The history of education in the UK is firmly rooted in single sex provision. The only secondary education in the 19th century was for boys, and the opportunities which emerged for girls in the early 20th century were deliberately separate. When maintained secondary schools emerged, many were single sex; even when comprehensivisation brought co-educational schools, provision for physical activity and sport remained resolutely distinct – often with separate facilities, and certainly with gender-specific staff. There were -emphatically – sports which were for boys, and others than were for girls.There was no overlap. Almost all mixed independent schools were boys’ schools...

The history of education in the UK is firmly rooted in single sex provision. The only secondary education in the 19th century was for boys, and the opportunities which emerged for girls in the early 20th century were deliberately separate. When maintained secondary schools emerged, many were single sex; even when comprehensivisation brought co-educational schools, provision for physical activity and sport remained resolutely distinct – often with separate facilities, and certainly with gender-specific staff. There were -emphatically – sports which were for boys, and others than were for girls.There was no overlap. Almost all mixed independent schools were boys’ schools...

What constitutes co-educational school sport is an emerging question. In this week’s guest blog, Asha Riley suggests that it may be more complex than it appears at first sight

Progressive attitudes towards gender and equality have sparked meaningful discussion about every facet of co-education over recent years. Whilst this has been necessary and long overdue in many respects, actions and propositions that arise from these conversations must still be evaluated rigorously before any large-scale integration and adoption. In many areas of school life, equity has been achieved successfully by creating mixed learning environments where equal opportunities are unequivocally provided...