Why Single-Sex Education for Boys Still Matters in 2025: The Lockers Park Perspective

Published by Lockers Park School on Saturday 1st of February 2025

Lockers Park Headmaster, Gavin Taylor gives his view on the ongoing relevance of single sex education for boys.

The educational landscape in 2025 is more diverse than ever, with families weighing an array of choices — state, independent, co-educational, single-sex, hybrid models and beyond. Yet despite these shifts, single-sex schools remain a compelling option, and for boys, they continue to offer unique advantages that can be transformative.

At Lockers Park, an all-boys’ prep school with deep roots and a forward-focused ethos, we see these benefits play out daily.

An Environment Designed for Boys

One of the enduring strengths of single-sex education lies in its ability to tailor the learning environment specifically to boys. Research continues to show that boys’ academic progress is often accelerated in schools where teaching strategies are designed with them in mind. At Lockers Park, lessons are structured to reflect boys’ natural energy, curiosity and need for active engagement. This might mean more practical tasks, opportunities for movement, or a competitive edge woven into classroom activities.

Far from being limiting, this bespoke approach creates the conditions for boys to thrive. It allows them to focus without distraction, explore their interests without hesitation, and develop confidence in areas that might otherwise feel “uncool” in a mixed setting – from literature to the performing arts.

Character and Confidence Beyond the Classroom

Equally important is the way an all-boys’ school can nurture character. Boys today face complex pressures, from managing digital distractions to negotiating outdated stereotypes about masculinity. A single-sex environment provides space to address these issues openly.

At Lockers Park, pastoral care is tailored to the emotional needs of boys. We challenge outdated notions of what it means to “be a boy,” encouraging our pupils to show empathy, embrace creativity, and pursue leadership with humility. In this way, single-sex schooling becomes not just about academic focus but about equipping boys with the emotional intelligence and resilience they will need in adulthood.

Balancing Tradition with Modern Relevance

Critics of single-sex education often highlight concerns about social development or the risk of reinforcing gender divides. These are important debates. Yet the reality in schools like Lockers Park is far more nuanced. While our pupils enjoy the benefits of an all-boys’ environment, they also engage regularly in mixed activities — from joint events with partner schools to community projects that foster collaboration with girls. This balance ensures that boys develop strong communication and teamwork skills while still benefiting from a tailored learning environment.

Looking Ahead

Single-sex education is not a relic of the past; it is a contemporary choice that continues to deliver results. As families consider what is right for their sons in 2025, the question is less about whether single-sex education should exist and more about how it can be harnessed to best support boys today.

At Lockers Park, our conviction is clear: by shaping an environment that understands boys, challenges them, and equips them with both confidence and compassion, single-sex education remains not only relevant but vital.

What the Recent Research Tells Us About Single-Sex Education

Attainment & Academic Outcomes

• A 2024 analysis by FFT Education Lab found that the average Attainment 8 score for pupils in state-funded single-sex secondary schools was 59.0, whereas for pupils in mixed (co-ed) schools it was 46.3.


• However, when comparing single-sex schools to mixed schools with very similar pupil and school characteristics, the gap shrinks substantially. In that FFT work, much of the difference is explained by factors like prior attainment, socioeconomic status, selection, and school type.

Gender Gap & Underperformance of Boys

• A government research briefing (2025) shows that boys still perform less well than girls on many major educational measures in England over their school years, including early years, primary, and secondary phases. For example, boys are more likely to be excluded (suspended, expelled) and less likely to achieve a “good level of development” by the end of reception. Educational Attainment of Boys


• The “Educational underachievement of boys and young men” report from HEPI points to persistent obstacles facing boys: lower educational aspirations, fewer role models, and sometimes less engagement or confidence in certain subjects. hepi.ac.uk/reports/boys-will-be-boys

 What About Single-Sex Versus Co-Ed?

• A study by Clavel et al. (2023) (published in British Educational Research Journal) found that boys in single-sex schools are more likely to be in the top quartile of achievement compared to boys in coeducational schools. Article on Single-Sex Schooling


• On the other hand, high-quality comparative studies show that once you control for selection and background (for example, pupils’ prior attainment, socioeconomic status), the academic advantage for boys in single-sex schools tends to shrink or sometimes disappear.  the-impact-of-school-size-and-single-sex-education-on-performance

Lockers Park in Dialogue with These Trends

These findings matter deeply for us at Lockers Park — not just in principle, but in how we design our teaching, pastoral care, and whole-school experience.

• Tailoring learning styles: We know boys often respond better to active, hands-on, competitive and structured learning. Our curriculum is shaped around these insights. This aligns with evidence that single-sex schools can harness such styles more effectively when distractions are fewer.


• Closing the gender achievement gap: Given that boys as a group still fall short of girls in multiple educational benchmarks, Lockers Park sees its role as helping reverse or narrow those gaps. By underpinning high expectations, strong role models (both staff and visiting speakers) and a nurturing yet disciplined environment, we can aim for boys to reach the top quartiles of achievement.


• Pastoral & character development: It isn’t enough to just aim for academic outcomes. The recent reports highlight that boys are more likely to suffer exclusion and under-development in early years unless supported well. Lockers Park places quality pastoral care at the heart of what we do: building confidence, emotional literacy, teamwork and responsibility.

Challenges & Misconceptions to Address

No system is perfect, and single-sex education is no exception. Some of the valid critiques and how we respond include:

• Selection bias & background factors: Much of the “advantage” in single-sex schools is explained by who attends (preparation, prior attainment, family support). Lockers Park seeks to be inclusive, recognising that background is not destiny, and carefully monitoring whether our boys with more challenging starts are getting the support they need.


• Social development and exposure: There is concern that boys in single-sex schools may lose out on interacting regularly with girls. We address that by organising joint events, trips, mixed activities outside of school, and ensuring relationships, emotional expression and respect are embedded in our daily life.


• Subject silos and stereotypes: Another risk is reinforcing traditional views of what boys “should” or “shouldn’t” do. At Lockers Park we actively challenge that: promoting arts, languages, reading, drama, as well as strong STEM and sending the message that passion and excellence are gender neutral.

Looking Forward: What Good Single-Sex Education Must Be in 2025

1. Evidence-informed practice: Schools must stay up to date with research, measure outcomes carefully, particularly for pupils from diverse backgrounds, so that any claims of ‘single-sex advantage’ are more than anecdotal.


2. Holistic education: Academic results matter deeply, but so do character, resilience, interpersonal skills, emotional maturity. Single-sex schools must do more than prepare for exams — they must prepare for life.


3. Contextual responsibility: Recognising that students don’t live in a bubble. Exposure to mixed environments, community, diversity of viewpoints, is essential.


4. Transparency & communication with parents: Parents need to understand what single-sex education can deliver — its strengths, its trade-offs — so they can make genuinely informed choices.

In conclusion, the education landscape in 2025 does not render single-sex schooling obsolete. Rather, it demands that such schools evolve: embracing evidence, sharpening purpose, and privileging both academic outcomes and personal growth. At Lockers Park, we see an all-boys’ education not as a luxury of tradition, but as a pragmatic choice — one that, when executed with integrity and insight, can offer boys the best chance to flourish.