All girls school

[toby99]

Did anyone go to an all girls school? If so, what did you think? The school I am thinking of for my daughter is mixed until the age of 11 then just girls from then on. What affect, good and bad, if any, has it had on you in later life?

[baremission]

Hiya,

I have just left an all girls school after being there for 7 years from 11 to 18. From 4-11 i was at a co-ed school but it happened that the only decent school in my area after that was single sex so thats where I went.
I have no complaints, I don't feel like I missed out on anything, there was a boys school nearby so it wasnt as if there was no interaction with boys at all, in 6th form we had a consortium with the boys' school.
The only thing with girls' schools is that they can be a bit bitchy at times with all that oestrogen flying around but I would personally recommend it.
I think single sex education has a bad rep. among many young people today, for the majority, it doesn't make you turn into a lesbian like many assume!

[toby99]

Thanks Baremission - I wondered if it made it more difficult to interact with the opposite sex in later life, but you are right there are plenty of mixed out of school activities that she could be involved in anyway. Half the bitching in mixed sex schools is usually due to boys anyway!

I have actually heard the oposite and that single sex schools actually makes the girls you go 'off the rails' when they are finally are let loose on the opposite sex!

[baremission]

yeh going off the rails in that respect is also common i suppose but i didn't and know many others that didn't so i wouldn't worry too much. what does your daughter think about it? as long as she thinks she'll be happy there ...

[Bewlay Bros]

If I may answer from attending an all boys school.

Single sex schools are the best.

If your daughter is going to be a sl4g latter on in life she will whatever school she attends.

But with all the attention boys give girls during those dreadful hormaonal years (11-17) would you not prefer that she actually learns instead of having her attention span located elsewhere?

Also, and I believe this strongly, men should be men and women should be women. Attending single sex schools will enhanced her later life femininity. She will therefore not be one of these bloody awful dungaree wearing liberal lefties moaning about Iraq and naming her children Moon Shadow.

[toby99]

Not sure - we haven't talked about it yet as I am only thinking about it at the moment - she actually prefers boys though and prefers her football boots to ballet shoes. I think girl friends are harder work compared to boys - with boys what you see is what you get - girls are far more complex and, as you said, bitchy!

[potterfan3]

Don't do it.

I'm at school right now and every girl I know from an all girls' school is a complete ****. I think this is what you meant by "off the rails"

Let me give you a few examples;

Virginity loss at 14/15 to a guy 3 or 4 years older than them

Cheating on their boyfriends with other guys

Giving a threesome to their boyfriend for his birthday


All of them are really really messed up, don't do it to your daughter.
but meh maybe it's just the ones I've met/heard of

[China Doll]

I went to an all girls school from 1990 - 1995. My sisters both went to a mixed school a few years later and I have to say that I think the mixed approach is better.

The all girls scholl as I remember it was cliquey, b!tchy and completely exhausting whereas my sisters seemed to have a much better time of it at their school. I have no fond memories of my school, I spent half the time wishing I wasn't there and I have only one school friend from there left out of all the girls I knew. (And I met her outside of the school enviroment initially). I couldn't wait to go to college.

Also the fashion accesories at the time of my going to school seemed to include a buggy and a prize catch was generally considered to be a rather gangly looking lad with a face only a mother could love and an IQ that would make a single celled organism look like a contestant for master mind. I was lucky, I've always had male friends but for some of the girls at my school, well lets just say 'selective' was not the approach they took.

On the whole I think my sisters had a more balanced and enjoyable experience than myself.

That said we're going back several years and the other factor was that I went to a catholic school as well so I don't know if that had a bearing on it.

[toby99]

Thank you Bewlay Bros - I should have posted single sex school, so I am glad you answered! You are right - it is about the upbringing rather than the school and I assure you now that she will turn out ok in that respect. Can't however, exclude the possibility of the activist coming out in the genes though!!!

[baremission]

What Potterfan has written is over the top and over-biased.
Im not saying single sex is right for everyone, but what she is insinuating is that everyone who goes to an all girls school will have an awful time/end up a slag which simply isnt true. I will always have fond memories of my school.

Im 18, went to a girls school and still a virgin, yet have many boys who are friends...id on the whole say that that was fairly balanced and not an awful state to be in.

It doesnt depend on the school, its who you are, and yes schools can influence sometimes but ultimately..its who you are.

[toby99]

Potterfan - is there really any difference between mixed and the girls school. From what I here these days, its just as bad everywhere - is it down to parenting to teach the values?

[baremission]

ps: im not 'really really messed up'

[Bewlay Bros]

may I ask if this is paid or state education you are considerring?

Not many single sex state schools left really. I know one in Worthing and the girls seem very adjusted (such a good school, that half of them had to pretend to be Catholic to go there I believe)

[toby99]

Hi - Voluntary Aided. She is in private now, but they push them too much, as they are only interested in results for their business and not the wellbeing of the children who are seriously running the risk of having no childhood with the pressure they put them under.

[baremission]

That is partly my perception of private schools (not that i have any experience of one to speak of)
Mine was completely state.

[Bewlay Bros]

Toby, may I correct you there.

I worked in a Private school (though called Public, preferably) and yes there is a business side of things without a doubt.

But there is certainly more sport, more outings, more drama and better food than at state schools. This has no bearing on academia, but on the wellbeing of the child.

Also, with all these blasted SAT's etc, I would argue that state schools are running a greater risk for results that Public schools.

If Eton has a really bad year, it will still be there next term.

If Cardiff Secondary for Smeggy Children fails beyond its usual failings, it may well be closed next year.

The pressure for state teachers is therefore very hard.

[potterfan3]

Yes there is loads of difference, I have never met any girl from a mixed who acts like a tart. However it seems to be true and everyone I have heard of from the all girls schools.

For the record, I'm a "he" at a mixed school, and I know these girls through friends who have gone out with them. I have never went out with one of these girls myself.

[sausagechips]

hi
I went to a private all girls school and although at the time I really enjoyed it, i would not recomend it for other people.
I agree that the education that I got was of a higher standard however I feel that I missed out on a lot of social interaction.
I did not go 'off the rails' as some have said, however I watched several girls who did.

If you want to give your daughter a better start in life perhaps look at a unisex private school. A lot of the top private schools have become unisex now anyway.

Good luck anyway, and perhaps try discussing this with your daughter.

[redcrx]

i went to an all girls school from 11 until 16 (in the 80s) and i dont think it did me any harm.
I didnt board though, the boarders were told all sorts of things such as theyd get pregnant if they looked at a boy.
I did get a bit lazy once i left the school and went to mainstream college but that wasnt because of boys, more because of the freedom i gained.

[toby99]

Bewlay Bros - I was talking specifically about her current school, but I am sure there are good and bad out there too.

Thanks Sausage and Chips - I will discuss it with my daughter, but she is a little too young yet to know what she wants.
My main concern is that she will miss out on out of school activities as the homework will take up to three hours a night and I really can't accept that at such a young age - I am afraid my heart rules here!

[spudqueen]

Well I went to an all girls Grammar school, and have never done any of the things potterfan mentions!
I think educationally it was better being in an all girls school, no boys to distract you during the day! I did miss out on interaction with boys, but not just at school, when I started work there were 120 women and 3 men, and of those three one was the boss and one the caretaker! I then went to work in a bank where we had separate rest rooms for men and women! I don't think those experiences helped! Now I am in my 40's I don't think that it has had a negative affect on my life through going to an all girls school.