Decision details

Millais is a Local Authority maintained single sex girls’ secondary school in Horsham for pupils aged 11-16.  Demand for places at the school has been declining in recent years, evidenced by a reduction in the overall number of families applying for a place at the school as first preference.  Reduced pupil numbers impact upon the finances available to schools and thereby on how the school can deliver opportunities for both staff and pupils. 

In addition, there has been a shortage of secondary pupil places for boys in the Horsham area and consequently some boys have had to be allocated places in schools outside the District.  It is the responsibility of the Local Authority to provide sufficient places for all children in the area.

To address these issues it is proposed that an initial consultation takes place to seek views on changing the status of Millais School from a single sex girls’ school to a co-educational school with the first co-educational cohort admitted from September 2026.  Approval is now sought to proceed with launching the initial consultation process. 

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Learning and Skills has:-

(1)Approved the launch of a public consultation, in accordance with the Department for Education’s Making significant changes ('prescribed alterations') to maintained schools, to seek views on the proposals to: change the status of Millais School from a single sex girls’ school to a co-educational boys’ and girls’ school from September 2026.

The Cabinet Member has declared a personal interest as a family member attends Millais School.