Issue details

Change of status for Forest Boys' School, Horsham and St Andrews CE Boys' School, Worthing to co-educational schools

Demand for places at single-sex boys’ schools in West Sussex has been declining in recent years and this is evidenced by a reduction in the overall number of families applying for boys schools as first preferences.  Reduced pupil numbers impacts upon the finances available to schools and thereby on how the school can deliver the opportunities required to both staff and pupils. 

 

To address these issues the governing bodies of The Forest School, Horsham and St Andrew’s CE High School for Boys, Worthing feel that conversion to become co-educational schools will not only enable increased pupil numbers but also increase opportunities for girls and provide a wider range of curriculum benefits for boys through co-educational subjects.

 

The Director of Education & Skills agreed to consult on the proposed significant change of character to alter The Forest School, Horsham from a single sex boys’ school to a co-educational school from September 2021 entry.  At the same time, the Governing Body of St Andrew’s CE High School for Boys, Worthing consulted on changing from a single sex boys’ school to a co-educational school from September 2021 entry. As St Andrew’s CE High School for Boys is a voluntary aided Church school, different regulations regarding who initiates the consultation apply. 

 

The proposed changes would mean the schools will no longer admit only boys as Year 7 pupils from September 2021 and each year of entry thereafter would be co-educational.  There are no changes proposed to have co-educational provision for any of the existing year groups on roll at both schools.  There are also no proposals to alter the single sex girls’ provision at either Millais School, Horsham or Davison CE High School for Girls, Worthing.

 

The consultations took place during June 2020 and the outcome is set out in section 3 of the report.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Affects more than 1 division;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Divisions affected: Broadwater; Horsham East;

Notice of proposed decision first published: 20/05/2020

Decision due: July 2020 by Cabinet Member for Education and Skills

Lead member: Councillor Nigel Jupp nigel.jupp@westsussex.gov.uk

Contact: Graham Olway, Head of Organisation and Planning Email: graham.olway@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 033 022 23029.

Consultation process

Representations concerning this proposed decision can be made to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills via the officer contact, by the beginning of the month in which the decision is due to be taken.

Consultees

Members of the Public

Parents of current and future pupils

Diocese of Chichester

Members

District & Borough Councils

Governing Bodies of local schools

Democratic Services Contact: Wendy Saunders Tel: 033 022 22553

Background3: Best Start in LIfe

Decisions

Background papers

  • None