The Chronicle Autumn Term 2017

10 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

I was at an all girls’ school before Teddies and I didn’t like it at all. It was very intense.

At my all girls’ school, there was an unhealthy focus on food. There used to be a daily competition to see who could eat the least at lunch.

Co-education is about normal life. You might as well get used to it from the beginning.

We have really good teachers at Teddies –

they’re much nicer than Prep School teachers. Because they’re in House in the evenings, you have really good access to your teachers. They’re always willing to help.

Social norms

My parents suggested that a co-ed school would be good. Both genders can become anxious about encounters with the opposite sex if they haven’t had a chance to get used to them. Imagine turning up at university and never having spent time with boys.

are very different in an all girls’ school.

In my experience, girls’ schools are much more competitive. Far greater attention is paid to rankings in all contexts.

Girls Talk

To mark 20 years since the first Shell girls arrived at St Edward’s, we talked to girls from all year groups about co-education, life at St Edward’s and happy memories of School. All girls who took part had actively chosen co-education for their senior schooling. Many thanks to Emily Potter, Clara Wilson, Millie Moss, Ayo Sule, Elsa Robinson, Izzy Degroot, Clare Simkin, Athena Bonnefoy and Matilda Pumfrey for their observations.

The broad academic entry is one of the best things about St Edward’s. It’s so good to be at a school that values you because of who you are, not because you’re the absolute best at everything. Not everyone can be. I love being in a city. When we go to away matches in the middle of nowhere, I feel really sorry for the pupils.

Contributors Ayo Sule, Athena Bonnefoy, Elsa Robinson and Matilda Pumfrey.

It takes time to get the balance right in a co-ed school. The early days can be challenging. In my Shell classes, some boys definitely thought they were top dogs to begin with but everyone very soon made them see the error of their ways. We all have to learn to work alongside each other.