Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs The surge in popularity of boys schools comes as the government has combined, or planned to merge, numerous single-sex schools in some parts of Sydney as an election commitment to deliver statewide access to co-education. That includes James Cook in Sydney’s south and Asquith Boys in the north.Parent Dawn Kilkelly, who has been president of the P&C at Asquith Boys for the past five years, said she had mixed feelings about the school becoming co-ed as it had been beneficial for her son.“He was very happy to go to a single-sex school. He wanted to focus on his schooling and not have the distraction of girls,” she said.“My son is sport-orientated … how do you keep an active boy focused when they can’t do any physical activity?”Tim Bowden, headmaster of the all-boys school Trinity Grammar, said parents were increasingly aware of the challenges boys face and were recognising the value of schools that specialised in educating boys. He noted a longitudinal study from New Zealand between 2010 and 2022, which made a clear case for boys education.“The clear statement of this finding was quite confronting,” he said.“I have often stated that single-sex schools are a valid option or that a single-sex school is a good context for a boy to be educated, but the findings of this research challenged me to consider whether there are grounds to assert the case for boys schools more strongly.“The growing popularity of boys schools (in the public system) may point to parents drawing a similar conclusion.”Blacktown Boys had an increase of more than 100 students over the past five years. Parents will find out this year if it will be merged with a girls’ school as part of statewide plans to provide more co-ed options. James Cook in Sydney’s south will also become co-ed.Parag Modi and his son Hirsh, 14, who goes to Blacktown Boys High School.Credit: Wolter PeetersParag Modi, who made an out-of-area application for his son Hirsh, 14, to attend Blacktown Boys two years ago, chose it not because it was single-sex but rather because it was simply where his friends were going, and he got into a gifted and talented program. He thinks becoming co-ed would be beneficial for students.“It is a good thing. In the real world, boys are working with the girls,” Modi said.LoadingHis son, Hirsh, also said he does not think his classmates would mind. “We’re just there to learn and have fun. We wouldn’t care,” he said.A 2021 Monash University study of Sydney’s public school catchment zones found a price premium of 2 per cent for homes in single-sex school zones relative to comparable homes across the border in coeducational school zones.“The most obvious interpretation is that people do see some value in single-sex schools,” report author Daniel Mesler said.Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
