Co-education, Gender Equality and Mental Health

Alleyn’s Head Jane Lunnon joined Simon Noakes on Tuesday 15 June for the latest Inspiring Schools Podcast to discuss the benefits of co-education, gender equality issues and young people's mental health.

Simon quizzed Jane on how her leadership style might have had to change or adapt since her recent move from an all-girls school to Alleyn’s which is co-ed.

Discussing her approach to co-education, Mrs Lunnon said:

“My approach is the same – live adventurously and let's do it together whether we are boys or girls.”

She spoke of the importance of energy and ideas, collaboration and understanding, no matter the make-up of the school. And she advocated the importance of choice because both types of school have pros and cons, such that single sex education is the right thing for some pupils and co-education is right for others.

On the issue of gender equality, Mrs Lunnon said that “Feminism is about justice and equality and one of the most exciting things about coming to Alleyn’s has been to have this conversation with both boys and girls.” She referenced some of the ways Alleyn’s has been supporting and working with pupils to address these important matters, including 100 pupils – with almost as many boys as girls – coming forward to become ‘gender champions’ to help shape the Alleyn’s gender policy and our way forward as well as all-staff training from charity UK Feminista.

Asked whether self-consciousness is exacerbated in a co-ed environment, Mrs Lunnon said:

“What you see on the ground in a co-educational environment is that there is no ‘othering’ another gender - they’re not this strange mysterious and slightly exciting ‘other’ they’re just the people you grow up with.” But she cautioned that across all schools, “body image is a massive problem for young people along with other mental health concerns for both boys and girls.”

Mrs Lunnon explored some of the ways that schools must help young people in this area, especially given the demand for these NHS services has increased by 50% since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

She said: “We need to put our creative thinking caps on about how we deal this. The role of schools is critical to help give kids the confidence to say no and to get out of difficult situations, to understand consent, to understand the legal terminology as well as the implications of what they do.” She continued that schools must work with parents on this: “We’re in it together. There has to be trust between home and school”.

To hear the full Podcast, visit the Inspiring School Podcast Soundcloud page.