single sex education for girls - what do you think?

[katiebdee]

Do you have a daughter at an all girls school? What are the advantages and disadvantages? I am currently thinking about this for my daughter who is in Year 5. I'd always thought I'd only go for a mixed sex school, as I had felt it was important for girls to learn to deal with boys in preparation for the real world - and some all girls schools do seem to get terribly bitchy.

However, I can now see that there are advantages in a curriculum and teaching that is aimed at girls - and that she might flourish in that environment. She already gets fed up with the way that some boys tease at primary school - but is it better to learn to deal with that or to escape it for a while during your teenage years. I wouldn't consider an all girls school if she didn't have an older brother, but as it is she spends plenty of time with boys! What do you think?

People in the UK are incredibly sexist. I really agree with Lovetheharp; segregation is peculiar to this country, not inevitable, not universal.

I went to a single sex school that became mixed while I was there. I would chose single sex education for a girl if there was a suitable school locally. There was less bullying in a single sex environment (and no sexual bullying), less disruption in lessons, girls would speak out more freely in class, there was no stigma in doing any subject and hard work was expected. At that time only single sex schools tended to have female headteachers or deputy heads so we had strong role models. When the school became mixed the top job went to a man and the head no longer knew all the pupils well. The impact on the girls was more noticeable in those lower down the school so if you want to go co-ed send them single sex until 16 and mix them afterwards.

Like wordfactory, my daughter is starting in year 7 at a single sex secondary. She is coming from a single sex prep, having been to a coed state primary until yr 4. She loves it! And the girls are all (with the very rare exception) really supportive of each other. She has ZERO interest in boys and can't wait to start at the secondary. I went to an all girls grammar and loved it.

"People in the UK are incredibly sexist. I really agree with Lovetheharp; segregation is peculiar to this country, not inevitable, not universal." It is not peculiar to this country, there is single sex education in the States and Canada, Australia and Spain.

And don't forget in some countries there really is single sex education because the girls don't get educated...

I went to a single sex school and came out with a lot of insecurities around boys. For a long time I thought I would not send my children single sex, but now DD1 is also in Y5 and I think we will probably put single sex as our first choice. What I've realised is that being around boys doesn't necessarily mean you get on with them any better - it just means you're confronted with the issue all the time. Also I've come across boys being quite insensitive in mixed schools and 'ranking' the girls in order of attractiveness etc. That would have just about killed me!

I went to a girls' grammar and loved it and have chosen the same for dd. She wanted it as she is bored of annoying boys disturbing lessons; I'm keen because both my dds are far prettier than I was (and dd2 looks set to take after her aunt with enormous bosoms) and I really don't want them to have to put up with all the hassle. I'd rather they were free to concentrate on lessons at school not who fancied whom.

I went to an all girls school after the local primary. no way in a million years would i send mine to an all girls school. I was lucky I have brothers and thier mates were my mates. There were girls in my school, who didnt have brothers, or who were an only child, taught by female teachers and quite honestly they had horrific relationships with boys/men in the real world.

I personally find a group of girls quite painful, girls can be pretty nasty, boys just get on with it, boys can fight one day, and be mates the next. A mix evens fragile situations out.

The the lads i grew up, never let me down, we never rowed, just got on with things.

Some of the girls i went to school with decided my males mates and my brothers were a good snogging target practice. I used to hate taking them home. THey just didnt know how to be friends with a boy!

Our children are going co-ed all the way. To me it is realy important to have friends of both sexes.

I went all girls for High School and loved it. Admittedly grammar so might be something to do with it but the bitchiness was far less ( almost non-existent)than from other girls I met from mixed schools. There is not so much need for bitchiness which at its root is often competition for boys! We hardly needed to wear makeup or dress "sexily" as I see from a lot of the mixed school girls, there was noone to impress! Of course there were exceptions...

I would insist on it if I had daughters, not only for the reasons above but it has been proven that boys are more competitive for things like the best scientific equipment etc. so girls get left behind. I actually have sons so am more relaxed about it but would still prefer single sex.

Sorry for any typos, am a bit tipsy