Parents often face conflicting advice when deciding whether to send their child to a single-sex or coeducational school.
There are more single-sex schools for girls than for boys in each of the three Australian educational sectors: government, Catholic and independent.
As a consequence, more boys than girls are enrolled in some coeducational schools.
So as a parent, how do you decide which school is best for your child? And, importantly, what do you actually want out of a school? For example, is the focus on achieving good grades, or about making sure your child fits in and feels accepted?
There is no straightforward answer, but research has revealed there are some key things to consider when choosing a school which might help determine where to send your child.
Single-sex schools
Most of Australia’s single-sex schools are found in the fee-paying non-government sector. This means that financially secure parents have a wider choice of schools open to them.
Of the small number of single-sex schools in the government sector, many are academically selective.
Research suggests http://www.aare.edu.au/datapublications/2007/for07148.pdf that girls who attend single-sex schools are more confident about themselves as learners in subjects such as mathematics and physics than in coeducational schools. In the absence of boys, the girls also feel less constrained in engaging in classroom discussions.
For boys attending single-sex or coeducational schools, their confidence levels in physics and mathematics are found to be equally high, and they boisterously engage in classroom discourse.
Girls’ schools provide a fantastic opportunity to educate, inspire and nurture the girls of today, who will be the leaders of tomorrow. In a single sex school, every girl is able to be heard. The curriculum is tailored to the needs of girls, which provides the opportunity to develop and excel. In a coeducational environment, girls can be “drowned out by the boys”, whereas in single-sex schools can captain the debating team, choose to study physics or be part of a cricket team.
Highlighted below are some of the many benefits of choosing a single-sex school for your daughter.
Role models and leadership
Every single leadership role in the school is filled by girls, including the SRC representatives, class captains, sports captains, school captains. The girls learn about various influential women and the roles that they have played in History.
Academic advantages
Research has consistently shown that girls perform better academically in all girls environments. Without the burden of subject stereotyping, girls are free to pursue academic excellence.
A tailored curriculum
Girls learn differently from boys. In most girls school the teachers receive special training so that they are able to tailor their classes and curriculum to the needs of the students. This means that the students are more likely to be engaged during class and therefore are able to achieve to their potential.
References: http://theconversation.com/single-sex-vs-coeducational-schools
