Co-Ed or Same-Gender Education?

Choosing a school is a significant decision for many parents, particularly when weighing co-educational versus single-sex options. In Australia, while both models are available through private institutions, only a few states provide government single-sex schools. With less than 4% of schools being single-gender, it’s essential to explore the potential advantages and disadvantages of each type to determine which may best support your child’s educational and social development..

Single-sex private schools are found in every Australian state, but only three Australian states, New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria, provide the option of a government single-sex education for students. Co-education is the overwhelmingly dominant school model in Australia, with less than four percent of our 9500+ schools being single-sex. It appears that there are more girls schools than boys schools.

There are evidently those who find value in single-sex education, as evidenced by the 2% premium for a home in a single-sex school zone in Sydney (where there are a notable number of single-sex government schools), which is equivalent to approximately $22,000 in value.

But we don’t really know if they’re better than co-ed schools. Teacher quality, student performance and motivation, postcodes (socio-economic status), and a million other variables cloud the water to the point that data can’t give us a definitive answer as to which is best for kids. Are they worth a postcode premium of $22,000 (plus fees if they’re private schools)?

The Pros (in theory)

Academics make the following core arguments about why same-sex schools are positive:
Increased academic performance: It is commonly accepted that same-sex schools have better academic outcomes.

Reduced Gender Stereotyping

Same-sex education may reduce gender stereotypes, allowing students to explore a broader range of subjects and activities without societal expectations or biases.

Increased Confidence

Some research suggests that students in same-sex schools may develop higher levels of confidence as they are not competing with the opposite gender in academic and extracurricular activities.

Tailored Teaching Strategies

Educators in single-sex schools may tailor their teaching methods to better suit the learning styles and preferences of a particular gender, potentially leading to improved academic outcomes—or at least better engagement.

Minimised Distractions

Without the potential distractions of romantic relationships or social pressures related to the opposite gender, students might be more focused on their studies.

The Cons (in theory)

There are some concerning drawbacks to same-sex education:

Limited Social Interaction

Critics argue that same-sex education may limit students’ exposure to diverse perspectives and reduce opportunities for healthy social interaction between genders.

Real-World Preparedness

Some argue that same-sex education may not adequately prepare students for the real world, where they will need to interact with people of all genders in various settings.

Stereotype Reinforcement

There’s a concern that single-sex environments might inadvertently reinforce gender stereotypes by removing the opportunity for students to learn about and appreciate the differences between genders. There’s also concern that some schools become hotbeds of groupthink and increase pressure on students to follow the gender norms they are surrounded by.

Narrower Skill Set Development

Exposure to diverse perspectives in a co-educational setting can contribute to the development of interpersonal skills crucial for future success, which might be limited in a same-sex environment.

How the Pros and Cons Play Out in the Real World

Academic performance

Data shows that single-sex schools consistently outperform co-ed schools academically. The data also shows that single-sex schools are more likely to be independent schools, be in a higher SES area, charge higher fees, afford better teachers, etc. When SES status is controlled for, the difference between single-sex and co-ed schools drops to practically zero.

Stereotypes

While there is evidence that for STEM subjects such as chemistry, physics, and higher-level maths, girls from single-sex schools are more likely to enrol in these subjects than co-ed girls, the same pattern holds true for boys from single-sex schools. Additionally, longitudinal data shows that girls from single-sex schools were not more likely to major in physical or life sciences than their co-educational peers. And boys aren’t signing up for traditionally ‘female’ subjects in boys schools.

On girls

Social and emotional wellbeing is lower for girls in co-ed schools than in single-sex schools. Further, girls in co-ed schools experience higher levels of gender bias and stereotyping. There’s also evidence that they are more likely to be sexually harassed and bullied. Students educated in an all-girls environment are more confident, competitive, and willing to take risks.

On boys

A friend—granted, this is a sample size of one—told me that going to a boy’s school made him shy around women. But worse, he felt that it fuelled the sexist idea that women were intellectually inferior. Moreover, he suggested that a lack of female friends and girlfriends also led to objectification. (The infamous 2022 St. Kevins of Toorak example is the most egregious indicator that this might be true, although the various testimonials about boys schools that developed out of Chanel Contos’s petition serve to support this contention.)

By extension, it could be argued that an absence of relationships also leads to emotional immaturity and insecurity when those (usually boys) from single-sex schools eventually do have partners. The evidence doesn’t support this at an aggregate level, though. Longitudinal research from England showed that there was no statistical difference between same-sex and co-ed schools for relationship outcomes including marriage, age of childbearing, and relationship quality. Men from all-boys schools were slightly more likely to have been divorced by the age of 42.  There was also no statistical difference in the division of household labour. Yet the stereotype persists that boys from elite all-boys schools have a “prime minister” mentality, believing that leadership positions are their right.

But here’s something telling. There are more and more single-sex schools that have chosen to move to co-education in recent years. A quick look at who is opening their gates to the other gender is revealing: the overwhelming majority have been boys’ schools that offered places to girls (and anecdotally, I’ve heard horror stories as girls have attempted to transition into that previously all-male environment). Girls’ schools choosing to bring in boys? It barely happens.

Ok, But What Do I Choose for My Kid?

I work in a lot of same-sex schools and am consistently amazed at the quality of the staff and the outstanding outcomes these schools achieve for their students. The ability that teachers have to develop an approach for a single gender appears to be brilliant. And students seem to work well without the distraction of the opposite gender.

What matters is not the gender mix but the culture of the school. What do they do there? How do they teach children? What is their philosophy? Are the students happy to be there? Do they feel a sense of belonging and connection? Are they engaged and progressing? What does the staff do when a student struggles? Where are your children’s friends attending school?

If a school checks all the boxes, co-ed or single-sex shouldn’t matter. And if the school doesn’t check all the boxes, co-ed or single-sex doesn’t matter.

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Ready to make an informed choice on your child’s education? Learn more by listening to the podcast episode #925 linked below.