Would you choose an academic boys school over an average mixed school?

[bluelagoonsunrise]

DS has a place at a very academic boys grammar school and is likely to get a place at the good mixed comprehensive school.

AIBU to be put off by boys only? I just see it as preventing a normal teenage experience. We never thought he’d get in when we applied so are a bit shocked. Didn’t think we would have the choice…

@DoloresODonovan "At least you will be giving him the opportunity - when he is older, at University
he is less likely to say I wish I’d been at the local comp, than Why didn’t you
accept the place at the Boys school - I could have been somebody!"

Seriously? "I could have been somebody!"?????

A friend is a teacher she is always said mixed for boys is better and girls to all girls school.

More importantly though is what school is the right school for them.

@CurlewKate - On the Waterfront -

Lol @DoloresODonovan is that a modernisation of on the waterfront? I don’t know it well to be honest but wasn’t sure it was about schools? I might be wrong. I do love Marlon Brando in a Streetcar named desire though…

Yes! Brando in On the Waterfront, its a famous scene often quoted -
I could have been a contender - I could have been somebody
Brando is a boxer realising his potential was wasted, too late now,
chiding his brother who set him up for money, its poignant and sad

my sister quotes this at me whenever I moan about self improving
stuff my parents wouldn’t agree to when I was a child lol

Streetcar named Desire, Brando the brute, Stelllaaarrr !

My first reaction was yes, yes, academic place. Second reaction was remembering that I went to a highly academic girls only school and hated it.

But not because it was girls only. It was that the teachers were completely cold and distant.

This in spades.

No chance.
Co ed wins for me.

So comps have few ambitious students! Wow what a ridiculous thing to say.

I went to an all girls school. I had loads of brothers and boy cousins and the school arranged some events with a local boys' school, but it's totally different from just having boys around all the time. I left school totally unequipped to deal with boys at college, in work etc

My DS attends a mixed school and is so much more comfortable around girls. I think this is much healthier for social development

I think it depends on the school and on the boy.

My brother and I went to single sex schools, I went to VI form at his old school, it was like being put in a class with 14 year olds.

The two schools were at opposite ends of the town and there was no interaction between the two.

My younger cousin went to a girls' school but there was a boys' school next door and they did quite a lot together eg school trips to France, social events etc so they were not in a single sex bubble.

Depends on the child. If he is cl v r he will do well anywhere. If he needs more structure and isn't much of a self starter do with the all boys.

Evidence show that girls do better at single-sex and boys do better at co-ed.

There is evidence that boys are more willing to try a variety of things, particularly creative activities (acting, writing and reciting poems, music, debating, etc) and discussions in humanities subjects such as modern languages, Art History and English Lit, in single sex schools. Without girls to be embarrassed in front of, boys will give things a go that they might not try otherwise. When girls are around, boys tend to retreat back to “safe” spaces like macho single sex sports (rugby), or male dominated maths and science subjects.

Is it worth throwing boys’ opportunities to experience a broad range of academic and cultural experiences under a bus just for the sake of “socialising with girls”, which can happen anyway if you really put your mind to it?