Girls will be girls - by Linda Ingram, Headmistress of Amberfield School

As Headmistress of a girl’s school, I am often asked to describe the merits of single-sex education.

Girls think and learn differently from boys, and benefit most when the teaching is geared to their needs.  Research on brain development suggests that important gender differences stem from the chemistry and structure of the brain and lead girls to be more contemplative, collaborative, intuitive and verbal, and boys to be more physically active and independent in their learning style.

Teaching methods

Understanding these differences have led to using different kinds of teaching methods for each sex, transforming the classroom experience to nurture the special talents and learning styles of young women. In this environment, girls thrive - they excel in sports, mathematics and science, while furthering their skills in language, arts, and writing.

Without the influence of boys, girls drop their shyness and begin to take risks in a single sex setting. They are freer to participate in class discussions becoming more competitive and gaining confidence in themselves as students.

I was thrilled to hear a lecturer speak about our pupils at a recent conference.  "They were the young women whose hands shot up in the air, who were not afraid to defend their positions, and who assumed I would be interested in their perspective."

Leadership roles

Girls schools are institutions where all the leadership positions in the school are held by girls and where girls can find strong role models amongst its staff, ethos and philosophy.

At the age of 16 Amberfield girls progress to sixth form, often with scholarships, and armed with confidence and self esteem. At this point they can flourish in a co-ed environment.