Single-gender schools “can lead to negative behaviour” later in life - but should be protected, nonetheless.

That’s according to Alexandra College Principal Barbara Ennis, who said most single-sex schools are performing “excellently well” at present and “should be left alone to do their job.”

It comes as Higher Education Minister Patrick O’Donovan has called for an end to single-sex schools, stating that society would benefit from a co-ed learning model.

On Newstalk Breakfast today, Ms Ennis said she doesn’t share the Fine Gael politician’s views.

“I don't agree with any kind of compulsion of any description because it just makes life much more difficult,” she said.

“His rationale, while it sounds very noble, is looking to schools to cure the ills of society—I don't agree with him.

“I don't think single-sex schools should be compulsorily phased out.

“They have already been phased out by the Government for a good few years now by not supporting the setting up of any single-sex schools.”

Students listening to their teacher in a classroom, 22-8-13. Image: Wavebreak Media Premium / Alamy

Ms Ennis brushed off the idea that boys and girls from single-sex schools only socialise with the opposite gender when going to college.

“How many people come into college at the age of 18 or 19, never having met someone of the opposite gender before?” she said.

“It can be different for boys, but I’ll always advocate for girls.

“I understand there are issues with socialising, and that is not the best as it can lead to all sorts of negative behaviour.”

Mixed gender schools

Ms Ennis said she wouldn’t describe the shift toward mixed schools in recent years as a “natural evolution.”

“I'd call it interfering with natural evolution and constructing a situation where it will be very difficult to find a school,” she said.

“If you're a parent who believes in single-sex education, I think it’s a shame because there are lots of very positive things to it.

“With boys’ schools, there’s a lot of talk about toxic masculinity, but boys are going to be boys no matter where they are; it’s about how they’re brought up by their parents.”

Of all primary schools in Ireland, 2,900 are mixed-gender and 228 are single-gender.

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Main image: Elementary school children smiling in classroom. Image: Fredrick Kippe / Alamy Stock Photo