Single Sex or Mixed Schools?

The question as to whether to educate your children in a single sex or mixed school can be a sticking point for some families. Sometimes parents are keen for their children to have a single-sex education, but (especially older) children are equally as keen to use their school day time to meet friends of the opposite sex.

There are more single-sex Private Schools than state maintained schools - most of these are co-educational. Every year when the league tables of exam results frequently show that girls perform better, the debate about the relative benefits and drawbacks of educating children - especially girls - erupts. This article will take a look at the issues you might want to consider.

The Benefits of Single Sex Schools

Single sex schools are popular within faith schools and some schools who believe there are associated academic benefits. Supporters believe that single sex schools help students to focus on their studies - this is especially important, some educationalists believe, for teenagers for whom single sex schools help to avoid the attractions of the opposite sex. Proponents on single sex schools believe that children can become extra competitive when the two genders study together and believe that students may be more inclined to experience relationships with the opposite sex earlier if they are studying alongside them.

A single sex education might also lead students to be less embarrassed about potentially gender-orientated decisions - females might be keener to study maths, for example, or males to study art. Learning differences are also well known to differ between female and male students, so these differences might be exploited for positive effects in single sex schools.

The Drawbacks of Single Sex Schools

Some critics of single sex schooling claim that the environment of these schools is artificial and hinders students’ development of social skills. The teenage years are known for being important periods of development and those who oppose single sex schools believe that this type of education makes it harder for children to naturally relate to members of the opposite sex.

Another argument made against single sex schools is that they do not help children to get ready for 'real life' and the 'real world' where, of course, the two genders do co-exist. The same argument is cited with regard to universities and the workplace - opponents to single sex schools believe that mixed schools better prepare students for university and work life.

The Benefits of Mixed Schools

Some evidence has suggested that boys in mixed schools performed better academically, as they are encouraged not to 'mess around' by their more responsible female classmates - but obviously this is a generalisation and might prove different in specific schools and even in particular classrooms. Some proponents of mixed schools claim these schools have a better atmosphere, since they are neither too 'bitchy', as can occur when a group of girls are working and studying together, not too aggressive, which can occur when boys are exclusively working and studying together.

Drawbacks of Mixed Schools

There is some research that reports that girls do better in single sex schools - so for girls attending mixed schools, this may be a disadvantage. However, obviously this again depends on the personal nature of each individual student.