A recent American study by Dr Abigail James of the University of Virginia has established that boys educated in a single-sex environment are better prepared for life – emotionally and academically – than are boys in mixed schools.

In the absence of girls, claims James, boys feel less of a pressure to conform to a masculine stereotype, especially in activities such as drama and music.  They feel correspondingly more able to engage in cultural and artistic activities, and thereby become more emotionally expressive and secure.  By contrast, boys in mixed schools, for instance, tend to view classical music being more appropriate for girls.

Furthermore, the report confirmed the educational advantage for boys educated in a single sex environment.  As girls develop verbal and reading skills earlier than boys, they tend to become demoralized when in mixed schools, whereas in single sex schools they progress at the same speed.  Furthermore, the teachers at boys’ schools teach in a style that suits boys, most notably in supplying a larger range of academic and extra-curricular activities.  As a result they are less likely to become bored.

Freed from the urge to appear ‘cool’ in front of girls, boys become more serious in their approach to their studies.  They are more likely to enjoy literature and poetry, for instance, than are their equivalents in mixed schools.

As Peter Hamilton notes, ‘We already knew that we delivered a first rate education at Habs that is tailored to the way boys learn.  But it is reassuring to have this confirmed by serious academic research.’