Rugby will always be competitive from the boys at Stanmore. The opportunity will be given to someone from our diverse community to enhance their education.
The School Council are exploring several demographic issues – one being the potential for co-education – that might shape Newington’s future.
Headmaster Michael Parker is a strong advocate for improving academic performances and results throughout the school. Unlike his predecessor Dr David Mulford was advocate for improving both academic and co curricular results. During his reign (2009-2018) the school won rugby premierships in 2010, 2012, 2013 co premiership with Scots, 2015 co premiership with Scots.
Maybe 2022 will be the year that Newington will win their first premiership under the reign of Mr Michael Parker.
Hello Love to Scrum
Yes I heard from the school council by a email for the Newington Community about the Issue of co-education. As an Old Boy, I don't believe there is much support for Co-Education for a number reasons. Firstly, will it take away places from boys, whose parents are planning to enrol their sons at Newington. On that point alone I believe Co-education will not occur. Newington has for some years now had an enrolment of 240-250 boys entering into Year 7. So clearly the Newington brand for parents is a popular one. Quick Hands provided some numbers, that said the school was booked out until at least 2027( My apologies QH if Have miss quoted the years). So the entry of girls into the College is likely to meet strong resistance, if the place of boys is threatened.
Next, I believe Newington has a tremendous relationship with MLC our sister school. Many of the so-called benefits of Coeducation occur already. For instance Both school have a joint Cadet Corps. For me personally, I got a great coeducational experience on Strathfield Railway Station socialising with the Ladies from MLC and PLC.
Next, as a teacher I can assure you, that the benefits of Co-education are greatly exaggerated. In fact, I have seen first hand that it can be an immensely negative experience. As Girls can be intimidated by the Boys.
The lost of places to girls, will mean a lost of sporting depth in our school teams. So Rugby, Soccer, in fact, I suspect all boys sports supporters will not welcome coeducation.
The cost of coeducation will not be cheap. More female teachers will be required to implement and operate the influx of girls. Plus, infrastructure such as Bathrooms, Change Rooms would also need to be build.
Next, if Newington was to add girls, on top the existing boys numbers, I doubt the school could could cope, unless, a costly rebuilding programme was under taken. Such an outlay would be better spent on Newington's core values of educating boys.
In this regard, the introduction of Male centred subjects should be given priority. Subjects such as Global Politics, Defence Studies, Studies in the Indo- Asia Pacific Region need to be introduced into Newington, In fact all Boys Schools need to make such a commitment to these subjects.
Politically, Coeducation would not be appreciated by Girl's Schools such as MLC and PLC. As it would impact on their enrolments.
I could go on, but the reality is there are simply too many negatives for the implmentation of coeducation at Newington.
