Worthing boys’ school could turn coeducational

A Worthing boys’ school could be turned coeducational from next year.
St Andrew's WorthingSt Andrew's Worthing
St Andrew's Worthing

According to the county council, the governing body is set to consult on the major change to St Andrew’s CE High School for Boys, which would see it accept girls from September 2021.

From then on, each year of entry would be coeducational, but there would not no changes for any of the existing year groups already on the school roll.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There are no proposals to make similar changes at Davison CE High School for Girls, which could continue to be a girls’ school.

Louise Welcome, headteacher at St Andrew’s, said: “This is potentially an exciting time for St Andrew’s and the wider Worthing community. The opportunities that this change would present if the consultation’s outcome were that the school becomes co-educational are multi-faceted.

“It’s equally important to us that parents who had deliberately chosen a boys-only option for their children will largely still retain this as we would not admit girls into existing year groups. 

“There are exciting curriculum plans afoot that are intended to inspire boys and girls alike; these will be widely shared and communicated after the consultation. The first girls would be ‘pioneers’ and, as such, those who choose St Andrew’s will have a unique opportunity to shape their new secondary school.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Of course, St Andrew’s first opened its doors as a co-educational school and so, in many ways, it would be a return to its roots. For the new co-educational intake it would mean that primary friendships and allegiances can be maintained and, of course, both boys and girls will immediately be used to each other’s company.  The Governors and Leadership of the School are very sensitive to the needs of the entire St Andrew’s community. 

“We will work closely with our current wonderful boys and staff to ensure that if St Andrew’s becomes co-educational from September 2021 it does so successfully, building on the very best bits of our existing community and forging a new future for the school and the educational provision in Worthing.”

Following an assessment of the outcome of the consultation West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for education and skills will be asked to consider whether to proceed in approving the significant change.

The proposals were revealed in the council’s forward plan of key decisions.

What do you think of the proposals? Email the newsdesk.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The county council is expected to announce further details soon.

St Andrew’s has been approached for comment.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.