It is an ongoing debate on whether single-sex or coeducational schools are more beneficial for students. When exam results are released, girls tend to outperform boys and single-sex schools still dominate the top 10 in any league table. However, at the end of the day, it is a personal choice and comes down to what is best for the child and their circumstances. Read to find out more about the benefits of single-sex and coeducational schools.

Single-sex schools

Individuals who prefer this type of schooling system believe that this environment allows students to focus on studies without being distracted by the opposite gender. These types of schools are centred on creating an environment where girls or boys can thrive in their learning. Boys tend to be dominating so a mixed class can get overbearing and distracting for female students. Research shows that girls do better academically when it comes to single-sex schools. For boys, it seems that they excel and are motivated more when they are not surrounded by high-achieving girls. There are also higher chances for both genders to take on subjects they would steer away from in a coeducational school such as physics for the females and art for the males. Boys and girls develop at different rates. Single-sex schools can cater better to individuals and create an environment in which they can thrive. 

Coeducational schools

The best reason to look into co-ed schools is that the environment will allow a much more natural learning experience that replicates the real world. Giving children the opportunity to mix will allow them to see the opposite gender as friends too. The argument is that without this interaction, there is a risk that boys and girls will develop unrealistic sexist attitudes. It is seen as a fully inclusive model and acknowledges that there are no answers specific to genders, providing an equal form of education. 

In today’s day and age, most are drawn toward coeducational schools even though there is no real answer as to which type of school is better for children. When it comes to education, it is the child that makes the most difference rather than the school model. The key is to understand the difference and take it from there.