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.

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