Are there any particular things I should consider re sending DD to a boys' school that is about to go co-ed?

[BRANdishingMistletoe]

My old school (where I did the final two years) is the most obvious choice for both DS and DD, most of the children that they are in primary school with will probably go there. But I'm not sure that it will really suit the personality of either of my DC, especially my DS who is very defiant. I would like both DC to go to the same school so don't want to send them to single sex schools (the school I went to before my final two years was girls only).

There is a boys' school which would suit DS's personality better I think, it is much smaller and has more sport and better pastoral care. From next year it will be going co-ed. DD has just started primary school so if she went there it would be after seven years of the school being co-ed (DS would go there in four years time). Given that the entire school will have turned over in those seven years will it be as though it had always been co-ed, will it still feel like a boys' school that girls also attend (and have to fit in as best they can) or is there no real way of knowing until the time comes?

Also, should I be concerned that it might close down, given that it's financial pressure that is sending them co-ed now?

I work in a co-ed school that was all boys about 8 years ago. Numbers are not equal in all year groups, but more equal the younger they go. The girls that we have are generally the type that are quite tough rather than being really girly girls, I.e. they like to go and play in the woods with the boys, build camps, etc etc. at times parents do need to point things out that need changing, e.g. Cups for girls at sports day, girls only races now that we have enough girls to do this! We have a head of girls who ensures that all things girls are sorted out and who made the transition easier for the staff and girls!

Any independent school is liable to be financially pressured in these times, however the fact the school is being proactive is a big step, they are now able to pull in from all potential children, instead of just half!

My DD moved at the beginning of Y9 from a girls independent school to the local boys independent school which is gradually changing to co-ed. The school have said they will never have an equal split, about 2/3 boys and 1/3 girls. The first year there were about 20 girls in her year group and about 80 boys. Girls that year were also admitted into y7. A few more girls joined her year at the beginning of Y10 and y9 and y7 had an intake. She is now in the sixth form which has been co-ed for a bit longer.
She's loved it, especially that first year. However, she is very competitive. The lessons suited her better- she enjoyed competing with the boys, was happy to join in discussions and tried to out do them. Now in the sixth form and doing further maths and physics, she is the only girl in this classes. Again this doesn't bother her. Her younger brother was already at the school and I think this helped as she had someone to ask questions of.
I don't think it would have suited my younger daughter so well, but by the time she goes (if she does), they'll have had girls for quite a few years.

The school DD is at has been co-ed all through for more than 25 years. Boys still outnumber girls all through, but I don't think this is anything o do with the school's ethos, it's just because the city has several private all-girls schools but only one all-boys, so the mixed ones tend to be boy heavy. Despite the gender imbalance, there are enough girls to form good friendship groups, there's lots of girls' sport, plenty of female teachers etc.

I would have thought that if it will have been 7 years after the change by the time your DD gets there, things should have settled down, but obviously you'll need to keep an ear open for feedback nearer the time.

Thanks for your thoughts. I think I might go and have a look at the school on their next open day.

DD is quite a tom boy, at the moment she won't even wear any girl's clothes. I don't know whether that will change as she grows up, but she probably won't be too bothered if there are more boys than girls.

My dd goes to a selective school which through its entrance exam gets more boys than girls. And I would say, it really depends what sort of child your dd is. The disadvantages are that there is a reduced pool of girls to be friends with. Also girls can have quite problematic relationships, hence, if there are only 6 girls in a class it can make things socially awkward. Also, boys are definitely more pushy and strident in the class scene and this can be intimidating.