Why Wait? The Critical Advantage of Starting a Girls’ Education Journey Early

Kate Bevan, Head of Junior School at Notting Hill and Ealing High School, writes an article for the Independent School Parent, stating why starting a girls’ education early at junior school is crucial for their development and learning.

Read the full article below.

Why Wait? The Critical Advantage of Starting a Girls’ Education Journey Early

As an experienced headteacher, in both co-ed and single sex environments, I’ve seen first-hand the transformative power of an all-girls’ education.

However, a question I frequently hear from parents is, “Why not wait until senior school?” My answer is simple: when it comes to a girl’s confidence and sense of self, waiting means missing a critical window.

 

The early years are a time of incredible development, a fact backed by overwhelming data. 90% of a child’s brain development happens by age 5 (UNICEF, 2020), making the first five years the most important foundation for future learning, health, and happiness. As Ofsted highlights, high-quality early years education is a powerful predictor of later attainment (Best Start in Life, 2022/24).

Building the Foundation Before the Stereotypes

Our mission is to establish confidence, curiosity, and resilience before harmful gender stereotypes have a chance to take root. Research tells us that gender stereotypes begin to form remarkably early, between the ages of two and three. Alarmingly, by age six, many girls already believe boys are “smarter” (UNICEF, 2020). Starting a dedicated girls’ school journey at age four allows us to embed a powerful sense of self-belief and limitless potential before these corrosive stereotypes stick (GDST Research, 2024; UNICEF, 2020). We close the confidence gaps before they even open.

In a co-educational setting, I’ve observed that when given the freedom to choose, girls and boys often naturally separate, whether sitting at lunch or playing in the playground, a reflection of distinct interests and play preferences. In a girls-only environment, this separation is eliminated, giving pupils total freedom to be their authentic selves and expand into the territory that boys often occupy. Our girls are free to be the leaders, the mathematicians, the builders, and the loudest voices in every room.

Exceptional Provision for Exceptional Potential

At Notting Hill & Ealing Junior School, we couple this single-sex advantage with an outstanding learning environment. We are proud to offer what are arguably the best facilities in Ealing, housed in our stunning, recently rebuilt Junior School. Furthermore, the quality of our early education provision is externally verified: our Early Years Provision was recognised as a Significant Strength of the school when the Independent Schools Inspectorate visited this year. This means your daughter starts her educational career in an environment of acknowledged, high-calibre excellence.

Answering Parent Questions

  • “Why not wait until senior school?” Confidence gaps don’t wait until she’s 11; they start early. By starting with us at age four, we actively close those gaps before they open, building a robust foundation of self-assurance that will underpin her senior school success.
  • “Isn’t co-ed more real?” The question should be: Does ‘real’ mean mirroring societal inequality, or challenging it? Our school does the latter. We create a space where girls know their voices will be heard, their leadership will be expected, and their interests will be paramount, empowering them to then challenge the status quo in the world outside (GDST Research, 2024).
  • “Will she miss out socially in a single-sex environment?” Absolutely not. Your daughter’s life outside of school – her home, family, clubs, and local community – is co-educational. Inside our gates, she is given the tools and confidence to thrive in the world, ensuring she steps out well-equipped to navigate all social settings (GDST Research, 2024).

Choosing an independent girls’ school from the earliest years is an investment in your daughter’s future self; confident, ambitious, and ready to lead. Why wait when the evidence shows the greatest impact is made right now?

Kate Bevan is Head of Junior School at Notting Hill & Ealing High School, an ISI Inspector and Chair of the Education Committee for IAPS.