Brisbane Private school set to transition to coeducational learning

The principal of Brisbane’s Clayfield College says a move to coeducational classes in upper grades was driven by parents.

One of Brisbane’s most prestigious private girls’ schools will welcome more boys as it transitions to a fully coeducational model.

Clayfield College, currently co-ed from Prep to Year 6, says that under the Parallel Learning model to be introduced in 2023, Year 10 students would come together for selected classes, before joining fully coeducational classes in Years 11 and 12.

Parents of existing students in Year 6 have been assured they can complete their education in their all-girl cohort.

Clayfield College principal Andrew Cousins said there would be many social benefits to coeducational classes.

Dylan Aziz, Oliver Blake and Hugo Heinenmann, all 6, with Maggie Wade, 7, at Clayfield College. Picture: Josh Woning

“I think for me one of the things that is really important is that we can work well together with these young ladies as well as men to be able to coexist in a world that we want to reflect society,” he said.

Dr Cousins said it was a move supported by many parents following a recent survey.

“To an open-ended question, what was the one thing you’d like to see, almost 40 per cent of parents said ‘move to co-ed’,” he said.

Griffith University School of Education and Professional Studies’ Glenda McGregor said there was a benefit to having boys and girls in the one class.

“Boys and girls can be accommodated in the same class, and indeed benefit from being in the same class with a whole variety of diverse people and that includes gender, class, race and sexuality,” she said.

“The classroom needs to reflect real life where the genders do mix.”

Dr McGregor said Years 7 to 9 were important for transitioning, but separating classes based on gender would not be of significant benefit to students in this age group.

Clayfield College parent Fiona Conde. Picture: Josh Woning

“Year 7 to 9, they’re transitioning from primary to secondary school, and my research and that of my colleagues shows that this is in an important period of transition regardless of whether they’re boys or girls,” she said.

“What’s going to make the difference is not going to put them in different classes, but the school having really good entry and transition policies.”

With coeducational learning only catering for students up to Year 6 at the school currently before becoming an all-girl secondary school, there have been ongoing requests to extend the coeducational offering.

School parent Fiona Conde said she was happy not to have to do more than one school drop-off with her two children Sophie, 9, and Max, 6, when they got older.

“I have a little boy in Year 1 so it will be great he can go all the way through now,” she said.

“I think this will give them more opportunities; hopefully more sporting, more competition particularly for the boys in the school.”