Co-education
"Our girls have LOVED their first week at Solefield, so a huge thank you to all the staff and pupils around for making it such a welcoming environment." Parent
Solefield School – a true love of learning....for boys and girls
After much demand from parents, Solefield School became co-ed from January 2024. Girls, alongside boys, were invited to enjoy the excellent pastoral, academic and sport provision at Solefield from our Little Acorns Pre-School to Year 3 inclusive. Astonishingly (and much quicker than imagined!), girls make up 50% of our Reception and we have girls in all other classes up to and including Year 4. In under a year, girls already make up 30% of numbers overall for our co-ed classes.
Here are some of your questions answered about this exciting change.
Why did Solefield decide to do this?
Solefield School has a history of listening to parents and pupils and taking their feedback seriously. For years now, parents have been indicating that there is a very clear need in the area for a ‘Solefield equivalent for girls’; that is, a kind, gentle school where each individual is cherished and lessons are bespoke, fun, hands-on and exciting, plus a focus on wellbeing and mental health. We pride ourselves on being the only co-educational school in central Sevenoaks, with easy access to mainline Sevenoaks station.
I have heard that both girls and boys benefit from being taught in a particular way. Is this true?
Our tailored lessons and small class sizes mean we know each child and can teach them in the best way for them, whether a boy or girl, and stretch, extend and support them as appropriate, as they work through their academic journey. We give individualised activities, feedback and targets for each pupil and work very closely with pupils and parents. Staff are hardworking, dedicated and experts in their field.
Do the pupils simply have to participate in sports that are traditionally seen as more popular with one gender?
Not at all. We have a diverse programme of netball, football, rugby, gymnastics, swimming, hockey, table tennis, cross country, athletics, dance and basketball (we are Under 11 national basketball champions). Girls & boys can all enjoy all of these sports, and we are delighted that girls’ numbers are continuing to grow so are developing netball and hockey teams in 2025. Our coaches, both male and female, are expert and dedicated.
What subjects do girls and boys study?
Lessons are varied, exciting, differentiated and adapted to individual strengths. Pupils in small classes of under 16 pupils enjoy VR headsets, practical experiments, a STEM curriculum and computing, French, Music, Drama and Art lessons with subject specialists from their very first few weeks with us. Sport, lots of extra clubs, a beautiful library space and passion for reading and chess lessons within the timetable and lots of love and care from staff who are academically ambitious for each child complete the picture.
What about your academic results?
Although largely non-selective, we feed some of the best grammar and independent schools in the country and enjoy a 95% pass at 11+, with over 70% of these accepted to the local super-selective grammars.
I have heard that boys and girls need to be taught differently.
At Solefield, every pupil is treated as an individual, irrespective of gender. Kindness is emphasised here and Solefield pupils are gentle and caring. Our parent body are extremely supportive about this too. We do not shout at the children and have high standards and expectations of behaviour. The school is a quiet, focused and purposeful environment where children feel safe and happy. Happy children learn.
What about friendships if there are only a few girls in a year group?
Being such a small community, everyone at Solefield knows each other by name, with the older pupils mentoring the younger ones. Girls and boys mix together happily and have formed firm friendships. Similarly-aged year groups mix for choir, sport, playtimes, drama, Forest School, chess (everyone here is in the sports teams, plays and choir) and our 40+ club provision each term means that children mix well across the school. Excellent staff ratios mean that we are able to keep a very close eye on friendships and deal with any issues quickly. Our parent body is also quick to welcome new families.
Are there are mix of both male and female teachers?
We have about 40% male staff to 60% female. All of our teachers have taught co-ed before and are confident and comfortable doing so.
What facilities are there for girls?
Boys and girls have their own toilets and changing area. There are a wide variety of playtime toys and activities and many sporting facilities. All the children can choose whether to use our beautiful library at breaktimes (popular for chess and Lego as well as reading with friends) or to play outside.
Some girls’ schools finish at the end of Yr 6. What about Solefield?
Parents would have the freedom to choose whether to leave Solefield at the end of Year 6 or Year 8.
What about future schools?
Many of our pupils move on to co-ed schools like Sevenoaks and Caterham. We would still work very hard with each family to find the right next school for them. The Head has worked in several senior independent schools and so has insider knowledge of these.
What about anxious learners?
With our wellbeing curriculum, wellbeing dogs, bespoke emotional health lessons and strong pastoral care, we are one of the few schools in the country to hold the National Wellbeing Award for Schools, fulfilling rigorous, external criteria and audits to remain a leader in this important field. We also offer workshops and talks for parents – please see the Wellbeing Resources Section in the Parent Area of our website.
What about anxious eaters?
We try to make sure that all food served here is organic, locally sourced and cooked on site. Pupils sit in a family-style at lunch and can choose their main course. There is also a salad bar, fresh bread and fruit available every day. Caterers know all pupils well, just as all the staff do.
How do you support families?
Breakfast Club, After School Care and our fun, small holiday camps run by Solefield staff mean that parents can trust their children are looked after well while they are at work. We are transparent, honest and supportive in giving feedback regarding progress and future schools. Our regular anonymous surveys at Solefield for parents, pupils and staff enable us to improve areas of school life and act on constructive feedback. As well as commenting on the excellent communication from the school, parents in all years consistently report that their children are engaged in the classroom, have a love of learning and are encouraged to aim high. 100% of parents. Without exception.
Solefield pupils, whether 3 or 13, girls or boys, are given exactly what they need, as individuals, to thrive academically, physically, socially and emotionally, building strong roots for a very healthy and happy future and many memories for life for all the family.
