Lifestyle, food and drink, and our family life and travel adventures.
Why choose single-sex education? For many parents, the attraction is built from a strong instinct that this is the best route for their child and there are a number of reasons behind the decision. This independent boys’ school in London fosters a warm and creative environment for the boys in their care – it’s not all about sporting prowess and science!
Boys and girls in single-sex schools are often seen to be very carefree and relaxed. One of the most common reasons given for choosing a single-sex school is that there is less pressure on both boys and girls to impress the opposite sex. It’s certainly true that in co-educational settings there will be a fair amount of children dedicated to impressing the girls or the boys rather than learning!
This isn’t true for smaller children but even they find differences in both the play and the learning styles of the opposite sex. There is also evidence pointing to the fact that many girls will do better academically in a single-sex school, especially in STEM subjects, and some evidence that boys are more inclined to participate in artistic extra-curricular subjects like drama when they are in single-sex schools.
How to decide
A lot of your choice will depend on your individual child. Not all children will thrive in a single-sex environment – some girls prefer the company of boys and vice versa. Those children may find it extremely limiting to only have the company of their own sex. Others might strongly prefer to be in a single-sex school and feel far more comfortable in that situation.
Talk to your child; give them a chance to voice their own thoughts and opinions on the matter. It is vital that they feel like they have an active part to play in decisions about their education. Visiting both types of school is another powerful way to gain insight. You will be able to witness how both options function in general and to see what, if anything, you prefer about each.
Remember to give your child other opportunities to mix with the opposite sex outside of school if you do choose a single-sex school. Sporting and drama or arts clubs offer great opportunities for children to meet others their age and your child will be well-rounded as a result.
Whatever you decide, the chances are that your child will ultimately benefit from the lack of distractions which the opposite sex often bring! This is especially true as your children reach their teenage years.
This is a collaborative post.
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
Contact: [email protected]
