The Independent Schools Council is a politically independent, not-for-profit organisation representing 1,270 independent schools educating more than 500,000 children. It exists to promote choice, diversity and excellence in education, developing talent at all levels of ability and from all backgrounds.

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Single-sex or Co-educational?

Which do you prefer or don't you mind? At the primary stage you might think it does not matter. But at secondary school you might ask if your son or daughter would make more progress without the distraction of the opposite sex. Or you might believe it is more natural if boys and girls spend their teens being educated together.

Independent schools offer you the choice of coeducation or single-sex to suit your child - or even both within the same school: some are mixed at either end of the age range and single-sex in between; some are boys only between 13-16 and then mixed 16-18; some are coeducational but provide teaching in single-sex groups between 11 and 16 (sometimes known as 'diamond pattern' or 'diamond' schools).