Co-ed vs Single-sex sixth form

Hi. I have to make a sixth form choice in a week from today, next Thursday on gcse results day. I have two offers and I don't know which to go with.

First school is a single-sex boys grammar school, that has an average A level grade B, and in total is a 12 minute drive from my home (which my parents are willing to drive me). It has a fairly good reputation as a grammar school but I worry that it being only boys may lead me to struggle later in life socialising with the other sex, and don't want that at all.

The alternative option is a grammar school that is co-ed, but Is a 25 minute drive so I have to take the bus. The bus journey is 50 minutes. But its an extremely good co-ed school with an average A level A- grade.

Now I'm struggling to decide. The co-ed school is really good and I don't know if I want to spend two years away from socialising with the opposite sex, which may lead me to struggling later in life when it's time to look for a partner, etc. But it's an extra 80 minutes of travelling a day, just to go to a co-ed school instead of a single-sex one with a fairly good reputation. there's really no other option than these two.

What should I do? Are single-sex boys school actually bad at all? Will I struggle with socialising after school is over? is it worth the extra travelling for a co-ed school?

Please help

(edited 8 months ago)

Reply 1

Caotica

12

Hi. Good luck next week, I'm also collecting my results then and I'm also torn between two sixth forms.

Ultimately the decision is down to you and I'd say go to the place where you think you can see yourself being happy and doing well.

I go to an all girls grammar school which is about 45 minutes away from where I live. The journey is a pain but I get the bus with a friend who lives nearby which makes things better. If I were to go to the other sixth form I'd have to get the train but I've used trains quite a bit recently so I'm getting more confident at them. If you want to go to the mixed school you should consider how you feel about public transport. Does it make you anxious or are you fine with it? Do you know anyone you could travel with? Also bear in mind that you may make friends there who live far away from you which could hinder meet ups and get togethers. Don't worry about this though I have a few friends who live far from me and we still manage to meet up. Sometimes you just have to find a central location.

One of my friends goes to an all boys grammar and he's planning to stay on at sixth form. He's happy there and even though he's quite reserved from what I know he's fine talking to me and the other sex. You can always do things outside of school which involve mixing with the other sex, for example doing NCS, volunteering or work experience will most likely involve talking to someone of the opposite sex, you can also enter conventions and competitions which multiple schools are involved in. If you choose to go to uni or do an apprentiship you will also mix with different genders as well.

Ultimately the decision is yours and yours alone. Whichever school you go to you will have to have interaction with the other sex at some point so I think there are bigger things to consider like facilities, quality of education, wellbeing and pastoral support etc. Go where you think you'll be happy and comfortable. Remember that in reality you'll only be there 1 and a half years before the next stage of your life

Sorry for the long post but hopefully I've given you something to think about and my experiences are useful

Good luck next week

Caotica :smile:

Reply 2

Hetroller

OP

10

Original post by Caotica

Hi. Good luck next week, I'm also collecting my results then and I'm also torn between two sixth forms.

Ultimately the decision is down to you and I'd say go to the place where you think you can see yourself being happy and doing well.

I go to an all girls grammar school which is about 45 minutes away from where I live. The journey is a pain but I get the bus with a friend who lives nearby which makes things better. If I were to go to the other sixth form I'd have to get the train but I've used trains quite a bit recently so I'm getting more confident at them. If you want to go to the mixed school you should consider how you feel about public transport. Does it make you anxious or are you fine with it? Do you know anyone you could travel with? Also bear in mind that you may make friends there who live far away from you which could hinder meet ups and get togethers. Don't worry about this though I have a few friends who live far from me and we still manage to meet up. Sometimes you just have to find a central location.

One of my friends goes to an all boys grammar and he's planning to stay on at sixth form. He's happy there and even though he's quite reserved from what I know he's fine talking to me and the other sex. You can always do things outside of school which involve mixing with the other sex, for example doing NCS, volunteering or work experience will most likely involve talking to someone of the opposite sex, you can also enter conventions and competitions which multiple schools are involved in. If you choose to go to uni or do an apprentiship you will also mix with different genders as well.

Ultimately the decision is yours and yours alone. Whichever school you go to you will have to have interaction with the other sex at some point so I think there are bigger things to consider like facilities, quality of education, wellbeing and pastoral support etc. Go where you think you'll be happy and comfortable. Remember that in reality you'll only be there 1 and a half years before the next stage of your life

Sorry for the long post but hopefully I've given you something to think about and my experiences are useful

Good luck next week

Caotica :smile:

Thank you so much for your detailed response. Was strongly awaiting a response so reslly happy you chimed in.

honestly, I'm shocked I didn't even think about doing volunteering, or the fact that during any competitions, I would still communicate normally. Just that outside of school I thought I'd was a bit shy. But I think with some volunteering I should be abit better.

Thanks so much for your reply once again, I'll probably go with the closer all boys sixth form as I hate travelling alot.

Good luck on your results next week! :smile:

Co-ed vs Single-sex sixth form

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