Leading head criticises single sex education

Girls who attend single sex schools face being at a ‘huge disadvantage’, according to the head teacher of a leading independent school.

Richard Cairns, head of Brighton College in East Sussex, has said that girls may leave schools with a ‘clutch of A*’s and a first class degree’, but will still be at a huge disadvantage if they cannot meaningfully communicate with male colleagues in the workplace.

Cairns also argued that the single sex environment was bad for boys as they ‘tend to create their own artificial hierarchies where only those in the 1st XV rugby team are truly valued’, in contrast to co-education schools where ‘girls admire the boys who dance, sing or act’.

Writing in the Independent School Parent magazine, Cairns predicted the gradual demise of single sex schools, referencing the fact that there are now a third fewer all girls schools and half as many boys’ schools compared to 20 years ago.

Cairns’ comments have drawn criticism from those involved in single sex schools, with Caroline Jordan, the president of the Girls’ Schools Association (GSA), describing his views as ‘old-fashioned’.

She said: "The notion that girls at girls' schools are somehow cocooned from the male world is utter nonsense. Apart from having brothers, uncles, fathers etc, girls at GSA schools enjoy appropriate interaction with boys as a matter of course. To think otherwise is to be completely out of touch with today's girls' schools. We doubt any of the GSA's alumnae would think kindly of the suggestion that they don't know how to communicate with men in the world of work!"

Alice Phillips, head of St Catherine’s, an independent girls’ school in Bramley, Surrey, responded to Cairns’ comments saying they were dangerous as they could dissuade parents from sending their children to the best school for them.

She said: “Mr Cairns overlooks the fact that we have social media and a connectivity between young people which goes way beyond the classroom.

“The girls here are very connected with the young men in the schools locally that we work with. Also, they have brothers, fathers, friends, acquaintances and a social network made up of thousands. This notion of girls’ schools as secluded is a nonsense.

“This is dangerous stuff because it will upset and wobble parents. I think parents should be able to visit schools and to choose using their good instincts what they think is right for their girl or their boy.”