Boys 'learn it's cool to play fool in mixed sex education'

Many parents are turning their backs on co-educational schools amid concerns that the environment is teaching them that it is "cool to be a fool", according to the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS).

Chief executive David Hanson said that today's generation of parents are "more discerning" and willing to look around for the school that is right for their child.

His comments come as new figures released by the IAPS showed that pupil numbers at boys-only private prep schools have seen significant increases this year.

"All parents have always cared passionately about their children but they really pay attention (by asking), 'is this the right school for my child'? And some boys do seem to thrive in those environments and some parents are aware of it," he said.

Mr Hanson cited recent programmes like the BBC's Britain's Youngest Boarders, which followed three youngsters as they started at Sunningdale, a boys-only private boarding prep school.

It showed that the boys could succeed academically and be "fully rounded, caring, have all the cuddly toys and so on without anybody at any point saying you are soft", Mr Hanson said.

"In an all-boy environment they could be a fully-rounded little boy rather than half a boy in some other environment where you have to pretend to be tough or not want to learn because it is cool to be a fool."

Sport also has a big part to play in parents choosing all-boys schools for their sons, Mr Hanson added. A lot of parents say they are worried that in state schools their child is never "off the floor or out of a chair".

Children should be encouraged to be active during the school day, he said. They need that, it is good for them."

Mr Hanson added that in the past, the perceived wisdom was that boys should go to co-educational schools and girls should be educated in girls-only environments.

"Now it's the opposite; boys are going to single sex schools because their parents think they will do better there."

nChildren should receive specialist subject teaching in all schools from the age of five, it was suggested.

Speaking as the IAPS's annual conference began in London, chairman Andy Falconer said: "The main benefit of starting subject specialists

early is that when you have project-based topic teaching it can often get a bit woolly around the edges and it loses a lot of the focus."