Choosing a Girls’ School
Ravenswood is a proud member of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools and believes in the many benefits that girls’ schools have to offer.
Girls in girls’ schools achieve significantly stronger academic results than any other group in Australia. Without the competition from boys, girls are free to pursue academic excellence and each achievement is celebrated.
All the leadership roles in girls’ schools are filled by girls: from the captain of the touch football team to the head of the student body; from the first flute in the school band to the main part in the school play; and from student leadership groups to the leaders of every school club. Younger students see these female leaders as role models and learn that girls can lead in any field.
Girls’ education is a specialised field. Teachers tailor their classes and curriculum for the girls. This means that students are more likely to be engaged with the content and the methods used in each subject. Girls are free to participate in class without the teacher’s attention being dominated by boys.
Girls at girls’ schools enjoy not only equal opportunity but every opportunity. All activities are open to girls: they participate, influence and lead. There is no gender stereotyping with subject selection. Girls are able and encouraged to explore a career or future in any area.
Girls can work through the challenges of adolescence without embarrassment. Many single-sex girls’ schools run specific programs that counteract negative body imagery and ideals of how girls and women are portrayed in the media. Educators in girls’ schools believe strongly in helping girls to accept and be comfortable with ‘who they are’.
Girls’ schools prepare students to be citizens of the world, using rapidly developing technology and forming connections with girls in other countries. There is an emphasis on social justice and community as girls are encouraged to make connections with others outside the classroom walls.
Girls’ schools are leading the way
in STEM education for women in the world.
Below are excerpts from the website of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools, outlining the benefits of girls-only education:
- Girls’ schools are more relevant today than ever before. Girls’ schools are places where girls take centre stage. They occupy every seat in student government, every spot on the math team, and every position in the robotics club. In fact, every aspect of a girls’ school – from the classroom to the athletic field to the academic program – is designed for girls. A girls’ school environment adds opportunities for girls.
- The nature of girls’ schools provides powerful, relevant advantages and creates the best environments for girls to learn, grow, and develop. At their heart, girls’ schools are places of leadership. Places where community and collaboration, agency and self-efficacy flourish. But most of all, girls’ schools are places of incredible innovation.
- Young women at girls’ schools are inspired to become informed, engaged global citizens who lead with courage, competence, and empathy. Research has proven girls’ school graduates display stronger community involvement, greater cultural competency, and increased political engagement.
- Girls’ schools are leading the way in STEM education for women in the world. Graduates of girls’ schools are six times more likely to consider majoring in math, science, and technology and three times more likely to consider engineering compared to girls who attended co-ed schools.
- Girls’ schools prepare girls to become women who rise to the highest levels of leadership. Girls’ schools foster girls’ voices and encourage girls to exercise their voice at a young age. A national survey found that nearly 87% of girls’ school students feel their voices—their opinions—are respected compared to 58% of girls at co-ed schools.
More information and research is available from the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools.