As one of New Zealand’s leading independent girls’ school, Diocesan recently went on record to confirm its single sex status, saying that the benefits of a girls-only educational environment are proven academically.

In the last few years, a growing number of independent boys’ schools have moved to co-education, including a recent announcement from Scott’s College that girls will be welcomed to the school from 2020.

However, a review of 2014 NCEA results by Dio showed that, while girls outperform boys across all schooling types, both male and female students in single sex schools consistently achieve higher academic results than their peers in a co-ed environment.

Our Principal, Heather McRae, says that “a girls only school provides the opportunity for girls’ interests to take priority and removes the ‘1st XV mentality’ seen at many co-ed schools and boys’ schools”.

It’s not just academic achievement where single sex education wins out. Heather says there are many other factors that contribute to a student’s success at school and that academic outcomes are only one measure of a well-rounded education.

“At Diocesan, girls have more leadership opportunities; they participate more freely in discussions, they feel empowered to behave more competitively, and they take more healthy risks, such as trying new activities.”