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When it comes to boys and girls, ‘Vive
la différence’, the saying goes. It’s a
sentiment that St Andrew’s College
embraces wholeheartedly.
“Having different genders in a class
brings different perspectives to
learning,” says Rector Christine
Leighton. “Boys and girls also learn to
respect how differently they see things.”
St Andrew’s is the only co-educational
independent school in the South Island,
and Christine says this contributes to
the College’s unique character. “The
atmosphere and colour that we all
enjoy on campus is a direct result of
boys and girls mixing – and just being
boys and girls.”
There is something very real, natural
and inclusive about a co-educational
setting. Students learn to co-operate
with each other in a way that sets them
up for life. After all, if we live in a co-ed
world, shouldn’t we learn in one too?
New perspectives and shared
experiences help students thrive
academically, and ensure they grow
into more mature, well-rounded and
resilient young adults. As a result,
students leave St Andrew’s College with
better social skills, a broader network
of friends, and a stronger understanding
of how the real world works.
Head of Girls’ Boarding Gabrielle Lee
(Year 13) couldn’t agree more.
“For me a co-ed school has allowed
me to be comfortable with who I am.
I feel safe and can be myself in all
environments,” she says. “I have also
found that since being at a co-ed school
I have developed really meaningful
friendships especially in the boarding
house. This comes from the everyday
interactions you have with both the boys
and girls.”
Co-educational schools more accurately
reflect the diversity of our society, says
Head of Secondary School Roland
Burrows, who was actively involved
with the move to introduce girls to the
College more than 20 years ago. He
chaired the steering committee that was
formed in 1991 to construct the Rentoul
Senior College. An important role of the
Senior College was helping students
transition from school to adult life, so
naturally girls were a key part of the
new environment. “In a co-ed setting
students interacting within sensible
and clearly articulated boundaries is
crucial to fostering confident and socially
well-adjusted young New Zealanders,”
he says.
“A co-educational learning environment
helps break down misconceptions
between boys and girls.”
Roland says this was brought home to
him in a conversation recently with 2013
Head Girl Annie Stevenson. Annie, who
is studying Medicine at the University of
Otago in Dunedin, said she noticed the
students from single-sex schools took
several months to settle down before
they started to focus on their studies,
giving the students comfortable in a
mixed learning environment a head
start on the work.
the
Step
into
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Anika Bayley and Fraser Balasingam (Year 3).