One of the decisions that you have to make when the time comes to send your child to boarding school is whether they should be in a co-ed institution. Traditionally, boarding schools in England were not mixed – girls learned separately from boys and they rarely ever met except during special functions. Today, however, every parent can choose whether they want their child to learn in a mixed school. Some worry that their children may be distracted by the presence of the opposite sex, especially if they are teenagers, but here are some important factors to keep in mind as you send your child off to boarding school.
• Diversity is very important to all growing, young people. It is important that your child is exposed to both sexes at an early age. It helps them learn to deal with the world as it is and they will have an easier time handling the opposite sex when they grow up.
• Today, equality is more important than ever – it is no longer a men’s world. This is one lesson that you should instil into your child at an early age and one way to do that is to send them to a mixed school where they get to learn with girls and see that they are their equals. Girls who go to co-ed schools also learn not to be intimidated by the opposite sex.
• The real world is made up of both men and women. In university your child will have to interact with the opposite sex and no one will slow down and wait for them to catch up. If you want your child to be able to adjust properly in university and later in life you should expose them to the real world early.
Cambridge Centre for Sixth Form Studies provides a perfect environment for boys and girls to learn together.