Have your say on plans for two boys’ schools to become mixed

Views are being sought on proposals that would see two boys’ secondary schools become co-educational.

The plans for The Forest School in Horsham and St Andrew’s CE High School for Boys in Worthing are supported by governors and leaders at both schools. Parents have been informed and a public consultation opened today (June 1, 2020).

If approved, the schools would begin welcoming girls as well as boys into Year 7 from September 2021.

Nigel Jupp, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “We are exploring options for these schools to become co-educational and believe this could benefit both school communities.

“Governors are supportive of these proposals and now we want to hear from parents, pupils, those who might go to these schools in the future, and the wider public so we can make a decision based on a wide range of opinions.”

The change would also give female pupils living in Worthing and Horsham a greater choice when deciding where they want to go to secondary school.

Ian Straw, headteacher at The Forest School, said: “Here at The Forest School we are all absolutely delighted at the prospect of being able to open our doors to all students, both boys and girls, from September 2021.

“Our Forest Family has worked hard over the past year and a half to make some real and tangible improvements to not only our school, but our community as a whole.

“We have so much to offer and feel that all students should have access to what we are creating here at our school.”

Louise Welcome, headteacher at St Andrews, said: “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.”

No changes are proposed for any of the existing year groups at both schools and there are no proposals to alter the single-sex girls’ schools Millais School in Horsham or Davison CE High School for Girls in Worthing.

People can now take part in the consultation on the West Sussex County Council website from June 1-29. The Cabinet Member will assess all of the feedback before making a decision in late July.