Wealden Times | WT265 | June 2024 | Education Supplement inside

The Priceless Education Supplement sponsored by
Girls
&
Boys
Two schools tell us about the benefits of a single sex education
The Granville School
Gloria Steinem said, ‘Don’t think about
making women fit the world – think
about making the world fit women,’
and that is what we aim to do in an all-girls’
school. We do not need to make our girls ‘fit’
a curriculum that wasn’t specifically designed
for them. We offer bespoke teaching, tailored
carefully to the needs not only of girls as a
gender, but to their individual requirements. We
design our curriculum to suit our girls and we
reap the rewards of every benefit a female-only
classroom brings.
Research repeatedly shows that girls in girls’
schools, consistently outperform their peers.
A report by the Girls’ Schools Association in
February 2024 demonstrated that, “the gap
between girls in girls’ school and girls in co-ed
schools is widening for most subjects,” and
noted that traditionally ‘male’ subjects such
as Computer Science, Maths and the natural
sciences have a considerably higher uptake in
girls’ schools than in co-educational schools.
An all-girls’ education not only leads to higher
attainment but also opens the door to the world
of STEM. We see this at The Granville. Our pass
rate for 11+ has been 100% for girls who attend
from Reception to Year 6 and we are the largest
single feeder into Sevenoaks School. We are nonselective
and small, yet the education we offer
packs a huge punch when it comes to results.
Beyond the classroom, we also see huge
benefits – there are no gender stereotypes to
be bound by. Our extra-curricular programme
offers, among others, Boxing, Jujitsu, Chess,
Golf, Football and Coding. Nothing is out of
reach and there are no glass ceilings here. Our
girls grow up feeling that every opportunity is
available to them.
Female social dynamics in the primary age
group can often look quite different to those
for boys. Development both physically and
emotionally does present differently between
genders. Our expertise in supporting girls
through our pastoral care system and more
structured programmes such as Girls on Board,
leads to great outcomes. Every girl is different but
with a broad toolkit of skills and knowledge, we
can enable each of them to thrive.
granvilleschool.org
The New Beacon
What better start in life than being
offered every available opportunity;
making your choices based on your
interests rather than a predetermined expectation
– whether you choose to dress up, build a fort,
ice biscuits or discover dinosaurs. We believe
in inspiring children to try everything and
therein lies the joy of a single sex education:
no judgement, no inhibitions, no restrictions.
Education should know no limits and children
shouldn’t feel obliged to fit a stereotype. For our
boys at The New Beacon, this is their reality.
Far from cultivating a macho culture of toxic
masculinity we see our boys queue up to audition
for the Chapel Choir; no one thinks twice about
taking on the female lead in a production or
learning to play the harp. Space, sewing, cars,
cookery, podcasting, pottery…it’s all fascinating
and boys love to get involved and learn. We
teach lacrosse alongside rugby, incorporate dance
into fitness, embrace language acquisition and
reading, and why wouldn’t we? We are teaching
skills for life, for everyone.
Developmentally, boys mature at a slower rate
between the ages of 6 and 14, those crucial prep
school years. They get bad press for impulsive,
immature behaviour; finding themselves labelled
competitive or thoughtless, for excitement,
naivety and overexuberance. Constant
comparison with girls and a sense of falling short
is a surefire way to create anxiety and insecurity.
As a result of our environment, our boys are far
more likely to discuss social and emotional issues.
They understand that asking for help isn’t a sign
of weakness, it is the strongest thing they can do.
We work collaboratively with girls’ schools,
embracing diverse opinions and equal
opportunities, whilst reinforcing the need to
find one’s own identity. After all, it is when we
are comfortable in our own skin, confidently
pursuing our own interests, that we can engage
respectfully and collaboratively with others.
There is no need for resentment or discomfort
when you recognise your own worth. We
understand and celebrate boys – their humour,
energy and exuberance. We want our boys to be
themselves and we are here to help them discover
the very best version.
newbeacon.org.uk
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