Girl-Centred Education

Developing curious and critical thinkers through a challenging and supportive girl-centred environment

Crofton House School is a place where girls are at the centre of everything. Here, girls are encouraged to be themselves, express their ideas, take risks and aim high.

Every stage of our unique and enriched educational program from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 is informed by research on how girls learn best. Learning opportunities that expand girls’ awareness and instill a sense of curiosity and leadership happen in our classrooms, in nature, in our community, on international service trips and everywhere in between.

Our highly skilled and committed educators are experts at teaching girls. Collaboration between teachers, open communication with parents, dedicated learning resources and flexibility in our educational program strongly support each girl’s unique approach to learning and academic success.

Research shows that girls have unique learning needs and preferences and that when these are met in a girl-centred environment, girls develop a higher level of confidence and have better academic and personal outcomes. At Crofton House School, we create a learning environment where girls thrive.

Benefits of Girl-Centred Education

In today’s changing world, girls’ schools are more relevant than ever before. The International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) outlines some important benefits of all-girls' schools:

Girls occupy every role, from tech booth operator to athlete to member of student council. Girls model to other girls that there is no position they cannot fill.
Graduates are six times more likely to consider majoring in math, science and technology, and three times more likely to consider engineering, compared to girls who attended coed schools. They are also more likely to pursue graduate-level education.
Girls learn to confidently express their ideas. An American survey found that nearly 87% of girls’ school students feel that their voices – their opinions – are respected, compared to 58% of girls at coed schools.

Thriving in a Girl-Centred Learning Environment

There is evidence that girls achieve more when they are given their own dedicated space in which to develop. In single-sex schools, girls:

are less likely to conform to a priori gender stereotypes
are less constrained in their choice of subjects
show a greater propensity to take risks and innovate
perform better in examinations
have more opportunities to show leadership
are more successful in the job market

Read about why and how girls thrive in a girl-centred learning environment in this piece by Dr Kevin Stannard, Director of Innovation and Learning, Girls' Day School Trust.

Girls’ School Graduates

New research from the ICGS reveals that, when compared to girls graduating from coed schools, girls’ school graduates:

Have stronger academic skills
Are more academically engaged
Demonstrate higher science self-confidence
Display higher levels of cultural competency
Express stronger community involvement
Exhibit increased political engagement

Read the executive summary of Fostering Academic and Social Engagement: an Investigation into the Effects of All-Girls Education in the Transition to University

Collaborative

We provide opportunities for girls to share ideas, solve problems and appreciate diversity of thought. From passionately discussing a topic around a table to designing a project in the makerspace, our approach is designed to deepen students’ ability to work together.

Balanced

We nurture girls’ personal, physical, social, emotional and intellectual development. We meet each girl where she is in her learning journey, and if she’s struggling with a subject or balancing her workload, we guide her to the support or strategies she needs, and help her gain the tools to problem-solve and lead her learning.

Forward Thinking

We have created an environment where teachers can implement new ideas and best practices. Whether it’s introducing new technologies to enrich the way girls learn or creating a new program, we’re constantly learning and finding new ways to educate tomorrow’s leaders.