But schools, and teachers, beg to differ…

A new education report out this week, which suggests that there are no advantages to single sex education, has been met with scepticism by schools and teachers.

Professor Alan Smithers from Birmingham University examined 50 years of school records and questions the theory that educating boys and girls separately is more successful.

Proponents of single sex education have long held that children do better when removed from the distractions of the opposite sex. But Professor Smithers says:' There are no overriding advantages for single-sex schools on educational grounds. Studies all over the world have failed to detect any major differences.'

'The reason people think single-sex schools are better is because they do well in league tables. But they are generally independent, grammar or former grammar schools and they do well because of the ability and social background of the pupils.'

Barnaby Lenon, head of all-boys Harrow School is a head who disputes the findings. 'For five to seven years when they are teenagers, boys and girls should be able concentrate on things other than relationships,' he said. 'I have worked in co-educational schools - I know what they can be like!'

Mr Lenon was supported by Dr Brenda Despontin, president of the Girls' Schools Association, who said that the Department of Education results themselves showed that girls in single-sex schools achieved 10 per cent more A grades than counterparts in mixed schools across a range of subjects.

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