Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, under what circumstances gender segregation of boys and girls in the classroom is permitted in schools; and if he will issue revised guidance on this matter to Ofsted.

A co-educational school adopting a policy of separation on the basis of sex, which treated girls less favourably than boys (or vice versa), would be acting unlawfully under the Equality Act 2010. The Department for Education has issued advice to schools on the application of the Equality Act 2010:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools

As this guidance states, it is possible to justify separate classes in exceptional circumstances, for example in delivering elements of sex and relationship education, or for PE. In all other cases, the Department expects co-educational schools to teach boys and girls in mixed classes and not to treat them differently because of their gender.

Inspectors take into account guidance issued to schools by the Department, including the existing guidance on the Equality Act 2010. We would expect them to question a school about any segregation of pupils by gender to ensure that this is only taking place in exceptional circumstances as outlined by the Equality Act.