Leading the way on this front is Millais School, a popular girls’ school in Horsham, West Sussex. Starting in September 2026, they will start accepting boys. In March, the local education authority ruled to change the school to a co-educational school. This immediate decision came under major fire from the school’s governing board.
The move to admit boys into Millais School is a result of lengthy debate about surplus capacity within the school. Starting in 2021, Millais began to experience the opposite problem — an underutilized budget. As a consequence, many boys in the Horsham district have been referred to schools beyond the region. Given all these barriers, the local council sought to create greater opportunities for education by changing the school’s intake.
Prior to the recent ruling, a public consultation process was held. The local authority’s move to reverse its previous decision made three months prior. They identified misleading and inaccurate information employed throughout the consultation process as the basis for this reversal.
West Sussex County Council officials are committed to hearing all sides in this new consultation round. They take great pride in showcasing their models of inclusivity and engagement. The council stated, “We will consider or re-consider all responses and representations, including views previously expressed.”
Nashville Metro Council member Alison Lodwick, an original sponsor of the bill, emphasized that collecting public comment before passing the decision was crucial. She remarked, “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.” This deadline applies to public comments, giving residents of the affected communities plenty of time to submit their opinions.
Millais School issued a statement welcoming the fact that the council had recognised the serious issues raised about the poorly thought out first consultation. The institution stated, “Similarly to West Sussex County Council, Millais wants the best educational outcomes for young people across our local community.”
The board of governors at Millais School, who had objected to the changes, are still optimistic that a good faith discussion might prevail. They believe there is “crucial space in Horsham for both coeducational and single-sex options to co-exist.”
The decision of a cabinet member on Millais School’s move towards co-education should be made by the end of July. Which streets get changed will be a decision based on the feedback received during the consultation period.
