The school hopes boys and girls will do better in single sex classes

Pembroke School is asking parents for their permission to run the experiment after research by one of the teachers.

Nationally girls tend to out-perform boys but the opposite is true at the comprehensive school.

Head teacher Frank Ciccotti said maths and sciences were two areas where girls were not fulfilling their potential.

It's quite notable the people who are concerned and don't wish to participate are largely parents of high attaining boys Frank Ciccotti, head teacher

Parents of pupils in years eight and nine have been sent letters asking if they will allow their children to take part.

Some children will continue to be taught in mixed classes so the school can compare if those in single sex lessons have benefited.

Mr Ciccotti told BBC Radio Wales: "There was a study done by one of my teachers funded through a General Teaching Council for Wales bursary into relative attainment for girls in the school.

"She found quite conclusively that there was under attainment and one of the recommended strategies was single sex groupings starting as young as possible.

"We are talking about year eight at the moment, which is 12 and 13-year-olds, and possibly year nine."

Close monitoring

He said he was at a loss to explain why Pembroke School was bucking the national trend of girls out-performing boys.

He said teachers would use different teaching methods in the single sex classes.

"Boys, for example, like short-term targets and close monitoring where as girls like the opportunity to discuss issues surrounding things like science and technology and longer-term project work," he added.

"The reaction from parents is less than I expected.

I think the school needs to understand that this attitude starts right down in primary schools and as children mature earlier their attitudes form earlier Professor David Reynolds

"We sent a letter home to parents of each student and only 10 have returned slips to indicate they don't wish their children to take part.

"It's quite notable the people who are concerned and don't wish to participate are largely parents of high attaining boys.

"Parents of girls seem to be more interested in the idea."

David Reynolds, a professor of education at Exeter University, said he welcomed the experiment at the school.

But he said single sex classes might not solve the problem entirely.

He said the negative attitude of girls towards science and maths was often formed at an early age.

"I think the school needs to understand that this attitude starts right down in primary schools and as children mature earlier their attitudes form earlier," he explained.