Are single sex schools the dream to teach in or is it just limited to all girls ?

Dickie10 wrote: »

From listening to fellow teachers and student teachers in PME a few years ago it seemed that in vast majority of cases single sex schools seemed very easy to teach in (discipline wise, academic etc,). Has anyone ever found differnces to this? Or would all girls schools be the dream in this situation, i have rarely found too many complaining about the above issues in an girls school. I taught in one in PME and found it a really great first school experience, little if any discipline issues. I am subbing this coming year 2019-20 in another all girls school, just wondering of there all like this ? I mean very generally speaking. On a sidenote would you guys if in a perfect world go for these schools if you had a choice? I have often found female teachers not be overly enthused about teaching in all girls schools, find this strange.

I worked in some all boys schools ... two had management problems but the third I really enjoyed. I had a short stint in an all girls school and would definitely not go back for even one day but that is that particular school with rough clientele and the way staff made me feel. Personally, as a male I'd take an all boys/mixed school before an all girls school.

Teaching girls would definitely not be the dream for me .... they have a vast array of problems and very good memories and will hold the slightest thing against you.

Your classroom management should be the same in any school you work in i.e. set the boundaries day one and follow school procedures.

I think that the key thing is that teachers have to be fully ready to accept the ethos of the school they join and that includes whether it is single sex or mixed. I have taught in all contexts but am currently in a single sex boys' school.

I think I would have to risk a little controversy in saying this. A number of our most difficult teacher-student relationships have involved female teachers who frankly were ill-disposed towards boys. Their relationship was conflictual and they were simply not attuned to the students' need to be treated with dignity, fairness and where possible kindness as learning adolescents. Some of these people would rant off in the staffroom about boys in general which is really not advisable when you're not permanent and in a school with a strong ethos! Naturally, I have also known the exact opposite among my female colleagues: people who have devoted their careers to turning out rounded young men.

But everyone would accept that somebody who did not have a commitment to the advancement of women would be a poor fit in an all girls environment so conversely anyone taking up a post in an all boys' school should leave their ambivalence towards young men in the car park. The bottom line is that ethos remains critical in our schools. A lot of NQTs don't fully grasp this in my experience. You have to accept it upon taking up the position and you can't expect to get CID if it's obvious to middle and senior management that you're not gelling.

linguist wrote: »

I think that the key thing is that teachers have to be fully ready to accept the ethos of the school they join and that includes whether it is single sex or mixed. I have taught in all contexts but am currently in a single sex boys' school.

I think I would have to risk a little controversy in saying this. A number of our most difficult teacher-student relationships have involved female teachers who frankly were ill-disposed towards boys. Their relationship was conflictual and they were simply not attuned to the students' need to be treated with dignity, fairness and where possible kindness as learning adolescents. Some of these people would rant off in the staffroom about boys in general which is really not advisable when you're not permanent and in a school with a strong ethos! Naturally, I have also known the exact opposite among my female colleagues: people who have devoted their careers to turning out rounded young men.

But everyone would accept that somebody who did not have a commitment to the advancement of women would be a poor fit in an all girls environment so conversely anyone taking up a post in an all boys' school should leave their ambivalence towards young men in the car park. The bottom line is that ethos remains critical in our schools. A lot of NQTs don't fully grasp this in my experience. You have to accept it upon taking up the position and you can't expect to get CID if it's obvious to middle and senior management that you're not gelling.

Funny that - I've been subbing in many schools and have found the same problem. I have always enjoyed teaching - and yes you have to teach more than the subject sometimes - I try and build relationships as fast as I can and as a result - have never had any serious incident thankfully. When you treat students with respect, you will get it in return. I remember when doing TP, my inspector saying to me that respect is earned which I know disagree with because if you are waiting for a student to respect you and you're not respecting them, you are taking the higher ground - everyone has their job to do in the classroom but respect is paramount.

I have always told NQTs to not say much in the staffroom about students and definitely stay away from the principals office. Always try and deal with the problem yourself inside/outside the classroom. The kids will have more respect for you as well.

Linguist, I'm assuming that you are a language teacher as well. I have found that and I know it is contrary to what the DOE say but I think overusing the target language in the classroom can cause management problems as students don't know what you're asking, your're putting them under pressure to answer in front of their classmates and in turn makes them dislike your subject.

Personally prefer co ed schools. Best of both worlds for the kids and for me the teacher. Bitchiest atmosphere I ever encountered was the staffroom in an all girls schools.

I have to say my own experience of an all-girls' school was that the male staff were made very welcome. The alien analogy isn't entirely wrong but in a good way. I felt our individuality and idiosyncrasies were tolerated more because we were a slightly exotic minority. Similarly, most of us got along very well with the students. To an extent, the girls possibly felt obliged to work around us more so than some of my female colleagues where personality clashes did occur. Just my experience.

Sir123 wrote:

Another thing is to make sure your classroom management is fair. I have found that you have to be black and white and treat them all equally or they will call you out on it. For example, if you catch someone talking and you take their journal, yet someone else whispers after, without permission, and you don't do anything, there will be havoc. Remember classroom rules play a big role in terms of consistency. Have them on the wall and refer back to them during lessons if you have to. Building relationships is extremely important but you can't let them walk over you either. Balance is key.

Whispering without permission!

I'd be just as concerned as the subject offerings in single sex . If I had a daughter in all girl's I'd be disappointed if she couldn't do engineering or technology

I went to an all girls convent school myself and don't think I would send a child of mine to one.
I'd be much happier if they went to a mixed school. Single sex girls schools can have very toxic environments and bullying can be rife (obviously school dependent - this is just my own experience).
I would have less qualms in sending a boy to an all boys school.

Teaching wise - the 'easiest' school I've taught in was an all girls convent school but I found the staff very clique-y. There was one man on a staff out of 40.
This may be controversial but I find a good gender balance on a staff to be a lot more pleasant. My current school is about 60:40 which is great.

I went to an all girls school, but have never taught in any.
I've worked in two mixed schools and one all boys. From my own experience, I preferred the two mixed schools, but that could just be down to the individual schools.

All girls schools can be very bitchy if management isn't active against it.

All boys schools can be a bit rough and tumble but it's ultimately harmless.

As mentioned before, all down to management. Mixed is probably the way forward.

F5500 wrote: »

All boys schools can be a bit rough and tumble but it's ultimately harmless..

I've heard that before, but know of serious damage done from bullying in a couple of boys schools.... Carefully disguised as 'just rough and tumble' and will toughen them up.

I don't know if it goes on in mixed schools in equal amounts though as I went to single sex.