“This House believe that girls are empowered by being taught separately”

Ellie F and Lucy H from Year 13 went head-to-head with Mrs Cresswell and Ms Tandon to debate the subject: “This House believe that girls are empowered by being taught separately”.

With Mrs Cresswell and Ms Tandon arguing that there can be no doubt that single sex education is empowering young women whilst at school. With one argument that girls at single sex schools choose more STEM subjects than girls at co-ed schools.

The opposition replied with their argument believing that a single sex school creates an artificial environment in which they don’t grow up and learn in the same setting as the work place. They asked if the single sex school was so great, why aren’t there women only work places?

Questions were raised surrounding the idea of girls mental health in single sex schools, how it can be seen to be a more emotionally intense setting; leading to issues such as anxiety, eating disorders and depression.

It was great to see many girls get involved in the debate, raising questions and issues for the panel to consider.

Whilst those proponents of a co-ed environment managed to sway more votes, the debate was successfully won by those arguing the motion that girls are more empowered when educated in a single sex environment.