Year 9 students in New Zealand's secondary schools recently underwent a study comparing their performance in maths and science.

The research, conducted by the Mathematics Education Unit at the University of Auckland, revealed intriguing results.

At single-sex schools, students showed superior performance in maths and science compared to their counterparts in co-ed schools.

Notably, girls in particular excelled, showcasing remarkable achievements in these subjects.

"This really surprised us," expressed Dr. Tanya Evans from the Mathematics Education Unit at the University of Auckland.

"We expected boys to do better, in line with international studies, but the results for girls were unexpected."

The study analysed data from over 5,900 first-year secondary school students, sourced from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019.

The standout performers were girls attending low-decile single-sex schools, surpassing their peers in 26 low-decile co-ed schools.

This unexpected outcome has sparked interest and curiosity among researchers.

"This is remarkable," stated Evans. "There is something very special happening at those two girls-only schools that enables maths and science achievement despite the odds."

While boys at single-sex schools consistently outperformed their co-ed counterparts across all socioeconomic levels, the situation for girls was more nuanced.

The effect was strongest among girls in lower socioeconomic single-sex schools.

The researchers speculate that single-sex schools may be better at dispelling negative stereotypes about girls' abilities, contributing to their academic success in maths and science.

However, they caution against drawing definitive conclusions about the superiority of single-sex environments.

"It's too soon to say that single-sex environments are better for learning maths and science," highlighted Evans. "More research is needed to fully understand the dynamics at play."

Factors such as selection bias and the duration of the study period need to be considered before making conclusive statements about the efficacy of single-sex schooling.

In New Zealand, single-sex schools are a significant part of the education landscape, comprising approximately 14% of both girls' and boys' secondary schools.

Unlike in some other countries, most single-sex schools in New Zealand are state-funded.

The Mathematics Education Unit at the University of Auckland continues to investigate the teaching and learning of maths and statistics at various educational levels, aiming to shed light on effective strategies for academic success.

The TIMSS data used in the study ensures the anonymity of individual schools, maintaining confidentiality while enabling valuable research insights.

The study's findings underscore the importance of ongoing research in education to identify effective strategies for improving academic outcomes, particularly in subjects like maths and science.