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The value of girls-only education

At Palmers Green High School, we’re celebrating educating girls for 120 years. We know that girls do better in an all-girls environment, and research has shown that pupils in single-sex schools are more confident to participate in lessons, and more likely to reach their full potential. And for girls in particular, the benefits can be profound and last well beyond their school days.

A recent investigation into the effects of all-girls education found that school leavers demonstrated stronger academic skills, greater engagement with their studies, higher confidence in science and technology skills and stronger community involvement. Girls in same-sex schools have more opportunities to excel athletically and take on school leadership roles.

Girls in girls’ schools are 2.6 times as likely to take Further Maths, and more than twice as likely to take Physics and Computer Science at A level – compared to girls in other schools.
Source: GSA

Girls in girls’ schools are more confident, rounded young women who have a mastery over their emotional control in comparison to girls in mixed schools.
Source: GSA

Girls who attend a GSA girls’ school are nearly five times more likely to play cricket, and 30% more likely to play football.
Source: GSA

Many of our girls have been with us since their early years and seeing them develop and flourish demonstrates our commitment to equip them for success. Academically, this is demonstrated in our GCSE results, which in 2024 saw percentages at grades 9-8 a magnificent 44% and 9-7 a fantastic 72%, placing our pupils amongst the top performers in the country, but being a smaller School also gives all children greater access to the many opportunities beyond the classroom, such as participating in a School musical production, sports team or chess tournament. Indeed, the GSA has unveiled new research into sport participation in Girls’ Schools. The report offers valuable insights into the uptake of sports throughout girls’ schools lives, and offers comparisons with co-educational schools, as well as looking at key barriers to sport participation for girls. You can read the research here.

View GSA’s 150th Anniversary video “Captains Of Their Ships”

“GSA’s large and growing body of research compellingly demonstrates how a girls-only education is the best one to help girls best achieve their life’s ambitions. Girls in girls’ schools are savvy, spirited individuals acutely aware of inequalities they face in the wider world; in our schools they feel honoured and listened to; they realise our schools equip them with the tools and opportunity to embrace life, and help them to further challenge the status quo beyond the classroom, for the benefit of every girl.”

—Donna Stevens, CEO The Girls’ Schools Association

At PGHS there are no such things as ‘girls’ subjects’; all subjects are for girls and ours excel across the curriculum, with a large number of pupils going on to study sciences and maths at A-level and pursue degrees and careers in STEM fields. Further research from the GSA reveals that girls’ schools’ alumnae: from volunteers to university students, to those in full time employment, believe their girls’ school experience positively influenced their life path.

Pupil voice is lauded and girls are expected to take on leadership roles that would usually be reserved for Sixth Form pupils. Student Council offers all pupils the chance to suggest changes that they would like to see. Pupil voice led to the introduction of trousers, creation of new extracurricular clubs such as chess, Design & Technology and cookery, and also voted in the new PE kit for the Senior School.

At PGHS, our main points of entry to the school are Reception and Year 7, although ad-hoc places may be available in other year groups. If you are as passionate as us about giving your daughter the best start in life, please come and visit us, and see why The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide named us Independent 11-16 Secondary School of the Year.