single sex schools

[MarieDeGournay]

Girls do better in exams at all-girls schools than mixed, research finds | Schools | The Guardian
I remember research showing that was true some time ago, then it was debunked, now it's back again
As a product of all-girl schools, I've always believed it was very beneficial. Given that I was gender-non-conforming to the point of dysphoria, that might sound strange, and I did feel a huge disconnect with my classmates; but if I'd been in a mixed school I'd have been drawn towards the boy-side, whereas in an all-girls' school, I just had to work out a way to be a different kind of girl.
And I had the female teachers - even the science teachers - as role models. I wouldn't have worked things out as well in a mixed school, I think.

That's not even mentioning the shocking rate of sexual harassment of girls in mixed schools.

Here in Ireland, single-sex schools are disappearing in a blaze of 'aren't we wonderfully progressive?' but I think it may be one more thing we wish we'd held on to. Any thoughts?

Girls scared of being girls and/or Lesbian. Poor things. The school ought to be actively opposing trans and NB, giving a positive image of being a woman. Difficult in our pornified world where anything seems to go.

I think there are many different factors at play that can contribute to some of the experiences shared on this thread.

Often, parents who socially conservative or religious choose single sex schools for their children. They match this with strict boundaries outside of school. Some of these children, as young adults having to navigate the world, are socially awkward around the opposite sex and some 'go hard' at making up for lost time. I think it is a combination of factors that influence this.

I work with kids who have struggled at mixed and single sex schools. I think the challenges are exacerbated in high achieving schools where you see more extremes.

Boy's schools that are very sporty can be very tough for boys who aren't great at, or interested, in sport. Even if they aren't bullied, they can struggle to feel a sense of belonging, which is important during adolescence. Those who were well known and celebrated for their academic achievements in primary/prep school can find this particularly difficult.

Girl's schools can (often?) have a culture where girls bond over social factors and issues (focussing on / reflecting on social interactions and social meaning). This can lead to girls feeling or being scrutinised and judged. I hadn't come across this at boys schools until social media took off. Since then, there has been a bit of a shift. Often, boys schools have a culture where boys bond over activities, such as sport, rather than analysing relationships and interactions.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

Is what happened 50 years ago relevant now?

I too think some parents shelter DDs and don't make much effort to help them mind to being young women and I also think boys feel left out at some schools too. This is made worse by schools sidelining subjects such as drama and music. Boys who might excel at these are not valued. I agree about academics being undervalued too. No one plays for a County Academic team!