Single sex schools are here to stay

Rachel Bailey, Headmistress of the renowned girls-only Benenden School, argues that single sex schools are vital for the UK education system

While coeducational schools are becoming more common – and, I would argue this is largely for economic reasons – here in Kent we are fortunate to have a good choice of excellent single sex schools available to us, both in the independent and state sector.  A good deal of research highlights that single sex education for girls is particularly beneficial on a wide range of measures.

It’s proven that students in all-girls schools achieve higher academic results compared to their peers in co-educational schools and that girls in single sex schools are more likely to take advanced courses in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) – for example, they are as much as three times as likely to take Further Maths.

We know too that girls in single sex environments are also more likely to speak up in class and participate in discussions during lessons, take risks in their learning and develop strong public speaking skills.  Without the social pressure that sometimes exists in co-educational settings where boys typically dominate teachers’ attention, they feel more comfortable to express themselves without fear of judgement and set themselves more ambitious goals for their future.

In girls’ schools the leadership opportunities and number of female role models are enormous, empowering young women to go out into the world expecting to be heard and knowing they have every right to become leaders.  They are free of the gender stereotypes that can influence academic and cocurricular choices and studies show they are more likely to pursue careers in male-dominated fields like finance, engineering and technology.

Indeed girls’ independent schools buck the national trend for teenage girls dropping out of sport and this is largely due to the supportive community that all-girls’ schools offer without gender-based barriers which often lead to heightened self-consciousness and reduced self-belief. 

And the idea that girls at single sex schools don’t know how to interact with the opposite sex is laughable!  In reality there are plenty of opportunities to interact with boys – through continual academic, co-curricular and social events (at Benenden we work with Tonbridge School on an almost weekly basis where many of our pupils’ brothers are educated) and of course, simply existing in the real world.  If anything they often develop stronger communication skills because their environment has encouraged them to speak up and lead without hesitation.  So please be reassured that single sex schools are here to stay!