Times are changing and boarding schools are alive to the need to offer options. The traditional single-sex or co-ed division has changed.
The diamond structure of schooling (mixed until 11 – single sex until 16 – mixed sixth form) is possible when single-sex schools are in close proximity and merge into the same group. Students benefit from having time to develop at their own pace but can take advantage of a greater range of facilities. Examples include: Berkhamsted School with more to follow (for more information, look at this article from the Spectator: Insight into diamond schools)
Mixed Sixth forms allow schools to offer a breadth of subjects and to introduce a new cohort at 16+. Successful examples include Westminster School and Magdalen College School in Oxford. A mixed sixth form allows schools to move from single sex to co-ed. For example, Charterhouse is now fully co-ed. Winchester College now has a mixed Sixth Form.
Schools which remain single-sex but take advantage of geographical proximity to offer joint activities throughout the school include: Sherborne Girls partnering with Sherborne Boys and St Mary’s Ascot with Eton College and Downe House with Radley. Drama, music and social activities all benefit as single sex schools collaborate but remain independent. Some schools have close relationships; Radley and Downe House share cooking lessons!
I am a product of a girls’ school and can see the benefits of the system: not being defined by gender being an obvious example. As with all things, balance is the key and it is heartening to see our schools exploring innovative alternatives to the old systems.
