Teaching boys and girls separately has traditionally been the preserve of the independent sector, while in state schools it is largely confined to a small number of single-sex schools.
However, a number of co-educational state schools are opting for single-sex teaching as a way of trying to raise achievement among both genders.
David Young Community Academy in Leeds introduced single-sex teaching four years ago. English, maths and science are taught in all-girls’ or all-boys’ classes at key stage 3. The school also aspires to have single-sex groups for these core subjects at key stage 4.
“We sometimes go back to mixed at key stage 4 for logistical reasons,” explained principal Ros McMullen. “But we’re very keen on keeping the core single-sex throughout where we can, and certainly at key stage 3.”
Register now, read forever
Thank you for visiting SecEd and reading some of our content for professionals in secondary education. Register now for free to get unlimited access to all content.
What's included:
-
Unlimited access to news, best practice articles and podcast
-
New content and e-bulletins delivered straight to your inbox every Monday and Thursday
Already have an account? Sign in here