boys or mixed, which one would you choose?

[Apple8tree]

My boy will be 4 in August. He is quite,small and soft, always needs long time to get on with new friends.
I am wondering if a boys school with 19 in a class would work better for him, or a mixed state would give him more chance to learn social skills, balance his life in the future? He is our only child.

Academicly, the boys school would do the best, but maybe it is bettet he goes boys after age of 11? or six forms?
What would you do? Thanks

Don't know about boys... i have girls but we did single sex the whole way through for eldest and the younger moved to a mixed at age of 11. The junior school worked brilliantly - for the girls- as they felt free to cartwheel without worrying about their knickers showing etc and the one who moved definitely feels she can do whatever the boys do. We moved her as I didn't like the lack of social encounters of the 'normal' kind in the senior school. They had loads of balls and meals etc but all it meant was that the girls permanently appeared before the boys 'all done up'. We moved her before senior school so she got used to the boys before they became 'an issue' if you get my drift!! My youngest has been camping with the boys and sits next to them in class when the girls are 'doing her head in'!! Which I think is much more normal!! As long as you can move him at a stage where he isn't 'embarrassed' talking to the girls I'd maybe start single sex and see where you go.

We did mixed prep single, at senior single sex for DS2 and coed for DS1 we didn't particularly choose any of them for that reason only because the schools themselves suited us and did what we wanted. I personally wouldn't make it my first and definitely not my only criteria for choosing a school.
Boys schools, especially at senior level can be very macho, on the other hand, certainly at my DS2's senior school, very strong bonds are formed between the boys.

I would be tempted by the smaller class size just due to being an Aug birthday. Personally I wouldn't go single-sex all the way through. DS is an only with almost entirely males cousins & there aren't many girls doing his sports. At school he does count girls among his friends.

It's great to hear your opinions.Have an August DS, I always worried a little more, thanks.

My hubby just made his point today, going to school is to get best education not a social life. Single sex schools have been a subject for many years, but they live for their reasons. So for him, boys, and it is one of the top prep in my area.

Mixed is good, 5 minutes walking from my door step, Boys does need 15 to 20 mintues driving every day, and of course a high cost for fee, for which I can only support one. But if social skills will not be a problem, boys provides better resources. It seems I may need to consider when to move him to a mixed, maybe GM, before he becomes "embarrassed" by talking to girls then.

I would ick a short walk over driving 20 mins to and fro twice a day.
I would pick having friends very close by.
How do you know the boys school will be better academically?

Also, will you have any more children? He is still so young. If you plan more children I think you need to plan to afford the same for all.

I'd go for the smaller class size and would then encourage more interests outside of school, such as sport, music, drama etc

At his age I would agree with Charm about the advantages of a local school with easy distances for play dates and cutting down on travel time and would revisit the decision in 2-3 years depending on what you then feel about the local school and senior options. I disagree with your DH, school with future happiness and success is just as much about social integration and shared activities as academics.
Your DS if gentle may enjoy playing with girls just as much as boys, helping him settle faster.

DH and I both went to single sex schools, and we both preferred mixed for our boys, all else being equal. We have been really happy with our decision. DSs are now 19 and 17, and both have a mixed group of friends, which neither their father nor I ever had! They have both done extremely well at school, and haven't been distracted at all by the girls, rather, they enjoyed the healthy competition. I thought you may like a view from the 'other end'. :)

I would pick a 5min walk each way over a 20min drive too - very important socially, and for their independence as they get older.
I think you are comparing 2 completely different things though, not just single sex vs co-ed, but also state vs private, class sizes being different, and walk vs drive.
You need to look at how important each and every one of them is / how much they matter.