Co-Ed vs Single Sex Schools: Which Is Best For Your Child?

The advantages and disadvantages of co-educational vs single-sex schools have been hotly contested throughout history, with persuasive arguments on both sides.

According to studies, boys and girls react differently to various learning environments depending on the situation. The question therefore begs, do we segregate children in order to educate them, or is early integration the secret to raising a successful and sociable generation?

On paper, single-sex education appears to have advantages because the outcomes are unquestionably superior. Statistics show that pupils who attend single-gender schools outperform their peers at co-ed schools at GCSE level.

One of the greatest benefits of single-gender schools is inclusivity. Nobody is excluded based on their gender from any club, activity, sport, or course. Children can experiment and attempt new things without being constrained by stereotyped gender roles in this way.

One that has been deemed to be particularly significant in parents' decision-making is the claim that exposure to people of the opposite sex can be distracting.  It is believed that by eliminating this disturbance, the students' whole attention will be directed toward their academic work and extracurricular pursuits. But we are aware that this is a fallacious justification. Because eliminating the boyfriend/girlfriend dynamic from the classroom does not ensure that more time will be devoted to intellectual activities. Contrarily, there is a compelling case that excluding contact with the other sex creates an unsatisfactory and unhealthful relationship with the object of one's affection.

Single-sex institutions frequently promote a sense of family that forges ties that endure well into old age. However, students are taught how to engage with people of the opposing sex in coed institutions.

To aid in the instruction of understanding of interactions between the sexes, these institutions offer a secure and well supervised environment. However, it must be acknowledged that the notion that single-sex schools encourage sexist attitudes is out of date. In single-sex institutions, pastoral care is now recognised as an essential component of a student's development and the curriculum.

Some believe that diversity is a problem in single-sex schools because it causes confusion in pupils who later transfer to coeducational institutions.

However, if a single-sex establishment is associated with one of the opposing gender, as many grammar and public schools are currently, then this can be eliminated.

Over the past 20 years, the number of same-sex educational institutions has decreased by half, and the majority of single-sex schools now provide mixed sixth forms.

Some parents opt for single-sex schools due to their own experiences attending such institutions. Regardless of personal views on the matter, it is undeniable that both types of schools have their benefits. Ultimately, the most important question to ask yourself when making such an important decision is, what type of school is best for my child and their individual needs? Make sure you factor in the type of environment they would thrive in, the school’s values and your child’s own preferences.

If you enjoyed this article and found it useful, share it with someone who might benefit from it too.

Best wishes,

The Tutoress.

How To Motivate Your Child To Do Their Homework

Homework!

It's one of those words that make most children shudder.

It also greatly affects busy parents who simply don't have the time to sit with their children and help them solve tough questions, equations and conundrums.

Whilst most children hate doing their homework, the fact remains that it is an essential part of their learning progression. Research shows that children who engage with their school or academic work on a daily basis significantly improve their grades.

So how do you motivate your child to do their homework?

Here are a few tips to help parents like yourself.

Schedule it.

It is so important to embed the mindset that homework is a daily activity (that should always be done) into the mind of your child. The more they become accustomed to doing work at an already scheduled time, the more likely they are to do it and they'll be more used to doing it. Growing up my parents for instance made it clear that homework was to be done for an hour after school every single week day. The only exceptions were the weekends or holiday periods when we'd be expected to do at least three hours of homework or studying per day. To motivate your child to do their homework, schedule a fixed time for them to complete it every single day. Stick to that time and get them into the habit of doing the work. For instance, 4pm-5pm could be 'homework hour.'

Give incentives.

Your child is human and like most humans they sometimes need a little incentive to motivate them to do things.

Whilst I'm not a fan of over-pampering children, bribing them or throwing incentives at them, I do however recommend giving them a good incentive for consistently great behaviour. For instance, you could set up a reward chart and whenever they complete 10 pieces of high-standard homework (without being told by you to do it), they receive a prize or gift. This method is brilliant for encouraging children to consistently work at a high standard. If they forget to do their homework or don't do it to a high standard then they simply don't move up the reward chart which means that they're one step further away from getting the incentive.

Be direct.

Communication is absolutely essential when it comes to handling children of all ages. It's therefore crucial that you make it clear to them that you have high expectations for them. For instance, let them know that they are expected to complete all of their homework and there are no excuses for missing it. The better you are at communicating with your child, the more likely you are to have a better relationship with them overall.

Are there any other homework tips that you'd like to share? If so, leave a comment below.

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