Elite Sydney school Cranbrook responds to calls to enrol girls

The headmaster of an elite Sydney boys’ school says the institution is exploring the possibility of enrolling girls.

The headmaster of elite eastern suburbs boys’ school Cranbrook has confirmed the school is actively exploring becoming coeducational after parents pushed to enrol girls at the historic 103-year-old college.

Cranbrook School headmaster Nicholas Sampson wrote to parents on Wednesday afternoon saying there was “significant support” for the proposal but that there were many questions still to be answered.

“No formal proposal has yet been put to the School Council for approval,” he said.

Cranbrook School in Bellevue Hill, Sydney. Picture: Richard Dobson

While stopping short of green-lighting the proposal to enrol girls in the school, he said the school’s council had approved a new strategy earlier this year to encourage students to engage with the world outside the school.

“This includes the exploration of coeducational opportunities in a variety of ways,” the letter said.

“This process has commenced and will be informed by a review of existing coeducational models, methods of transitioning to such models and dialogue with parents, alumni and staff.”

The push to turn the Bellevue Hill School was months in the making and reportedly has the backing of high profile parents including Atlassian billionaire Scott Farquhar.

The co-ed push was already underway before Cranbrook was among a raft of eastern suburbs boys’ schools accused of being responsible for the sexual assault of girls at neighbouring schools.

In his letter, Mr Sampson also said a School Strategy Day held last November noted that a flagship experiential program at Wolgan Valley and International Baccalaureate Diploma classes in Years 11 and Year 12 could benefit from being co-ed.