Should I Consider a Single-Sex School for My Child?

This is a collaborative post.

Are you considering an all girls or all boys child for your child? There may be a few reasons why you are leaning towards a single-sex school, but you’re unsure as to what the benefits and drawbacks could be and if it’s worth it for your child.

To explore whether a single-sex school is the best route for your child, here are some key pointers from this independent girls school in Hertfordshire.

A single-sex school prioritises learning capabilities

Girls, on average, tend to be able to absorb more of the information they come across and are more effective learners. Boys on the other hand may need particular focus in certain areas, which is where specific learning methods can come in handy. At a single-sex school, students’ learning styles and particular needs can be addressed very quickly following a lot of what is noticed in children at these schools over the years.

Your child’s overall experience of school

While the majority of your child’s time in school is going to revolve around their studies, a large chunk of that time is also spent making friends, socialising, joining clubs and following the latest trends. Kids talk a lot openly and love to get involved in what’s happening in school at the time, which can be both a benefit and a hindrance.

In single-sex schools of course there are only going to be issues that relate to what children know. Boys may become more reserved in front of girls and other children, and girls potentially grow up to be shyer and lacking in life skills. On the other hand, having single-sex based activities makes for a more targeted level of learning and can allow your child to explore new interests and specific areas of their personal development.

Academic achievements

In single-sex schools there is much less judgement of how children are performing, and in fact they’re more likely to pick up subjects they may have not considered in the past. This can pave the way for a new wave of children picking up subjects they might not have looked into if they were in a mixed sex school.

Girls could be inclined to pick up more STEM or maths-related subjects as they progress in their studies. And boys could be keen to push themselves in new ways by exploring art or foreign languages. A lot of judgement and stereotyping can impact a child’s choices, which are all erased at a same-sex school.