Latest news with #MillaisSchool
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Girls' school welcomes backtrack on admitting boys
A girls' school in West Sussex said it was pleased council staff "recognise the concerns raised" about a consultation on it becoming co-educational. West Sussex County Council opened a fresh consultation on Thursday about a proposal to admit boys to Millais School in Horsham from 2026. The local authority decided in March to make the change after a previous consultation, despite the school's board opposing the reform. The council abandoned that decision three months later, saying it "concluded that information linked to the consultation was incorrect and misleading". Millais School's headteacher Alison Lodwick said she welcomes the "opportunity for all points of view to be resubmitted and reviewed fully". "Similarly to West Sussex [County Council], Millais want the best educational outcomes for the for young people across our local community," she added. Anyone who wants to give their views has until 18 July to do so. West Sussex County Council said on the consultation website that it "will consider or re-consider all responses and representations, including views previously expressed". The local authority added: "We have acted promptly to concerns raised about the previous process and want to make sure there is time for everyone to respond before the end of the current school year." A cabinet member could make the decision as soon as the end of July but this "will depend upon the responses received", according to the council. Millais School published a policy paper in May 2024 opposing the reform, in which it claimed there were "huge social and emotional benefits" for pupils at girls' schools and the council was proposing a "very major change" to the school's ethos. "We believe passionately that there is crucial space in Horsham for both coeducational and single-sex options to co-exist," the secondary school added. According to the June consultation, Millais School has had excess capacity since 2021, impacting its budget, while some boys in Horsham were sent to schools outside the district. "The pressure for places is likely to increase in the future," the council said. Millais School is the only single-sex school of the four secondaries in Horsham. The Forest School in Horsham was a boys school until West Sussex County Council decided in 2020 to make it co-educational. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Girls' school to accept boys for the first time Pupils could miss out on requested schools Millais School West Sussex County Council
BBC News
10 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Millais School in Horsham welcomes backtrack on admitting boys
A girls' school in West Sussex said it was pleased council staff "recognise the concerns raised" about a consultation on it becoming Sussex County Council opened a fresh consultation on Thursday about a proposal to admit boys to Millais School in Horsham from local authority decided in March to make the change after a previous consultation, despite the school's board opposing the council abandoned that decision three months later, saying it "concluded that information linked to the consultation was incorrect and misleading". Millais School's headteacher Alison Lodwick said she welcomes the "opportunity for all points of view to be resubmitted and reviewed fully"."Similarly to West Sussex [County Council], Millais want the best educational outcomes for the for young people across our local community," she added. Anyone who wants to give their views has until 18 July to do Sussex County Council said on the consultation website that it "will consider or re-consider all responses and representations, including views previously expressed". The local authority added: "We have acted promptly to concerns raised about the previous process and want to make sure there is time for everyone to respond before the end of the current school year."A cabinet member could make the decision as soon as the end of July but this "will depend upon the responses received", according to the council. Boys bused outside Horsham Millais School published a policy paper in May 2024 opposing the reform, in which it claimed there were "huge social and emotional benefits" for pupils at girls' schools and the council was proposing a "very major change" to the school's ethos."We believe passionately that there is crucial space in Horsham for both coeducational and single-sex options to co-exist," the secondary school to the June consultation, Millais School has had excess capacity since 2021, impacting its budget, while some boys in Horsham were sent to schools outside the district."The pressure for places is likely to increase in the future," the council said. Millais School is the only single-sex school of the four secondaries in Forest School in Horsham was a boys school until West Sussex County Council decided in 2020 to make it co-educational.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Girls' school to accept boys for the first time
A girls' school in West Sussex will allow boys to attend despite concerns being raised about the fairness of a consultation on the change. West Sussex County Council confirmed that Millais School in Horsham would become co-educational for the first time from September 2026. The school previously accused the local authority of conducting its consultation "with a preferred outcome already in mind", according to council documents, but declined to comment on Wednesday. Jacquie Russell, the cabinet member who made the decision, said the council had "taken onboard" all consultation responses and that the move was "an exciting opportunity". Year seven boys will join the school from 2026 while current year groups will continue as girls-only. According to a report on the council's first consultation, conducted in 2024, 53% of the more than 2,100 survey responses supported the change. Respondents to a further consultation in January, including Millais School's board of governors, raised concerns about the fairness of the previous survey. The council said in a March report that the process was "strictly in accordance" with Department for Education guidelines. Although Millais School declined to comment on Wednesday, it published a separate policy paper in May 2024 opposing West Sussex County Council's proposal. It claimed in the document that there were "huge social and emotional benefits" for pupils at girls' schools and the council was proposing a "very major change" to the school's ethos. "We believe passionately that there is crucial space in Horsham for both coeducational and single-sex options to co-exist," the school added. Russell, education cabinet member, said on Tuesday that demand for places at Millais was declining while there was a shortfall of local school places for boys. The councillor added that the council had "worked closely with the school throughout this process". "Together, we will ensure the move to co-educational lessons is as seamless as possible," she said. Russell declared a personal interest for the decision "as a family member attends Millais School", according to the decision notice. Other councillors have until 3 April to request the decision is reconsidered. Millais School is the only single-sex school of the four secondaries in Horsham. The Forest School in Horsham was a boys school until West Sussex County Council decided in 2020 to make it coeducational. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Pupils could miss out on requested schools Academy trust to hand over schools after money row Class disruption affects learning at Academy, Ofsted Millais School West Sussex County Council
