Boy/girl ratios for my DD

[Mumtogremlins]

I've just moved my DD (year 2) to a mixed prep school. Boy/girl ratio seemed ok (about a third girls) but one girl in her class has left already so only 6 left. Other years have recently seen girls leave. What would be too few girls in a year?

DD has brothers, it's a very male dominated house. She's very comfortable with boys (a little too much at times) so I've no worries about not getting male contact as she grows up. I'm more worried that she will miss out on the female side of things (as she's naturally very girly) and only have a small friendship circle.

There is a really good local girls prep that provides lots more clubs (not just girly stuff) and she would have a bigger pool of friends to choose from. But I'd feel so bad moving her again. It is nice for her to have boys as friends but I'm feeling female friends (or lack of) will be more important as she grows up

I think the only thing stopping me is that I've moved her twice already - poor child. And her brothers are at the school. Is it that obvious I should move her?

What are girly clubs?

Seriously though I wouldn't move her again for the sake of chasing a more mixed class if she is happy and settled.
Does it matter really?

If she's moved twice already, and still only starting Yr2, I wouldn't move her unless there was absolutely no choice.
Why can't she be friendly with boys?
Why do you think she won't be able to find friends amongst the 6 other girls in her class?
Why can't she also make friends with dc in other classes?

Why has she moved twice already before yr2?

Put her in brownies for the girl only interaction.

I don't really get this, does it really matter that there are more boys than girls in her class?

Just sign her up for Rainbows/Brownies if you want her to have more interaction with girls. Moving schools again is completely over the top.

When I say girly clubs, the other school doesn't just do the traditional girl activities like baking etc, they also do more fun stuff like judo. The mixed school doesn't have many clubs she would like to do that isn't netball or rounders.

I do want her to be friends with boys - she has loads already - but she needs both. From experience with other year groups in the school, the girls either argue a lot (like they would anywhere) or form a small clique against the boys. There's usually only a few girls left by Year 6.

She likes boys but doesn't like them in the classroom as they are too noisy and naughty. I'll just have to see how it goes I guess

Rainbows not an option as I have to pick the others up from school at the same time

We moved for work but had to move back again a year later, hence moving schools twice

I would see how it goes... as suggested sign up for some girly stuff brownies, gymnastics, ballet etc. 6 girls should be enough. We are at a small village school and DC1 has 7 other girls in her class and is considered very lucky! Some classes/years are very tint and only have 2 or 3 of one fender in them which I think must be too small! Try not to panic and see how it goes. 6 girls may be enough?

Fender = gender ;-)

I've taught in a school where the reception class was 13 boys. No girls.

I don't think it matters. Is she happy? If yes, leave her. Girls can be friends with boys quite easily.

I agree with leaving her, seeing how she gets on, and pursuing other friends out of school. Why does picking up her brothers at the same time stop her going to Brownies? Is there a pack closer to home?

Probably just new term doubts! Rainbows starts when I'm at school picking up so can't be in 2 places at once. Rainbows also really oversubscribed here so a long waiting list unless we go miles away

If you do want her to go to Rainbows/Brownies and it's oversubscribed in your area, it's definitely worth going to the unit miles away (priority for Brownies).

As for how few is too few? It partly depends on how your DD gets on with the girls are left (if they are a close knit group and don't get on with DD, that is different to all the girls getting on well). How much do other classes/years interact?

I'd leave here where she is for now but keep an open mind as things go along. My daughter was in single-sex till year 4 then moved to a mixed prep. She's just started senior school and part of the reason she's boarding is that she really felt she'd prefer co-ed. The ratios at her prep school were about 1/3 girls until year 7 when they evened up a little. Probably more like 50/50 in the (small) boarding house there though.

By contrast, I was quite concerned some years back to hear about my cousin's experiences being seriously outnumbered at a prep school. Her parents were amused by the maths teacher who would laugh at any boy "beaten by a girlie" rather than concerned ...

I suppose what I'm trying to say is, focus on whether your children are happy and whether you are happy with the teaching they are getting. The rest will sort itself out I think.