on female. There is huge problem in our schools at the moment of young girls being sexually harassed or sexually assaulted by boys - it might not be your son but some ones sons are doing it.

I remember desperately wishing to go to a girl’s school and one of my DD’s recently said she wished she could. It’s never going to be perfect because a couple hundred teenagers are never all going to get along, but it’s surely better to put up with ‘bitchiness’ (hate that word) than to deal with the co-ed environment which is quite frankly boy-dominant and rife with sexual harassment.

There was a really interesting programme on the pros and cons of single sex education, particularly for girls, on radio 4 thus week. Assume it is still available to catch up. There was some really interesting research discussed. In relation to sexual harassment, the point was made that principle engagement is over the internet now so going to an all girls school didn’t stop the unasked for dick pics and sexual grooming/harassment.

Single sex all the way for us. I’ve been to a sheltered rural mixed secondary and sexual harassment was rife (as well as bullying among the girls btw).

Our daughter is in a girls’ secondary and I’m very grateful for the opportunity. Our son is in a boys school and even though I also heard that mixed is better for boys, single sex works very well for him.

The argument that they won’t be able to mix with the opposite sex ridiculous IMO. They’re fully able to converse, work, and socialise normally with boys and girls.

@Anniissa

There was a really interesting programme on the pros and cons of single sex education, particularly for girls, on radio 4 thus week. Assume it is still available to catch up. There was some really interesting research discussed. In relation to sexual harassment, the point was made that principle engagement is over the internet now so going to an all girls school didn’t stop the unasked for dick pics and sexual grooming/harassment.

No but it minimises the risk of being sexually harassed in school. Schools should be a safe space to learn. They are not at the moment. Panorma did a program on it and it was sickening, the star are awful.

stats*

True and very interesting. But don’t forget the physical component of harassment for example groping…