Choosing a co-ed or single-sex school for your child

Mark Turner, Head of King’s House School in Richmond, considers why they decided to transition to co-education.

King’s House was founded in 1946 as a boys’ prep school near Richmond Hill, and is now a thriving school of over 400 children. In 2009 we opened the co-ed nursery, which has since expanded to a busy two-year pre-school of nearly 60 children. In March 2023 we announced that girls would start to join the school from September 2024, as we begin the transition to full co-education. Understandably, some asked why having educated boys for over 75 years, we would decide to move to co-ed. As is probably the case at most single sex schools, it’s been a topic of discussion amongst the Senior Management Team and Board for many years. Whilst we decided in 2023 that the time was now right for us to move to co-education, it would have come earlier had it not been for Covid. The pros and cons of co-ed versus single sex have long been discussed; ultimately, these are the reasons that drove our decision to become co-ed.

Early Years

Co-ed throughout the early years encourages the development of social skills at a young age, where children are learning to play and socialise together. Our Nursery has welcomed both boys and girls since it opened, and over the last decade it’s been a real shame to see the friendships forged between boys and girls there not be able to continue into Reception. Those key communication and collaboration skills can now continue to grow once the children join the Junior Department (Reception to Year 3). Many of our older pupils move on to co-ed senior schools, and some of those were formerly boys only too. For these pupils, co-ed is representative of the world beyond education and can encourage understanding and respect between genders.

Inclusivity

Co-education can create a more diverse and inclusive environment for children, with the safety to explore their identity and interests. It reflects the diversity of London, broadening children’s perspectives and empowering them to learn from and socialise with the other gender. With a more diverse student cohort, the pupils will naturally see children of both genders with different interests. Over the last few years our staff EDI committee has led a review to ensure all ethnicities, religions, and genders were represented in our resources and curriculum. Where many single sex schools must work harder to counter stereotypes, this can be done more naturally in a co-ed environment.

Widening the curriculum

Whilst our curriculum and extra-curricular programme is already focused on being broad and balanced, with much of the focus being beyond the traditional core subjects, the move to co-ed has presented the opportunity to review what we offer. Throughout the 2023-24 school year, dance, gymnastics and cooking will be added as clubs, benefitting our current boys and catering to a wider and more diverse range of interests. Our Director of Music is thrilled about the variety the girls will bring to the many choirs and ensembles in the Senior Department (Year 4 to 8)!

Parent demand

Listening to parental demand and the needs of families is key to being a forward-thinking and modern prep school. Logistically, for many families being able to drop and pick up all their children from the same school, with one set of term dates and events, is vital and often a deciding factor when choosing a school. There are currently no co-ed prep schools in Richmond, and our transition to co-ed gives local families a wider choice when deciding on a school for their child.

Ultimately there is not one right answer, and the choice for parents will differ depending on the needs of their child and family life. For some of our parents that may mean a co-ed prep school and a single sex senior school, or perhaps co-ed throughout their child’s education.

Regardless, each school must work to create a respectful and inclusive environment where all students feel comfortable and can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

This article first appeared in the 2024 edition of Which School? You can view the digital version of the guidebook here: