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Single sex and catholic schools...

Who here goes to a single sex school? Or, like me, who goes to a catholic single sex school?
I'd also like to know what your opinions are on single sex schools/catholic schools (or any other christian denomination, or religion come to that).
Personally, I think my school is ok... and I realise that it is a catholic school, but it seems every reason for everything comes down to our religion. For example, when we get in trouble and are told not to do it again, it's not because it's wrong and that we should be well behaved by nature, it's because we are 'sinning against God' and it's 'un-christian', which is rather patronising sometimes.
One other thing which annoys me slightly is some boys making assumptions that as girls of a single sex school, that we are somehow more 'up for it' :mad:

Sorry for mild amounts of ranting. I do like my school most of the time.
Now it's time for your opinion.

Reply 1

kellywood_5

17

Well, I go to a mixed non-religious school, so my opinion is purely objective:

Single-sex schools are proven to get better results than mixed schools, and there must be a reason for almost all grammar schools being single-sex. I'm not too sure what I think really; on one hand, I would have loved to have gone to an all-girls school because the idiots who disrupt lessons tend to be boys showing off, but on the other hand, I think it's important that schools reflect real life as far as possible and real life situations are rarely single-sex.

As for religious schools, I think they're a bad idea and they encourage confilct. Again, society itself is now very multi-cultural with people following many different religions, and I feel that separating people according to religion just enhances division and increases tension between different groups.

That's my 2 cents anyway :p:

Reply 2

No Future

17

I go to a single sex school. It's not strictly religious. I think it's COE, meh I really don't know because it's not a big deal. The nearby schools are also single sex. I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me.

ETA: We all have to do RS GCSE, but that's more to help prepare us for exams than for religion itself.

Reply 3

sherunsaway

2

I go to a mixed Catholic school. Asides from the occasional Mass every half term, and the fact everyone is forced to do RS GCSE, I really don't notice the Catholic aspect of it. Religion isn't forced on anyone, and the teachers are open to debate and discussion. Not even all the teachers are Catholic, and most only teach in the school because of its good reputation. Just like in other schools, tolerance is taught, and there isn't a sense that Catholics are superior to others. Most of the teaching in assemblies is based on what most people would agree is right, ie. don't discriminate and the like, and the teachers seem more interested in getting us good grades rather than brainwashing us to be good Catholics. Besides, a large proportion of the school isn't even Catholic, there are large numbers of Protestants, some Muslims, a few Sikhs and in the past some Hindus and probably a lot of closet atheists, so I think that shows the religious nature of the school isn't considered the most important. I think though that the school intake covers a very large area, with many coming for inner city parts of Nottingham, and Clifton (compartively rough parts) yet the pupils are largely willing to learn and the school is quite high in the league tables shows that all the slightly more personal nature of the teaching does is helps the students to learn in a better manner, and respect others more. The fact that we currently have to make do with totally inadequate facilities (a new school has been needed for 27 years) highlights this I think.

Reply 4

zippy_gerbil

2

I'm at a mixed public 'community' school, whatever that is. I'm staying on at 6th form, and hopefully due to a timetable conflict with my options I'll get to get taught one subject at the local boys grammer school - which has better results.

The prospect of not being cooped up in the same old surroundings, with the same people all week appeals to me for some bizarre reason, despite having a number of friends here. I don't think I'd like being in a single sex school pernamently though.

Reply 5

Xx Tomásíona - Mháire xX

14

sherunsaway

I go to a mixed Catholic school. Asides from the occasional Mass every half term, and the fact everyone is forced to do RS GCSE, I really don't notice the Catholic aspect of it. Religion isn't forced on anyone, and the teachers are open to debate and discussion. Not even all the teachers are Catholic, and most only teach in the school because of its good reputation. Just like in other schools, tolerance is taught, and there isn't a sense that Catholics are superior to others. Most of the teaching in assemblies is based on what most people would agree is right, ie. don't discriminate and the like, and the teachers seem more interested in getting us good grades rather than brainwashing us to be good Catholics. Besides, a large proportion of the school isn't even Catholic, there are large numbers of Protestants, some Muslims, a few Sikhs and in the past some Hindus and probably a lot of closet atheists, so I think that shows the religious nature of the school isn't considered the most important. I think though that the school intake covers a very large area, with many coming for inner city parts of Nottingham, and Clifton (compartively rough parts) yet the pupils are largely willing to learn and the school is quite high in the league tables shows that all the slightly more personal nature of the teaching does is helps the students to learn in a better manner, and respect others more. The fact that we currently have to make do with totally inadequate facilities (a new school has been needed for 27 years) highlights this I think.

I go to a similar school as well, my teachers believe that they are there to teach and not to push a religion 'down anyones throat' so to speak..... also my school is also mixed, but a lot of my friends go to all girls schools and they believe its great....although since school numbers are dropping single sex schools could be the thing of the past as many already have decided to amalgamate(sp...) xoxo

Reply 6

Veritas

I went to Catholic primary school and hated it. They made you go to the school church 3 times a week.

Reply 7

sherunsaway

2

I'm not sure how well single sex schools with work. For the last 4 years, the only lesson where we had a boys and girls group apart from PE was maths. For me in the top boys group I thought it was the lesson with the worst behaviour even though we had a really strict teacher. It's just 30 hormone filled boys stuck in a room and you can imagine the results. Although I suppose it's the only lesson, in a single sex school, this would die down in the first year as you wouldn't know anything else.

Reply 8

Kicky

2

I used to go to a single sex school, but i now go to a mixed school and i prefer it and some of my best friends are boys

Reply 9

hatty341

8

i got to a single sex school, its not religious or anything.

Reply 10

mtbab

17

i go to a single sex grammar school, i like it, but i've found that out of school now, most of my friends are girls ( i wonder if they think i'm gay hmmm) anyway i think coz of it i've got a nic emix of friends, and i've staying on there for sixth form, we have techically got a sister school but their two miles so its not like its next door. but yeh i love it.

i suppose if we'd had girls there the results we get out the class would have probably been a lot different coz girls are supposed to mature and be smarter earlier than boys (look at all the girls schools in the top ten of the league tables) and so having it mixed would have meant that some girls would have felt stumped as we might have had to go at a slower rate of learning, and some boys would have felt too challenged to keep up at times too(although we get that now, so no change)

Reply 11

soulsussed

1

I'm going to a catholic sixth form college. It's accepting alot of people who aren't catholic though because the city is so multi ethnic and the college will have to be as well. It says it provides a 'friendly Christian enviromant' It is tolerant and open minded. There was huge diversity at the interviews.

Reply 12

Socrates

17

kellywood_5

Well, I go to a mixed non-religious school, so my opinion is purely objective:

Single-sex schools are proven to get better results than mixed schools, and there must be a reason for almost all grammar schools being single-sex. I'm not too sure what I think really; on one hand, I would have loved to have gone to an all-girls school because the idiots who disrupt lessons tend to be boys showing off, but on the other hand, I think it's important that schools reflect real life as far as possible and real life situations are rarely single-sex.

As for religious schools, I think they're a bad idea and they encourage confilct. Again, society itself is now very multi-cultural with people following many different religions, and I feel that separating people according to religion just enhances division and increases tension between different groups.

That's my 2 cents anyway :p:

Shall be pedantic and say no one can really be "purely" objective? *decides against it* :p:

yeah, I used to go to an allboys comprehensive (nonreligious), now I go to a mixed sixthform (CofE), which is a girls school 7-11.

I echo all of them above :biggrin:

, if I could change something about my secondary education - it would be going to a mixed school.

Reply 13

deenirdee

1

I don't mind that much going to an-all girls school (it's not catholic though) I think I do concentrate more than when I was in mixed school, though it was primary so maybe I just matured with age.

Anyway, my friend goes to an all-girls school which is Catholic and she says she has to pray before every lesson :eek:

, but she doesn't really mind it's not strict in the sense that everything is "sinning against jesus". But she says she would prefer to go to a mixed school like her primary school. (So would I also)

Reply 14

Zerforax

21

i used to go to a mixed comp - but i used to get distracted too much (by the girls obv ._.)
now im stuck in a all boys private school and im on the straight and narrow ._.
so girls = evil influence oO

Reply 15

sheepgirl

2

I go to a catholic girls schooland have been thre for 5 years - I have left now and am starting college in september. Single sex education isnt that bad - infact I quite like it although I've never known anything different - I've been in all girls education since I was 7! I am not catholic and managed to get into my school with a music scolarship (its an arts college) I find that religion does play quite a large part in school life, however its not too forced but you are aware of it. Catholic girls and boys schools are alot differnt and I think have more of a community feel to it. I've enjoyed my time there - but now after 5 years I want to experiance something differnt to prepare me for university.

Reply 16

francesjb

I go to a single-sex girls school and it's actually worked out really well - everyone gets on really well and the boys school is just across the road!

Reply 17

Lil Lee Lee

2

I went to a single sex girls' school, which is supposed to be one of the best in the city, but everyone's really cliquey there and it was pretty horrible! The boys' school is even worse though and it doesn't get very good results

I think that same-sex schools can make you more academically prepared, but socially, they're not as good