Single-sex or Co-ed: Finding the most suitable option for students

The question of whether single-sex or co-ed education is more suitable for students has been an ongoing discussion in the world of education. While there are benefits for both types of schooling, the recent growth in the number of co-ed schools as well as increasing enrolments at girls’ schools has brought the topic back into focus.

Increase in demand for girls’ schools

The demand for students enrolling in girls’ schools has increased with a recent survey finding that 77% of schools experienced an increase in enrolments. In NSW, 96% of schools saw an increase in demand this year, including Mackillop College in Bathurst, which has seen a steady growth of almost 20% over the last 5 years.

The higher demand has started to exceed the capacity of some schools including Lourdes Hill College in Brisbane, which will introduce Years 5 and 6 in 2025, expanding the College from secondary into primary schooling. With 1 in 5 girls' schools in NSW at full enrolment, schools like Pymbles Ladies College are also experiencing higher demand extending to primary years which they have not historically seen.

Single-sex schools moving towards co-education

While there’s been a growth in demand for girls’ schools, the past few years has also seen a number of single-sex schools making the switch to co-education. Some single-sex schools have done this by accepting enrolments from students of the opposite sex, including boys' schools like Barker College, The Armidale School, and Marist College North Shore in NSW, as well as girls’ schools like St Aloysius College in North Melbourne.

Mergers have also been another way schools are turning co-ed. Recent examples include Christian Brothers College St Kilda in Melbourne merging with neighbouring girls’ school Presentation College Windsor to create St Mary’s College in 2021, and the amalgamation of St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School, De Salle College Ashfield, and Bethlehem College to form the new St Vincent’s College Ashfield in Sydney.

There are signs that this is likely to continue with Cranbrook School in Sydney looking to start the switch co-ed from 2026 while Newington College has opened the discussion with their community. The NSW Government is also considering the merger of two Randwick boys and girls high schools.

What to consider when choosing a school

It’s important to understand that each type of education has its own unique benefits for students.

Benefits of boys' schools

As boys’ schools specialise in the education of boys and have a better understanding of their needs, students are able to benefit from being taught in a way that they tend to learn. This includes providing more structure and having lessons that are more hands-on as boys often learn better through practice rather than theory. Research has found that boys at single-sex schools find that their unique cognitive, social, and developmental differences are better accommodated.

For students that want to pursue a pathway that boys generally lean towards, boys’ schools often offer pathways that are specifically designed to cater to their interests and goals. Some schools, like Ignatius Park College in Townsville, have dedicated trade facilities that provide students with hands-on training and education in fields like metalwork, manufacturing, and engineering. Without the need to spend time away from school at TAFE, students can be ready for the workforce after high school.

Students can benefit from boys' schools having greater experience and a stronger understanding of their emotional and psychological needs. This allows them to be supported in a way that they respond to best, like placing an emphasis on having good male role models and fostering a sense of brotherhood, which research suggests is critical to helping boys thrive in their education.

Benefits of girls' schools

At girls’ schools, students are able to learn in an environment of fewer distractions. Research has found that girls who attend single-sex schools feel less constrained in classroom discussions and are more likely to express their opinions and voice. With girls feeling more empowered and confident to put their hand up for leadership positions, this can give students a greater sense of self-belief in their abilities.

Along with a focus on the accomplishment of girls and a greater scope of being able to step into leadership positions, students get to see other girls as higher achievers, leaders, and role models. This leads to girls feeling encouraged to pursue their own interests and leadership positions themselves, as well as being more likely to consider themselves critical thinkers.

Students who attend girls' schools are more likely to study STEM which helps them develop skills that are very important to many jobs in the future. Some schools like Methodist Ladies College Claremont in Perth offer programs to encourage early participation in STEM, including the Jason Learning Programme, which immerses students in real-world challenges with professionals from organisations like NASA. This leads to greater confidence in subjects like maths and physics at girls’ schools, where students at girls schools are more likely to outperform girls from other types of schools in these areas. Research shows that graduates of girls’ schools are significantly more likely to consider STEM degrees at university.

Similar to boys’ schools, students are able to benefit from well-being support that is tailored to girls. By learning in an environment that better understands what girls go through as young adults, students at girls’ schools have been found to be more likely to be less self-conscious, more confident, and less likely to suffer body image pressures or eating disorders. As a result, studies show that girls at single-sex schools scored higher than the average female student in important areas like mental health and overall happiness with their lives.

Benefits of co-ed education

Students who attend co-ed schools benefit from learning in a diverse environment where they get to interact with different genders. Sharing spaces in and outside the classroom, they get to engage with different perspectives on a variety of issues, subjects, and topics, as well as see the experiences of other genders, which can add an extra dimension to their learning. This helps boys and girls develop mutual respect for each other and different ways of thinking. Research has found that groups of students with diversity are more innovative than those with one sex or race.

Students are also able to get a head start with preparing for the world they can expect after leaving school where they’re expected to work alongside with the opposite sex. This allows them to experience the various communication styles among genders and develop a greater understanding of their peers. Students can also practise building meaningful working and social relationships with different genders where research has found that students at co-ed schools were more likely to easily make friends with the opposite sex. As they approach graduation, this means students are more prepared to enter mixed-gender environments after high school.

Is there a right choice?

Whether it’s single-sex or co-ed education, finding what’s best for students is not a one-size-fits-all decision, and there are no right or wrong answers.

Every student is different, and what works for one may not necessarily apply to others. It’s about finding the option that works best for the individual student and allows them to thrive in their education.

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