Dear ones, did you know that I went to an all-girls school for a few years? Although this was in my teenage years and I did find boys interesting, I never missed boys in class. In fact, I found the atmosphere in the girls‘ class much more relaxed, simply because some topics were completely absent, e.g. nobody wanted to impress the boys.
Mia, the 13-year-old daughter of our reader Anna, also goes to an all-girls school and we wanted to know from mum and daughter what they think of this type of school. Thank you very much for the interview!
Dear Mia, what is the biggest difference for you between an all-girls school and a mixed school?
For me, the biggest difference is definitely the class cohesion. We have a great community in which everyone can be who they are, nobody is laughed at when they give a presentation – on the contrary, they are cheered on. The same applies if you say something wrong or get a bad grade, nobody gets booed there either.</p
But it’s not just in the classroom, the whole school has great team spirit. The older pupils are not dismissive, but help the younger ones. On the open day, I was shown around by older students who were super nice and open, and it’s still like that now. The older students tutor the younger ones, free of charge!
How different do you feel in class now?
Very different! In primary school, I sometimes didn’t dare to answer if I wasn’t 100% sure that my answer was correct. Now I can speak up even if I’m not completely sure and I don’t have to be afraid of saying something wrong. Everything is friendly and familiar, even the teachers are great (we have mostly female teachers, but also great teachers.)
Just because our school is a girls‘ school, you shouldn’t think that you get your grades for free. No, you have to work hard for your grades just like at any other school, only here it’s taught in a fun way.
There are many prejudices that the bitching is much greater in all-girls classes. What do you think about that?
I personally don’t see it that way at all, everyone in our class is nice and friendly to each other, I couldn’t wish for a better class. Of course, there might be a bitch in some classes, but that’s the case everywhere.
All in all, I would say that there is less bitching at a girls‘ school than at a mixed school. At my old school, it was enough if you wore something „wrong“ and you were teased, that doesn’t happen anymore.
The other day it was a girl’s birthday in the parallel class and although we didn’t know each other that well, everyone in the canteen sang happy birthday at once after her two friends asked her to. It wasn’t just girls from the lower school, there were girls from all year groups. Something like that would probably never happen at a mixed school.
How do you experience boys your age?
Because I spend a lot of time at school, I don’t have that much contact with boys my age. However, I would say that boys my age are definitely cheekier and more restless. Sure, not all of them, but more often on average.
Are there sometimes situations where you miss the boys in class?
Not really. The lessons are quieter, you can concentrate better and understand topics more easily. But that doesn’t mean that we are strict, quiet and no fun. On the contrary – we also have class clowns, fun and sometimes we get up to mischief. But not at the expense of others.
What do you think is the absolute best thing about an all-girls school now?
The question is simple. Definitely the community, you feel safe, secure and liked, so you enjoy coming every day and have the confidence to speak up. It’s a great feeling to be in a church with the whole school at the final service and to feel part of a large, familiar, respectful and loving community.
Dear Anna, why did you choose an all-girls school for your older daughter?
Girls from the neighbourhood were at the school, which we found interesting, so we simply went to the open day. We were immediately impressed by how warm-hearted the teacher was with the pupils and how confidently the girls stood in front of us and showed us their school. After all, the open day – like many festivals – is organised by the students themselves with great joy and conviction.
Our expectation was that the learning environment would be calmer than in the mixed school and this was quickly confirmed. Our daughter was annoyed in her old class that there were often „community punishments“ if the class was not quiet. She had some very unruly boys in class who were also violent in the schoolyard – she really suffered from that.
It was also important to us that the opportunities and skills for girls with scientific inclinations like our daughter and her interest in technology were promoted significantly more.
What were the reactions in your environment to the decision?
Very mixed. From normal interest to big prejudices („ah, you must have something against boys). We’ve also often heard that girls from such schools can’t hold their own in the real world later on. I think the opposite is true. I don’t know of any school where girls are given such a great boost to their individuality and self-confidence.
Girls who want to be accepted at this school have to explain their reasons in a letter of motivation. It is important to the school that the children really want this type of school themselves. Our older daughter really wanted it, but we don’t yet know whether the younger one will follow suit.
How do you experience the pupils at the school?
Very diverse, I think it’s so great to see that there is no „typical“ girl. The girls are so diverse, so special – in terms of their talents, their attitudes, their style.
It’s also great that the school offers an economics programme from Year 8, which my daughter also opted for. There are lots of different clubs and the girls are encouraged to take part in lots of sports (including football!).
Is there anything that has totally surprised you about the school and the female students?
There are free hygiene products for the girls in all the toilets. For times when they don’t feel well for hormonal reasons, there is a quiet room where they can retreat. The girls‘ cycle is not hidden here, but accepted and they can behave accordingly. What surprises me about the schoolgirls is how much they enjoy going to school and how naturally they do so.
