Backlash as private school moves to become mixed

A private school's decision to go fully co-educational has been met with some backlash from parents.

Both the primary school and sixth form at Dame Allan's Schools in Newcastle have mixed boys and girls for more than 40 years, whereas its secondary schools have been single sex.

But from September 2026, the school will gradually become fully co-educational.

One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said they worried pastoral care at the school would be affected. The school said the move was made to protect its future.

The parent said boys and girls, especially during their formative teenage years, faced different challenges and so needed different types of support.

The current system "caters for that", he said.

He also said he was disappointed in the lack of communication over the school's decision.

"This has not been raised as a potential area for change prior to the announcement," he said.

Another parent said they had not signed up for the mixing of sexes at the school. "We're not happy," they said.

But other parents, who also wished to remain anonymous, backed the changes.

"I think it's a good thing," one parent said. "We need to embrace change."

The school, which charges fees of up to £20,703 a year, said from September 2026 all its classes would be co-educational, except for those entering Year 11.

The first mixed classes in that year group would be from September 2027, it said.

A spokesperson said it had found that a single sex education was not the reason a majority of parents sent their children to the school, they said.

They said the decision had been made in part to secure the school's financial sustainability.

"This has been communicated extensively, by email, in face-to-face conversations and at a parent forum that the whole school community was invited to attend," they said.

"We are in an ongoing dialogue with teachers, parents and our pupils to make sure the transition to co-education is as smooth as possible."

Other private schools in the region have made similar moves to go fully co-educational in recent months, including Durham High School.

Follow BBC Newcastle on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.