Proposed change of Millais Secondary from a single sex girls' school to a co-educational school

Summary of proposals

Following consideration of the options regarding future admissions to the school, West Sussex County Council have consulted on proposals to change the status of the school from a single sex girls’ school to a co-educational boys’ and girls’ school. The consultation proposed that Millais school receives the first co-educational cohort, which will be for Year 7 admissions only, from September 2026. This has now been approved by the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Learning and Skills. All subsequent Year 7 admissions would similarly be for boys and girls.

Why did the Council consult on change

The opportunity for change and a re-organisation of the school arises because the school has not filled all its places for the last four years impacting on budgets and resources and at the same time there is a shortage of places for boys in the area. The change provides the opportunity to build on the current good practice of the school and help to drive up educational standards across the town by offering boys as well as girls access to the high-quality education offer.

West Sussex County Council recognises the pressure for additional secondary places in Horsham locality and a desire to ensure secondary places for all pupils locally. Under s14 of the Education Act 1996 the County Council has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient places to provide education for all children and young people. The school needs to be ready to meet the local needs of an expanding school population. By offering places to boys it will reduce the need for some boys in the Horsham area to be sent to schools in other District and Boroughs away from their friendship groups and involving long daily journeys. The pressure for places is likely to increase in the future.

The proposal

The proposal is to change the status of the school from a single sex girls’ school to a co-educational school. At this stage, it is not intended to change the age range of the school which is currently 11-16. The first co-educational cohort is to enter Year 7 in September 2026. Existing year groups of girls will continue to receive their education at the school until they leave at the age of 16.

Staffing

The Local Authority does not envisage the school changing its ethos and mission. The school provides an outstanding education, with high-quality teaching and a nurturing school ethos that empowers each student to achieve their personal best. Staff are our most valuable resource and it is important that should there be any need for changes these are dealt with fairly and sensitively. The County Council has a Code of Practice on school reorganisation, written with the support of the unions and professional associations, designed to support all staff through the process of change.

Meeting the needs of co-educational year groups

Adaptations to the facilities, the curriculum and pastoral care, are needed to ensure all pupils have equality of opportunity to that which they would receive in other co-educational schools eg. ensuring sufficient new boys' toilets and changing facilities, access to the curriculum for physical education and providing appropriate emotional and social support for boys and girls including those with Special Educational Needs.

Children and Young People Services Scrutiny Committee

The Children and Young People's Services Scrutiny Committee is responsible for the overview and scrutiny of the Cabinet portfolio area of Learning and Skills. The proposal to change the status of Millais school was scrutinised on 11th September 2024. You can re-watch the meeting in the webcast library. The Chair of the Committee is Councillor Paul Linehan. Home - West Sussex webcasts (public-i.tv)

Public Consultation and Decision Making

Changing the status of a single sex school to co-educational requires public consultation. It is a two-stage process, initially an informal consultation took place over a four week period (rom 8 May 2024 to 12 June 2024). At the end of this period, and following analysis of the comments received, and review by the Children and Young People Services Scrutiny Committee, the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Learning and Skills, took the decision to publish statutory notices. Statutory notices were published on 23 January 2025 for a formal five-week consultation period until 27 February 2025. The final decision was taken by Jacquie Russell on 25 March 2025 and this became effective from 4 April 2025. See report attached under documents to the right of this screen.

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