New analysis of three Department for Education (DfE) data sets (2022-2024) challenges the overriding assumption that co-educational schooling offers the most balanced outcome for girls. The data show the opposite: girls educated in girls’ schools are significantly more likely to progress into higher education, remain in sustained education, and avoid Not in Education Employment or Training (NEET) status than girls in mixed schools – by substantial margins.

The analysis by the Girls’ Schools Association draws on the latest Key Stage 5 (KS5) destination measures and post-18 Level 4+ progression data. Across every major dataset reviewed, girls nationally outperform boys; however, girls in girls’ schools perform even more strongly.

National picture: girls lead and single-sex schooling sharpens the advantage.

Across England in 2022/23:

  • Girls are 6.5 percentage points more likely than boys to progress to higher education (52.7% vs 46.2%).
  • Girls are 2.6 percentage points less likely to be NEET (9.0% vs 11.7%)
  • Continuing in education is 6.6 percentage points higher for girls

This pattern continues into post-18 progression: in 2023/4 state school girls were 8.5 percentage points more likely to achieve degree level qualifications, equivalent to a 15% higher success rate.

Girls’ schools vs mixed schools: widening the gaps

Institution-level KS5 data (2022/23) reveals a clear advantage for girls attending girls’ state schools when compared with girls in mixed state schools.

  • Higher continuation in education: 68.2% vs 59.6%
  • Higher progression to higher education: 65.3% vs 56% a margin of over 9 percentage points.
  • Lower NEET: 6.9% vs 8.1%

Sustained destinations remain high for both groups but girls’ schools maintain a small advantage (87.7% vs 86.8%)

Boys’ state schools show the same pattern

Boys in boys’ state schools show markedly stronger outcome than boys in mixed state schools.

  • Continuation in education: 65.9% vs 52.6%
  • Progression to higher education : 63.9% vs 49.5%
  • Lower NEET: 7.4% vs 10.5%

This demonstrates that single-sex environments support both girls and boys in maintaining engagement and moving successfully into further study.

Independent Schools: High Higher Education progression

Independent schools: girls in girls’ schools show very strong higher-education (HE) progression – around two-thirds (67%) progress to HE and more than 70% continue in education.

Long term data: female learners build sustained success

Tracking KS5 leavers over five years shows the gender gap widening. Female state school leavers remain 12 percentage points more likely than males to reach higher education destinations, with boys falling behind over time.

  • After five years,4% of female students have reached a higher education destination, compared with 34.5% of males.
  • Girls also remain slightly less likely to be NEET at every follow on point.

Taken together, this is clear evidence of the impact of girls’ schools

Across KS5 destinations, degree-level outcomes, and long-term tracking, girls’ schools show a consistent pattern of higher progression, stronger academic persistence, and lower disengagement post-16.

Donna Stevens, chief executive, of the Girls’ Schools Association, says:

“For years, the public conversation has often defaulted to the view that co-ed schooling is the best for young people. These data tell a different story. Girls’ schools deliver consistently stronger outcomes: higher continuation, higher university progression, and lower NEET. We cannot keep allowing the impact of girls’ schools to be downplayed or dismissed. If we genuinely care about girls’ and young women’s futures, then the success of single-sex education must be recognised, protected, and taken seriously in national policy and public debate.”

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Photo: Blackheath High School