A Real and Quiet Confidence

Jonathon Moloney is the dad of two Woodleigh girls. He takes education seriously, but not just for the trophy at the end. His decision regarding where to send his daughters was never between co-ed and single-sex or public versus private. It was bigger and more nuanced. He wanted to find the place where his girls would thrive, be supported and continue to develop their own voices, things we all want for our kids - things that will make a difference to their lives. It so happened that for him, that place was Woodleigh. So, was co-ed a choice? Not necessarily. Was co-ed a good outcome? Yes. 

Jonathon's daughters, Mia and Allegra, are different people with different sensibilities. Woodleigh sees their difference and educates them for the people they are, not for their gender. Woodleigh is Victoria's oldest co-educational independent school and its values have never been vague. Since it opened its doors in 1856, there has been a clear purpose for the education offered here. A Woodleigh education can "inspire independent and critical thought and balance rules and expectations with the freedom to explore and learn from failures," something that earned praise from Jonathan before his girls began and still now, as they continue their education at Woodleigh. "The values underpinning the educational philosophy at Woodleigh align with what I believe enables all children to develop to their full potential."

Having joined Penbank in Year 5, Jonathon's eldest daughter Allegra has reached Year 11. Hers is a candid account of the good, the bad and the sometimes smelly (Lynx Africa anyone?) experiences of a Woodleigh co-education. 

Did she choose co-ed? Does she like co-ed? "Not necessarily, and yes." Along the way, there was a blip - a time in Year 9 when "all kids get a bit feral" - and she considered moving to an all-girls school in the city. In her mind, she had good reason; Allegra thought she should narrow her focus to one clear goal: studying law. Nothing if not determined, she reconsidered before making the move, realising that the adventurous life at Woodleigh is not a distraction from her aspirations but an advantage. The perspectives and experiences her education offers feed and fuel her goal of studying law rather than taking from it. Her broad interests across conservation, music, public speaking, volunteering, human rights and law – a sophisticated load for a teen - evolved in the mix of her robust daily life at Woodleigh, the daily mix of voices and perspectives and the endless opportunities to push and be pushed, to grow, speak and be heard.

At first look, outdoor education might not seem the invaluable piece of the learning pie that it is. Throughout each students’ time at Woodleigh, they will be nudged beyond what's comfortable. This peaks in Year 10, when everyone is sent to Hattah for eight days to navigate and survive in small groups. In Allegra's experience, it's an example of how working together towards a common goal (staying alive!) creates a real understanding of shared responsibility.  Hattah is hard. "After Hattah, everyone's sort of on an equal playing field... something about you does change. Like the way you look at the world, the way you look at other people or the way you want to go about your life," and that's powerful because it's real. 

No one place is perfect, and personality and sensibilities count. For Allegra, a mixed-gender, mixed-perspective, surprising, brave and supportive community like Woodleigh has completely enriched her school years. As in broader society, there have been occasional exceptions to the rule. However, she speaks of male peers as supportive and respectful and social dynamics as overwhelmingly inclusive and empathetic, challenging stereotypes associated with gender-segregated environments. "I've got friends that go to all-girls schools, and they act like guys are some big, dramatic, scary thing... I've been to co-ed schools my whole life. And I'm like, they're just guys." 

We don't churn kids in and churn them out at Woodleigh. To be understood genuinely, students grow and develop securely amongst all the personalities, perspectives and dynamics, whether they wear Lynx Africa or not. The right fit will differ for each child, and families have choices. Still, as we untangle the systems and complexities of education, the values of inclusivity, mutual respect and real-world preparedness seem a no-brainer.

Co-education at Woodleigh equips our kids with real and quiet confidence. It fuels aspirations, broadens perspectives, enriches strength and viewpoints, reminds us of who we are, reminds us of similarity and difference and develops a level of comfort with disagreement, all with an evolving sense of self and equality, which can only benefit everyone.