NSW AAGPS 2024

[Rudderless]

It’s also probably due to the fact the Newington is close geographically to Meriden, PLC and MLC .. All 3 are some of the best performing academic private schools in the state .. and a lot of the brothers go to Newington …

that should tell u something .

(For the Newington school council) It might be worth reading the newsletter that the then retiring Meriden principal circulated last year. It was staunchly in favour of a girls only school and shared substantial data supporting the position. Meriden is closest to Trinity whose own principal published an oped in the smh in recent weeks …… some schools won’t give into fashion, and stick to the sticking place.

GS and AtA

You both make very relevant points.

As a New OB (Prep and Senior school) I was shocked when I saw the announcement but not surprised.

There has been talk about this move since 2021, just 2 years after Michael Parker took over the reins as Headmaster in 2019. The previous Headmaster Dr David Mulford guided the school from 2008 to 2018.

Newington's focus on utilizing its limited Stanmore footprint whilst expanding infrastructure for its boys in Years 7 to 12 many years ago resulted in the Prep School (Wyvern K-6) being relocated streets away from the Main Campus, the Boarding House was watered down to a maximum of 50 (and limited to Years 9 to 12, some who are Sydney boys who only frequent the house Mon to Fri) which also was relocated streets away.

The question is why now ?

It's not because of low enrolment numbers, it's not because they are suffering financially, and I don't believe the argument it will somehow make them better human beings in society. If that was the case (and has been mentioned previously..........why aren't Girls-Only Schools converting to Co-ed ???).
The Council has trumpeted about the sudden interest in enrolment applications, might it be more convenient for a family to have siblings at the same school or are they on long waiting lists at PLC MLC and Meriden and this is Plan B ?

My son has just completed Year 12 at the Kings School as a full boarder (since Year 7). As a regional family the lack of boarder numbers at New and a start date in Year 9 was a joke.

Maybe this social compass the Headmaster and Council are jawboning about to make Newington's 'boys to men' better citizen's, maybe some of this coin they have allocated to spend on transitioning the school would be better spent bringing Boarding back on-site with healthy numbers (250+).

The interaction of my son with his 'Sydney' mates has both shaped each other for the better. He gets invited to Sydney family home's, in the holidays he reciprocates at our property 3 hours away.
In regard to interacting with girls his age, I can't keep up with the number of girls he knows, meets, celebrates parties with. This BS about Boys-Only schools living in a social cocoon is rubbish. Yes he's an extravert but for a kid living at a school 7 days a week in Parramatta for the last 6 years, goodness he sure has a lot of female friends.

Finally, if this decision does go thru, New's rugby results will suffer. They can either replicate the Barker College playbook or expect to see the 1st XV line up with Syd Boys High and Grammar in the 3rds.

 

[Lindommer]

It’s also probably due to the fact the Newington is close geographically to Meriden, PLC and MLC.

You omitted Santa Sabina at Strathfield. Former students from SS are shining ATM, including the Chief Scientist for the federal government. There are a goodish number of families who choose the most appropriate school for their sons and/or daughters, Catholic or otherwise.

This list of independent girls' schools in the inner west (to which we should add Danebank in Hurstville and St Scholastica's in Glebe) makes Newington's decision to go co-ed seem strange. As Newington was established by an act of the NSW Parliament in the mid-19th century the objectors to the co-ed decision might have a point.

 

[GPS Observer]

Rugby results at New may well suffer if they go co-ed. Granted. As much as I love rugby, its not the game of the future, its been bleeding slowly for decades. The sports of today and tomorrow, on the world stage, are football, basketball , swimming , tennis , athletics, rowing and, to a lesser extent, cricket . All these sports have a huge female interest and New has done very well consistently in most of them. I think a co-ed New can be a sporting powerhouse.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Valid point.

This is a Rugby site though so naturally our thoughts are towards that.

Sad that Rugby can’t be as attractive since we have won Olympic Gold in 7s and you can bet the NRLW wouldn’t mind female talent being centralised as well.

 

[Done that]

It’s also probably due to the fact the Newington is close geographically to Meriden, PLC and MLC .. All 3 are some of the best performing academic private schools in the state .. and a lot of the brothers go to Newington …

that should tell u something .

Meridan is the sister school of Trinity, & interacts with that school in a number of inter school activities on a regular basis, & I believe that PLC also shares some programmes with Trinity.

 

[Goosestep]

Meridian is the sister school of Trinity, & interacts with that school in a number of inter school activities on a regular basis, & I believe that PLC also shares some programmes with Trinity.

My point is there is a lot of academic talent at those girls schools …

something im sure played a factor for going co-ed… if they can attract potential students from the same talent pool, it will only help the schools academic rankings … Its a very competitive market these days .
Its obvious they see more upside in this, than say rugby ..

 

[Agent]

got it! thanks
Now the most important question is what is their rugby program like? Scots Bathurst were pretty rugby mad from what I recall.

They have a rugby program but it isn’t strong. Think they might be second division of ISA.

 

[DaSchmooze]

They have a rugby program but it isn’t strong. Think they might be second division of ISA.

Correct. ISA Div 2

 

[Homer]

Rugby results at New may well suffer if they go co-ed. Granted. As much as I love rugby, its not the game of the future, its been bleeding slowly for decades. The sports of today and tomorrow, on the world stage, are football, basketball , swimming , tennis , athletics, rowing and, to a lesser extent, cricket . All these sports have a huge female interest and New has done very well consistently in most of them. I think a co-ed New can be a sporting powerhouse.

Agree completely. Everyone says the rugby will drop but the women's rugby will take off (and rowing and football etc). This is a great opportunity for the sport to expand training alongside an established rugby program will only be beneficial. I actually think the boys program will improve because of it.
There are a number of western and inner western clubs that contribute a lot of numbers to New, but the girls get left behind, now they can continue together, and there is some unreal talent there.

 

[AroundTheAnkles]

Agree completely. Everyone says the rugby will drop but the women's rugby will take off (and rowing and football etc). This is a great opportunity for the sport to expand training alongside an established rugby program will only be beneficial. I actually think the boys program will improve because of it.
There are a number of western and inner western clubs that contribute a lot of numbers to New, but the girls get left behind, now they can continue together, and there is some unreal talent there.

How will boys benefit from diluting resources so girls can train along side them? Unless Newington magics up some additional inner west playing fields the zero sum nature of such things will mean the boys can train less or they will have fewer teams or both.

 

[Goosestep]

Agree completely. Everyone says the rugby will drop but the women's rugby will take off (and rowing and football etc). This is a great opportunity for the sport to expand training alongside an established rugby program will only be beneficial. I actually think the boys program will improve because of it.
There are a number of western and inner western clubs that contribute a lot of numbers to New, but the girls get left behind, now they can continue together, and there is some unreal talent there.

Hmmm , i dont know…

hockey, football , rowing, swimming definitely ..

Rugby ? Doubtful

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Water Polo is going to get even better there. Popular sport in the Inner West.

 

[Goosestep]

Water Polo is going to get even better there. Popular sport in the Inner West.

Forgot that …. 100%

 

[RedOrDead]

Also interesting to note that there isn't any independent girls schools rushing to open the doors to boys. I wonder why that is?

Pretty simple... Statistics show boys learn better in co-ed environments and girls don't.

As for the rest of you sooks. If you don't like co-ed schools, don't send your kids there. As someone who attended both, I think co-ed is a far superior schooling environment. But if you don't, don't send your kids there.

 

[RedOrDead]

But why take an institution that was set up for the education of young men and turn it in to something it was never designed to be AND from what I read in the news lately, seems as if the consultation process was far from extensive.

Because it's better.

Times are changing. Boys clubs for misognystic meatheads are outdated.

There's a reason Barker has the longest waitlist of any school in Australia right now. I think you'll find both Newington and Cranbrook in time, will become far more in demand.

 

[Agent]

Because it's better.

Times are changing. Boys clubs for misognystic meatheads are outdated.

There's a reason Barker has the longest waitlist of any school in Australia right now. I think you'll find both Newington and Cranbrook in time, will become far more in demand.

Kinross at Orange is also in very high demand as a co-ed school and is now one of the largest boarding schools in the state. I was talking to a mate 2 weeks ago who is sending his son there next year (year 7) largely because it is co-ed - the young fella would have been 5th generation from one GPS school.

 

[AroundTheAnkles]

Pretty simple... Statistics show boys learn better in co-ed environments and girls don't.

As for the rest of you sooks. If you don't like co-ed schools, don't send your kids there. As someone who attended both, I think co-ed is a far superior schooling environment. But if you don't, don't send your kids there.

Could you please provide a reference to those "statistics"? and if it's true that boys learn better in co-ed environments, does that truth hold for girls?

 

[DaSchmooze]

Because it's better.

Times are changing. Boys clubs for misognystic meatheads are outdated.

There's a reason Barker has the longest waitlist of any school in Australia right now. I think you'll find both Newington and Cranbrook in time, will become far more in demand.

There you go everyone. Your sons are misogynistic meatheads.

 

[RedOrDead]

Could you please provide a reference to those "statistics"? and if it's true that boys learn better in co-ed environments, does that truth hold for girls?

Very heavily debated topic. I tend to believe that statistical trend because it is consistent with my experiences.

The fact of the matter is most only will experience one form of private school education. I am in a rare position as I have the insight of attending both an elite GPS school, and a co-ed school. The common trend regarding the GPS school was dissatisfaction amongst parents. However, I have yet to hear a negative word about Barker, from students or teachers alike. Could this be more of a reflection on the school itself? Yes, but I tend to think a co-ed environment heavily contributes to the positive environment of the school.

From experience, I think the "we specialise in teaching boys" rhetoric is a scam. I don't think these schools achieve adequate character development, because I don't think these environments effectively discipline boys. Also, the lack of female interaction will always mean a severe lack in social education.

Time will tell, but I am 100% convinced both Newington and Cranbrook will become far healthier environments. This is especially positive for Cranbrook who seem to have a recurring "scandal" appearing amongst their boys. I imagine this "scandal" will become far less prevalent.

I do understand this is a rugby forum though, and I do believe Cranbrook and Newington's rugby program will suffer. My one "complaint," (and I use that word loosely) about co-ed education, is a noticed a significant drop off on the competitive nature of boys, however, I definitely don't think that's an objective negative.

Open up your minds, don't get left behind.

 

[Homer]

How will boys benefit from diluting resources so girls can train along side them? Unless Newington magics up some additional inner west playing fields the zero sum nature of such things will mean the boys can train less or they will have fewer teams or both.

Newington has a 30-year agreement for Tempe fields and is pumping millions into upgrading the drainage, lighting and even putting in a synthetic pitch. Newington already has far more school-based playing fields than Scots or Cranbrook before that.
Why would resources be diluted? everyone is assuming that the male intake will drop so girls can come in. The school owns large areas of Stanmore and has already built a new boarding house and prep school. expanding the footprint will not be an issue and the extra income from fees will go towards additional resources. Swimming, rugby, football and athletics will likely be the first girls sports introduced as they have the facilities and resources ready to go.
It will also create a new hub for girls rugby that is not located on the North Shore, so it is a win win. It will be great to see Newington girls take on Barker and Pymble, rugby will be better for it.