Early Years & Prep School Open Week | 5- 9 February 2024

Is a single sex school right for my daughter?

Girls do better, in terms of educational attainment, at single sex schools.

Dr Alice Sullivan – Institute of Education, University of London

For many families, making a choice between a Girls’ School and a mixed setting can be difficult. When I meet with the families of prospective students, I encourage them to ask the following question: “What do girls’ schools do best?” At AESG we are confident they will discover the answer to be, “A lot.”

Whether your daughter wants to be an astronaut, an ambassador, or an accountant, a girl needs to know—not just think, but really know, deep down that nothing can stand in her way. The possibilities and opportunities are truly without limits. Girls’ Schools send that message to girls every day.

When parents and girls ask me how a girls’ school will engage, challenge, inspire, and prepare our girls to be our future leaders and changemakers, here are some of the reasons I give as to why I truly believe that Girls’ School are where girls excel. My answers include research undertaken by academics and professionals in the UK, USA and Australia.

1. INSPIRATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

Girls’ schools champion the educational needs of girls. Single-sex schools create a climate in which female students can express themselves freely, challenge perceptions, develop higher order thinking skills in a supportive environment without the fear of being judged.

2. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Girls’ Schools create a culture of achievement. Nearly 80% of students in Girls’ Schools report that their classes challenge them to achieve their full academic potential compared to 72% of girls in co-educational settings.

3. BUILDING SELF-CONFIDENCE

In a girls’ school, a girl occupies every leadership role. All-girls’ settings provide girls a certain comfort level that helps them develop greater self -confidence and broader their interests, especially as they approach adolescence.

4. DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS

Girls’ schools empower students to become bold leaders. Leadership opportunities in girls’ schools focus on the development of teamwork and promote qualities including curiosity, compassion, resourcefulness and resilience.

93% of students in Girls’ Schools state they were offered greater leadership opportunities than their peers in mixed schools, and 80% have held leadership positions since graduating from University.

5. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATHS (STEM)

Girls’ schools champion the educational needs of girls as a group underrepresented in STEM careers. Students who have attended Girls’ schools are 6 times more likely to consider a STEM career, compared to girls who have attended mixed schools. Compared to their peers, girls’ school students are 3 times more likely to consider a career in Engineering.

6. TEACHERS IN GIRLS’ SCHOOLS UNDERSTAND HOW GIRLS LEARN

Girls’ Schools capitalize on girls’ unique learning styles. Girls’ schools teach girls to think “even though I’m not able to do it yet, I’ll tackle the challenge.” Nearly 96% of students in Girls’ Schools report receiving more frequent and specific feedback on their coursework and homework.  Girls are prone to perfectionism and have a fear of failure. Quality feedback can alleviate these levels of anxiety.

7. HIGHER ASPIRATIONS

Students in Girls’ Schools strive for greatness. Girls in single-sex schools benefit from the single-sex school environment in terms of heightened career aspirations. Students at all-girls’ schools have higher aspirations and greater motivation than their female peers at co-ed independent and state schools.

8. EXCELLENT SUPPORT

The overwhelming majority of girls’ school students strongly agree that they feel supported at their schools by teachers, pastoral leads and peer mentors. Research indicates that girls place more emphasis on interpersonal relationships than boys, which may provide girls with beneficial social support. Compared to boys, girls are more likely to socialize in smaller groups, share more personal information with each other, and emphasise the importance of supportive behaviour over competitive behaviour in their friendships.

9. GIRLS’ SCHOOLS PREPARE GIRLS FOR THE REAL WORLD

Girls’ schools engage students in activities that prepare them for life beyond the classroom. Nearly half of all women from single-sex schools rate their public speaking ability as high compared to 39% of women from co-educational schools. A similar differential exists for written communication: 64% of girls’ school graduates assess their writing as high, compared to 59% of women graduates of co-ed schools.

10. GIRLS’ SCHOOLS ALLOW GIRLS TO BE THEMSELVES

Girls’ schools provide an environment where students feel safe to express themselves and engage in an open and safe exchange of ideas. Over 88% of girls’ school students report they are comfortable being themselves at school, which means they are free to focus their energies on their learning.

I am a true advocate for single-sex education for girls. Having worked in Girls’ Schools who are members of the Girls’ School Association since 1995, I truly believe in the many benefits of all girls’ education. I warmly invite to visit us at AESG to see these benefits inaction.

Pupils benefit from being taught by specialist, Senior School teachers for a range of lessons each week including: Drama, Music, MFL and Computing as well regularly taking part in lessons led by our Sixth Form Science Ambassadors. It is in these lessons that girls are taught by our female role models who study STEM subjects for A Level and wish to pursue a career in Science or medicine. It is role models such as these that inspire our younger pupils to choose and enjoy these traditionally male dominated subjects.  

Life beyond the classroom is extensive and AESG Prep School provides pupils with an exciting and diverse Enrichment Programme designed to broaden horizons, develop leadership and encourage girls to grow in confidence and become more resilient. 

Here is a selection of just some of our clubs that run each week: 

• Dragon's Deb
• Topical Talk with The Economist Magazine
• Netball Club
• Art run by AESG Head of Art 
• Hockey Club 
• Samba Band
• Strings Ensemble
• LAMDA
• Baking Mad
• Choir
• Drama 
• Cross Country 
• Coding 
• Song Writing 
• Creative Animation 

Trips & Visitors 

• Year 6 London Residential
• Year 5 York Residential
• Science & Industry Museum
• Author Visits
• Talks from a Vascular Surgeon
• Glaramara Outdoor Pursuit Residential 
• Theatre visits 
• Walks up to The Edge 

Pupils in the Prep School have many opportunities to develop their love and talents within the Arts. These include the School Choir, String Ensemble, LAMDA, Drama Clubs, an art club led by Head of Art for the Senior School. Girls are entered into many ISA Art competitions and have enjoyed national recognition for their artwork. 

As an Apple Distinguished School the use of Apple Technology is integrated into every day learning. Girls use both iPads and Apple Computers to enhance their learning. Girls enjoy weekly Computing lessons with Senior School IT teachers and take part in many computer based enrichment clubs such as LEGO League Robotics, Coding, Animation and Song Writing using digital platforms.