Moving from all boys to a co-ed school in 6th form?

[Canadawet]

That's it really, will he get distracted by the girls or motivated? Is it really disruptive to change school for 6th form? Will the presence of girls be a good thing or not? DS is in 4th form in an all boys' independent school with a long commute, and our local CofE school is outstanding and does not requires religious forms for 6th form. It is highly selective for external candidates but I think DS has a chance and I am wondering whether we should consider it or not. He is happy and doing OK at his present school and on track to meet the minimum requirements to stay, but found out that his best friend will be leaving the school for 6th form, so that got me thinking. Anyone has done this? Private to state, and single sex to co-ed.

Our school is all boys until sixth form then it allows girls in. Seems to work fine for both sexes!

He'll have to come across them at some point. Will you worry about him being distracted at uni or at work? As a mother of each I'd say if an individual's eyes are on the prize of good results they'll be fine. If they're not then frankly anything could distract them!

Although we have schools here which are single sex for years 7 - 11(and our three all attend / have attended some of them), the nearest single sex sixth form is twenty miles away and at a girls' school, so no good for two of ours, even if we / they didn't want a mixed sixth form. And no, the presence of the opposite sex has not been, in itself, a distraction; DD just finds some of the boys in one of her classes (mixed sixth at a girls' grammar) rather immature and annoying. Our DC have always had friends of the opposite sex, though, from Scouts, drama groups etc

I think 6th form is the right time to reintroduce girls!
DS's school is single sex but allows girls in 6th form - seems to work well.

And because the younger lads have seen older girls about it won’t be too much of a culture shock!

We’re thinking of the same for our daughter (well, she is) - single sex independent to mixed sixth form college. The all girls environment can be quite intense at times and she’d like a more laid back atmosphere! She’s got lots of male friends already so I don’t think she’ll suddenly get distracted.

I’m sure it will be fine - it’s a good time for a change and a useful step towards university/workplace.

My ds went to an all boys' school, then the 6th form was theoretically joint with the local girls' school. He did 2 subjects at his school and 2 at the girls' school. He loved it, no issues apart from some weird, sexist decisions by the girls' school.
Both dd1 and dd2 went to the girls' school and then moved to a selective, 6th form that was not only co-ed but took a real mix of young people from across the City. I think they both really grew and gained a huge amount from it. Nothing negative to say. They were challenged as to 'who they were' but that was nothing to do with it being co-ed and everything to do with all the other things in the mix of people.
Never been to private school so I don't know how that will effect anything.
I do think it is a good step towards university, when he will be mixing with all sorts of folk if that is the route he takes.

Thanks all for your input, I think it might be a positive thing too. We'll apply and see if he gets a place and then crossed that bridge if we have to!

*cross not crossed