TEACHERS PERCEPTIONS OF THE SEX IMPLEMENTATION OF SINGLE-SEX CLASSES IN COEDUCATIONAL SCHOOLS

This paper reports research conducted as part of the Single-Sex Educat ion Pilot Project (SSEPP) which was undertaken in 1993-1994 in Western Australia. The project involved the implementation of single-sex scie nce and/or mathematics in ten coeducational secondary schools. Unlike previous similar initiatives, the SSEPP included professional developm ent for the teachers involved and systematic monitoring. The paper pre sents an analysis of teachers' reactions to and perceptions of the SSE PP. It gives voice to teachers' views of the major issues which arose during the project, concerning outcomes for students, school organisat ion, teacher professional development, community response and sustaina bility of the change.