One of Australia’s most prestigious private schools makes bombshell decision – upending more than 160 years of tradition

An exclusive all-boys private school is about to upend more than 160 years of tradition by admitting female students.

Newington College, located in the western Sydney suburb of Stanmore, plans to become fully co-educational by 2033.

The first girls will be admitted to kindergarten and fifth grade from 2026, and gradually to other lower grades.

The senior campus will admit the first girls to Year 7 and Year 11 in 2028.

Newington College, located in the western Sydney suburb of Stanmore, plans to become fully co-educational by 2033.

The Uniting Church school, which charges annual fees of $38,884 for years 11 and 12, first floated the idea of ​​teaching girls in February 2022, as it looked for ways to be more culturally and socio-economically diverse to become.

School president Tony McDonald announced the move, which he said was unanimously approved by the board, notifying staff and parents directly via a letter.

“We believe this decision is what is best for the long-term future of Newington, and especially for the future of all the young people we are educating now, and of the students who will join us in the years to come,” the wrote Mr McDonald.

Mr McDonald said extensive consultation had taken place, including workshops with current students, research into alumni feelings on size and co-education, facilitated by the Old Boys Union and other private boys’ schools.

“The decision was made with great confidence in the ability to make Newington an even better school. It has been carefully staged so that we can endorse both our current and future directions,” he said.

‘We have conducted extensive consultations, research and gathered evidence.

“We looked at how we could maintain our inclusivity, what the optimal size for the school was and whether co-ed was the preferred option for the school.”

Last year, another venerable private school for boys, Cranbrook, also decided to become fully coeducational, which it aims to do by 2026.

The college was opened in 1863 by the predecessor of the Uniting Church, the Methodist Church.

Four Catholic schools in Sydney’s Inland, Maroubra and North Coast have also moved to co-education in recent years, while Barker College became fully co-educational last year.

Opened by its Uniting Church predecessor the Methodist Church in 1863, Newington is a member of the Athletics Association of Great Public Schools, a historic sporting association of boys’ schools, normally abbreviated to GPS.

Sports stars and former politicians are among its alumni, including ex-NSW Deputy Prime Minister Ian Armstrong and NRL players such as Joel Luani and Cameron Murray.