Fully coed school OR boys school with coed 6th form as a girl?

[Jigglycat]

Hi everyone,
DD, Y11, currently in single-sex independent school in London, has offers for coed sixth forms: 1 for a boys school with coed 6th form and 2 for a fully coed schools.
Do you think it will be easier to make friends and settle down if all the girls arrive at the same time? (this is what my daughter feels) or reversely could it feel awkward to have girls arriving among a majority of boys?
Are there any parent out there whose DDs had experience changing from singlesex to one of these options for 6th form? any regrets or warnings? thanks for your help!

I went from single sex to a boys school with girls in the sixth form. Was fine, although for the first few weeks the boys acted like we were animals in a zoo and didn't talk much, just stared. They soon got over that though and I made friends easily with both the newly joined girls and the boys.

We are in exactly the same position (perhaps for some of the same schools!) and are accepting the boys’ school with the co-ed 6th form. I myself went to a similar set-up at 16 and it was a real advantage that all the girls were new together. The boys were pretty silly at first, but improved in due course.

DD is absolutely set on this as an important factor for her, not having to deal with existing cliques, so it’s a no-brainer really. Best of luck with your decision.

Depends on school really, how many new sixth formers will be joining is there are only 20 girls or more? Clubs and school trips? Sports including gym? Boys with girls in sixth form, has this been done for years or recently? Is there a separate sixth form rooms or building?
Could your DC attend an offer day and maybe in the coed ones talked to girls already attending?
Great to have 3 offers to choose!

Ah, thanks for these feedbacks! ! I knew I would get intereting opinions on Mumsnet 😊. So DD's reasoning is possibly right...

Yes we'll attend offer holder evenings. Schools are KCS, LU & Alleyns. I think KCS has welcomed girls for quite some time now, hasn't it? It has hockey club, which DD plays, so that's great. But girls are still in minority 2:1 I believe.

Common schools @Marisquita ?🙂

I wouldn't send a daughter to a mixed sixth form of an all-boys school. They are being imported for the benefit of the boys, to help the staff teach a sheen of civilization to the young men. The culture will be testosterone fueled and unpleasant, and the young women will be seen as a resource. Go for a fully coed school.

I think KCS has 50-60 girls and about 160-170 boys. A lot of the girls will know each other - big numbers from
Wimbledon High, ( at least 10 this year) Putney High etc.
I used to work there- very much feels like a boys school to me but most girls seem to be happy. The girls seem to stick together. I knew a couple who didn't like it after attending the offer holders evening so well worth doing that.
Don't know Alleyns but LU is a genuine fully co- ed school. About 30ish join in 6th form and the ones I know who went there settled in very well. More relaxed, can wear what they want etc.
Very different locations and transport options if that makes a difference? KCS has a very refined and quiet ish campus. LU more city like and 'busy'.
They're all good schools - I'd go to the offer holder meetings and decide.

In the case of KCS I think they're imported more for their results! They were handing out academic scholarships at one of the local girls schools like sweets!

I wouldn’t send my DD to a boys school that has a sprinkle of girls. Honestly, I’d encourage her to stay girls-only, but if she’s set on moving, fully co-Ed would be the only option.

All three are great schools but very different in feel, your DC have to decide or does she have friends going to one of the school which may be a deciding factor for her? Worth checking transportation options and going there after school or late to get a feel?