To be angry so many girls schools are going Co-Ed?

[FaeryRing]

Yet again it’s been proven girls do better in single sex schools (I have a son as well as a daughter so please don’t think I’m ’hating on boys’).

https://amp.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/may/12/girls-do-better-in-exams-at-all-girls-schools-than-mixed-research-finds

In my hometown growing up there were 4 girls schools. 1 grammar, 1 private, and 2 regular secondaries, meaning pretty much all parents regardless of background had access to single sex education for their daughters if they wanted it.

2 have announced their plans to go Co-Ed, with 1 already having done so, leaving just 1 (the grammar, so working class girls will be inherently disadvantaged). This seems to be a pattern across the country.

AIBU to be angry this is happening? Can’t girls have anything to themselves?

Salisbury?

Lots of previously single sex private schools in my area are now co-ed. I assume this is because private schools are becoming increasingly out of reach for many people and they need to increase their potential market so to speak.

I haven't heard of state schools doing similar though.

I do agree with you op. I have a ds and a DD too. My dd goes to state girls school and is absolutely thriving in it. I'm a huge fan of single sex education for girls.

I'm not sure, having read that article, that the effect is significant enough or well enough explained to be worth getting the rage about. I'd like to see a lot more research, including studies in other countries, before I draw any conclusions from it.

@pointythings multiple studies have all drawn the same conclusion. I’m angry that the girls welfare is being sacrificed for financial/strategic reasons, or because they’re supposed to have a ‘moderating’ effect on boys behaviour.

I used to work in a fabulous single sex girls school - independent. High cultural/ ethnic mix. But the families themselves were interesting. Would pay whatever to send the son to the equivalent school, but would plead poverty for the girl, demand bursaries etc. Try blackmail, etc. So I think many families do treat male/ female differently. Sad. They wanted the quality education but only if it was cheap.

I agree op. My dds school have just announced that they are accepting boys from next year, it's the end of an era imo. Its likely to be a financial decision as its a small private school and numbers have declined a little over the last few years. Whats galling for me is everyone on SM going on about how progressive and inclusive the school are being in making this decision which i think is bollocks. There are already several co-ed schools in the area as well as some outstanding boys schools, will any of those boys schools open their doors to girls in the interest of being inclusive? i very much doubt it. Eventually there will be only mixed schools and boys schools here, what's inclusive about that?

If they implement the tax on private schools which many on here seem to be in favour of then we'll see ever more going co-ed.

However, I actually think there are some benefits to mixed schools. Success isn't just about exam results and girls that are used to integrating with boys might integrate better in a mixed work environment.

girls that are used to integrating with boys might integrate better in a mixed work environment.

What does this mean?
Firstly, girls who go to a girls' school are not means of that raised in a total female-only vacuum. They will know some boys. It won't be "oh what the fuck is that?"

Secondly, what do they need to experience that they can't experience with girls? A girls' school will also provide examples of lazy and unpleasant people with whom one has to coexist and cooperate. If it's experience of being sexually assaulted and hassled by boys, unfortunately that is something they're likely to encounter out and about outside of schools, and if their exposure and suffering of it can be reduced, so much the better.

I went to a girls school and have had zero problems integrating with men. Most girls have dads, brothers, boys they know through family friends or hobbies, and so on. If there was a social benefit why does it result in poorer exam grades? Distraction? Not wanting to appear too clever to easily threatened boys? Boys messing around in class and degrading the quality of the classroom?

Secondly, what do they need to experience that they can't experience with girls?

Interacting with men tends to be a bit different to interacting with women. I feel like girls that have been to mixed schools are more confident and less intimidated by men.

I think this is a myth. I think they’ve just learned how to deal with undesirable male behaviour better at the cost of their education.

Well, I'd expect to be disagreed with on a thread expressing frustration about schools going co-ed. Just like a thread bemoaning Brexit isn't going to be full of people in favour of leaving the EU.

My dd was at a mixed primary...when she started at her single sex secondary she actually said to me it's so much easier to concentrate without boys messing around.

@WalrusOfLove I agree. I went to all girls school and really struggled when I got to university as I just wasn't used to a mixed environment.

My younger DD had the choice of single sex or mixed and I was hugely relieved when she opted for the latter. All girls' schools can be very difficult environments, particularly when all are high achievers, and will not necessarily suit all. I think DD would have been fine had she gone that route but is thriving in a mixed environment.

I would be glad if my local schools were doing this by the time my daughter goes to secondary school. I don't see the point of raising her in a vacuum, that's not the reality of the world they live in.
I also don't like the idea that my son has to be "kept away" so girls can thrive (or because he might harass or sexuality assault them apparently - WTF is wrong with some of you?!).

I grew up in a country where this segregation doesn't exist, girls are doing very well at school thank you (better than boys at all levels).

Only girls school local to us has a (well earned) reputation that you leave with A*s and an eating disorder.

I've been at both and whilst I agree that boys are disruptive I still preferred mixed. I feel like some of my friends that were only at single sex schools went a bit more off the rails at uni and I wonder if it's because boys were a novelty.

I also don't like the idea that my son has to be "kept away" so girls can thrive

Why should they do worse just to affirm your son and make him feel included?

I agree with you OP.

There are also boys school changing to co-ed too. I disagree with that too.

I'm all for co-ed but there should at least be the option for those that prefer single sex for either sons or daughters.

I would take it over upskirting, being shown violent pornography and watching boys throwing chairs across the classroom.

An area that has the option of an all girl school is probably of a similar number to those who have the option of a grammar school.

i.e not very many people have this option.

What are you on about?

No girls school is going co Ed because of a desire to make their students influence the behaviour of boys currently at other schools.

I agree. We need to remember that boys nowadays are very different to boys when we were kids. They are now exposed to all sorts of horrific pornography.

In my experience, girls attending single sex schools are more confident and less easily intimidated than those at mixed schools. Girls at mixed schools often change their behaviour to avoid unwanted attention from boys.

I think that single sex schools are an error for both sexes. I& you’ve seen Johnny/Jessica in their gangly 11-13 year old phase you are less likely go nuts over the 17 year old version.