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?

Well, most people will, because the vast majority of schools are mixed. OP is just saying, wouldn't it be nice to keep an alternative for those who want it?

Personally, I don't think I'd choose it for my DC, but I think some parents have the attitude, why not boost my DD's self esteem in her formative years and then she can cope with sex inequalities when she's more resilient.

And maybe you disagree, but can you not even see that there's another point of view? Or think that different places might suit different people?

I don’t think segregation is the answer. Fining out what it is about boys being present that affects the performance abc addressing that is the answer.

soft skills/team interactions

Which no girl can learn from interacting with girls.

@FaeryRing I am sorry that your choice is being removed by these schools admitting boys. Whilst I wouldn’t personally pick a girls school, I would rather we had more rather than less educational choices.

I do think however that this is a sign that all girls is falling out of favour

Depends how you define disruptive?Mucking around - yes more likely to be boys
Targeted bullying causing long term mental health issues leading to potential school avoidance - girls worse everytime in my experience as a mum of 2 girls.
For both, the only physical aggression they have experienced has also been from other girls.

My oldest is keen to go to an all girls school as yes, the boys can be louder. But I an really hesitant as I don't feel it gives real world life preparation. As someone else said, a mixed school with single gender classes is probably the holy grail. But doesn't really exist in reality.

https://amp.theguardian.com/science/sifting-the-evidence/2016/apr/28/eating-disorders-are-more-common-in-some-schools-than-others-but-why

It was stark when my dd was under CAMHs, the numbers from her school and the other girls school were huge. It’s not just EDs either but self harm too.

Matter more than what?

I'm saying you'll do better with both decent grades and decent social skills than you will with exceptional grades but difficulty navigating a diverse work environment.

Balance is better than being one sided.

This is exactly what I meant. Co-Ed will ALWAYS be an option for those who want it, but why take away the alternative for those who don’t?

I am vehemently against single sex education and am delighted so many girls schools are going co-Ed. I actively discounted single sex eduction as all my kids have had such value in having friendships with both sexes in a very organic way. I also feel that co-Ed helps break up the intensity of some girls only dynamics

It's really sad that the education system is betraying girls like this. Sexual assault, sexual harassment and rape are increasing every year in schools, so why take away the few schools girls can go to to be free of male violence? It makes no sense.

I work in a now former girls' school and I do miss the atmosphere before it went co-ed but there's a really diminished market these days. Girls' schools tend not to have lots of illustrious alumni to send donations. Many have less impressive facilities than their neighbouring boys' school. And then all it takes is your nearest well regarded boys' school to go co-ed and you lose a lot of the cleverest and most ambitious girls straight away.

Because they need to learn to exist in the male world apparently 😞 god forbid they spend too much time in a female environment without the male BS!

Wouldn't consider single sex education personally. Both my ds and dd did fine at comps. The real world has both sexes working and socialising together, seem a odd to separate them as chikdren.

Well, that certainly questions the usual assumptions!

I'd say the jury is out on whether it facilitates better results. However, I think it's pretty much a given that you'll be more comfortable navigating a diverse work environment if you've studied for years in a diverse environment.

When I was working in an office job it was 90% white middle class people but having moved into the construction sector I regularly work with Indians/Pakistanis/Eastern Europeans/etc. I can absolutely attest that the best part of a decade working with different cultures has made it easier to interact and get on with them.

Then why do the (I will admit quite niche and rare) studies done on the mental health aspect say girls schools are better for confidence?

Free of male violence. 🤣

It's a bit like suggesting that you're better off never leaving the house so you don't encounter men. Or home schooling your kids instead. There are some worrying incidents that have occurred no doubt but why choose a high chance of being socially inept vs an extremely low chance of being raped at school.

I've never met a single person that was raped at school in my entire life. It's really not common.

I think they’re getting less popular too. Pupils hate them. So many drop out in our area and the 6th form struggles to hold on to them and run some courses. Many get the hell out and leave for the local co Ed 6th form option.

Do they really 😂

Because they're in a bubble which doesn't reflect the real world. That bubble will burst at some point.

You’re being deliberately misleading if you make out being forced to sit in a classroom with disruptive boys at a critical time in your education is the same as never mixing with men again. My DD is at a mixed primary, I want to send her to all girls secondary, it’s 7 years only and of course she will see boys in that time just not in school 🙄

Because they need to learn to exist in the male world apparently 😞

You mean 'the real world'.

It sounds like you hope it will.

Read what other posters that attended single sex schools are telling you.

My local school was single sex, I sent my DDs out of area. No way were they going to a single sex school because they only suit a certain stereotype of girl plus didn't offer triple science GCSE. My girls are both neurodivergent and do not have "girls" interests

I don't know what stereotype you are talking about or what girls interests are?