Girls do better without boys
Do girls achieve higher standards in single-sex schools or when taught alongside boys? In recent years, single-sex schools have regularly been described as 'old-fashioned' and 'antiquated', or even 'throwbacks' to the Victorian era, the implication being that somehow these schools do not provide an education that is relevant to the world we now live in. However recent research would appear to have discovered that quite the opposite is true.
Last year, a study conducted by The Good Schools Guide, followed 700,000 girls in senior schools, and found that those who sat GCSEs in maintained single-sex schools all achieved higher grades than could have been predicted by their scores at the end of KS2.
By contrast, 20% of those who attended co-educational schools did worse than could have been predicted from their academic performance at the age of 11 and these results were observed across the ability range
Janette Wallis, who commissioned the research, says: “To disregard the evidence of this study would be a mistake. We never expected to see such a difference.”
According to Wallis, although her research focuses on GCSE results, the findings hold true for sixth-form study too. “Attending a single-sex school is likely to have a positive impact on girls’ academic performance up to the age of 18,” she says.
Excerpt from Sunday Times Article, March 2009
Single Sex Education - Your Right to Choose?
Is the growth of large co-educational schools gradually eroding our right to choose?
At Bradford Girls' Grammar School, our children are individuals. We believe that the ‘one size fits all’ model does not necessarily suit all. Indeed, a growing number of parents believe in the benefits of smaller, more successful, single sex schools for their children.
Girls and boys learn differently: girls’ schools understand and acknowledge this, teach using girl-centred strategies. They support a ‘can-do’ philosophy and most importantly, they break down stereotypes and provide an environment where girls can excel without distraction.
As a centre of excellence in the development of women leaders, Bradford Girls' Grammar School continues to maximise potential, develop individual skills and provide choice in an increasingly homogeneous educational environment.
Kathryn Matthews
Headmistress, Bradford Girls' Grammar School