Supreme Court clears the way for Newington College to accept female students
The Supreme Court has shot down a legal bid to stop a 162-year-old school for male students in Sydney's inner west from accepting females next year onwards.
Newington College, an affluent private school with more than 2,000 male students in Stanmore, announced plans to become co-educational in late 2023.
But some students, parents and alumni — commonly called 'old boys' — were outraged by the decision, circulating a petition before launching a court action in the Supreme Court of NSW.
The case was brought by Student A — who attended the school and had their identity suppressed by the court to protect their privacy — as he was against the Newington College Council and 25 other defendants.
Lawyers for Student A claimed the school was formed to teach males, pointing to a trust deed from 1873 that described Newington College as "an efficient college for youth", arguing "the term 'youth' is limited to the advancement of education of boys and young men".
Justice Guy Parker dismissed the argument in Wednesday's ruling.
"I have concluded that the word 'youth' in the 1873 trust deed was used in a gender-neutral sense, and does not mandate male-only enrolment at the college," he said.
The Save Newington College group issued a statement mere minutes after the ruling, expressing their disappointment.
"Today's decision, while respected, is at odds with the understanding held by generations of Old Boys, parents, staff, and community members — that Newington was founded, funded and entrusted as a school for boys, consistent with the original deeds," the statement read.
"The campaign by Student A to protect Newington's heritage has never been about resisting change.
The Newington College Council can now forge ahead with accepting enrolments in the school, where tuition ranges from $26,217 for kindergarten to $45,369 for years 11 and 12.
Female students can join the primary school in 2026 and the secondary school from 2028, with the institution to become completely coeducational by 2030.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
25 minutes ago
- ABC News
US demands Australia lifts defence spending
The United States has demanded Australia lift its defence spending to almost $100 billion a year "as soon as possible", saying Australia must do more to support the US in the Indo-Pacific.
News.com.au
26 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Mat Ryan positive about chances of securing another club contract in Europe
Mat Ryan's club career is again in limbo, but the Socceroos captain isn't concerned, confident he will secure a contract in Europe next season. The 33-year-old goalkeeper's contract with French club Lens expires this month and he's 'waiting' for news about his future. Ryan only joined Lens in January from Roma, where he only made one competitive appearance in a tough six-month spell at the Italian club. The former Central Coast Mariners custodian has bounced around Europe in recent seasons, with Lens – where he made 14 appearances – having been his fifth club in four years. However, as he prepares for the Socceroos' FIFA World Cup qualifier in Perth on Thursday night against Japan, Ryan is 'feeling at ease' about his future. 'I'm just waiting,' he said. 'We're in that period now where the transfer window opened on the first of June, so I'm not too worried. 'I go out there and try my best, and everything sorts itself out at the end of the day. That's been the trend throughout my career, so I'm feeling quite at ease about that, and just focused on the job at hand with the Socceroos. 'I'm feeling good, and I'm feeling still quite young. I've just got to continue to do the job and prove that I'm a world-class goalkeeper through my performances, and the rest will take care of itself. 'I'm hungrier than I've ever been before. I want to live the best life possible, and I want to have the best career I can possibly have, and I dedicate my life to that.' Ryan was also positive about the Socceroos' chances of beating Japan for the first time in 11 matches, with Australia's most recent win over the Samurai Blue being a 2-1 victory in Melbourne in June 2009. Depending on the result of Saudi Arabia's away clash with Bahrain on Friday morning (AEST), a Socceroos win, or even draw., on Thursday night could be enough to secure 2026 World Cup qualification. Perhaps helping Australia's cause will be the decision of Japan – who have already qualified for the World Cup – to leave a host of its best players at home. 'Anything that they do doesn't impact my confidence,' Ryan said. 'I'm just focused on what we do here and focused on what we can control. 'You've got to go out there and believe that you can overcome whatever challenge is in front of you, and obviously there's a fine line without being arrogant and being complacent. 'In my eyes, we're the best in Asia. If you don't believe you're the best, then you're failing at the first hurdle.'
ABC News
31 minutes ago
- ABC News
Alleged victim defends calling NSW MP Gareth Ward 'love' after alleged sexual assault
A political staffer has told a trial he was "overcompensating" when he referred to former NSW minister Gareth Ward as "love", more than a year after he was allegedly sexually assaulted by Mr Ward. The member for the NSW South Coast seat of Kiama Gareth Ward is standing trial accused of sexually abusing two men, aged 18 and 24, during two separate incidents in 2015 and 2013. Last week the court heard from the 24-year-old man who alleged he was raped by Mr Ward inside the politician's Potts Point apartment in September 2015. At the start of the second week of the trial in the NSW District Court in Sydney, defence barrister David Campbell SC cross-examined the man. He told the court about messages exchanged between the alleged victim and ward in 2016 and 2017. The court heard the complainant sent a text message to the accused in early 2017, in which he referred to the MP as "love". "Why did you use the word 'love?" Mr Campbell asked. "I often use words like 'love' and 'dear' to everyone in my circle … it's just something that I do. It's not love as in physical love," he responded. Mr Campbell told the term was a "form of endearment". "This is not the language used when feeling uncomfortable, or someone who said they had been sexually assaulted without consent," he said. The complainant responded that "they may have been words used by somebody who is overcompensating". The court heard the complainant had only brief encounters with Mr Ward following the alleged assault. The man was also asked about whether he recalled attending a party. "I don't recall," the man responded. "What I want to suggest is it's the sort of occurrence that wouldn't slip from your mind later. Do you have a problem with your memory?" Mr Campbell asked. "I don't think so, this was nine years ago," the man replied. The trial continues.
