Being a parent is all about making decisions – and making sure they are good ones. While some of those earliest decisions will likelyenhance your experiences of motherhood, some of the choices that you make will have further-reaching implications, such as the kind of school you choose for your little one to attend. These are the kinds of daunting decisions that parents face every day. Have you thought that far ahead yet?
Choosing the right school for your child
Finding the perfect school is about securing the best education for your children and placing them in an environment where their academic curiosity and personality are nurtured in the right way. You also need to find a place where their passions, friendships, and future aspirations can be encouraged and supported. Perhaps your decision will be based on where the school is, its last OFSTED report, or the reviews you’ve heard from existing school families. You may even choose a school based on its emphasis on particular factors, such as forest schooling, play, or foreign languages; your decision must consider the things that are important to both you and your child.
The types of school available are mind-boggling. From academies and state schools to mixed-gender, single-sex, and boarding schools, how do you know which establishment is going to be the right fit for your family? While your nearest primary school might seem like the obvious choice, don’t rule out a single-sex education for your son or daughter; its merits may far exceed your expectations.
The benefits of choosing a single-sex school for your child
Single-sex schools are designed to emphasise and exploit the academic differences between girls and boys and to ensure that each gender is being nurtured in a way that works best for them. Somewhat akin to the establishments that target the gifted or those with particular interests, single-sex schools ensure that your children are placed into an environment that will support and nurture them without many of the distractions faced during mainstream, mixed-sex schooling. It’s no secret that girls and boys learn in different ways and at markedly different rates, so single-sex schooling can often feel like a very natural choice for parents who are concerned about the type of education their son or daughter is likely to receive. Finding the right single-sex school for your child, like the Hornsey School for Girls, can feel a little like winning the lottery. What are such a school’s benefits, and how can they support your child?
Building confidence in children
Settling your children into a single-sex environment can do wonders for their focus, confidence, and self-esteem whilstencouraging independence. Without the distraction of boys or girls and the associated peer pressure that relationships and friendships bring, children are able to focus on their education and extra-curricular activitieswhile forging all kinds of confidence they may otherwise never discover.
Focus
Single-sex schools’ curriculums are based ona style of learning that bests suits and supports girls’ and boys’ individuality. In addition, the subjects, sporting opportunities, and extra-curricular activities will be dedicated to just one sex, enabling them to be far better focused. By choosing this kind of school for your children, you’re ensuring they are placed into an environment designed with their ability and style of learning in mind. Girls are able to focus in a deliberative setting away from boys who may dominate class discussions, while boys can proffer their ideas and garner feedback without fearing more academically-minded girls.
Peer support
When you encounter classroom environments dedicated to all girls or all boys, you’ll tend to notice that the sense of camaraderie and gentle competition is far greater than in mixed schools. Children are stimulated and encouraged to try their best rather than fearing failure, and they’re often less intimidated than they would be when confronted by the opposite sex. Parents who choose to send their child to a single-sex school are often tempted by the prospect of an encompassing education that will prepare their son or daughter for the wider world as well as academic greatness. Girls attending a single-sex school can enjoy their education without the stereotype that certain subjects, sports, or activities are just for boys, while boys can sample a greater variety without similar stigmas.
While the single-sex school system won’t be right for every child, it’s certainly an avenue to consider if you have yet to decide one way or the other. Your child is about to embark upon an exciting adventure, so you must ensure you have their best interests and future aspirations at heart.
