Newington College reveals plan to shift from boys’ school to co-ed after 160 years of operation

Prestigious inner west boys’ school Newington College has announced plans to start admitting female students as soon as 2026. Tell us: Is the age of single-sex schools over? Take our poll.

Newington College in Stanmore will become co-ed in stages. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

A prestigious boy’s school from Sydney’s inner-west has announced it will become fully coeducational over the next 10 years.

Newington College, founded 160 years ago, will be accepting both boys and girls for Kindergarten and year 5 at their Stanmore and Lindfield campuses for the very first time in 2026.

The College’s senior school will admit girls for year 7 as well as some female year 11 students from 2028 onwards.

The staged plan will see the school become fully coeducational by 2033 in a decision described as “best for the long-term future of Newington”, as well as present and future students a statement on the school’s site said.

Newington College in Stanmore will welcome its first female students in 2026.

“The council has made this important decision because we aspire to build on Newington’s strengths, heritage and values, and because we recognise that diversity, inclusiveness, belonging and life-readiness in today’s context is enhanced by giving boys and girls the opportunity to learn, think and thrive together,” an announcement to the community read.

Newington’s website also states that students will work and interact with people of all genders after leaving school, which was a factor in the decision-making process.

“We believe the best way to prepare them for these roles is for different genders to learn alongside each other in an everyday, unremarkable way during their childhood and adolescence,” Newington’s website states.

Newington College announced the change on its website. Picture: Supplied

Discussions have been taking place as early as last February, with the completion of a review into how the school could maintain and build diversity and inclusiveness, whether the College should expand its senior or preparatory schools (or both).

It also considered whether coeducation was a “preferable model” for the school.

A letter published on Newington College's website announcing plans to go co-ed. Picture: Supplied

“There is much to be considered. This includes young people’s preparation for a world of work, academic attainment, and open-eyed, respectful, realistic social connection,” a 2022 announcement to the community read.

“We do believe that in society there should be both coeducational and single sex school choices for parents, but we are most interested in what works best for our own school in the decades to come.”

The school has a proud sporting heritage. Newington College Wyvern House 1st XV Rugby tour of New Zealand in 1957. Picture: Geoff McKew

The announcement on Newington’s website states the school hopes to become “one of the best coeducational schools in Australia”, with the move

“Newington College is already a great school, yet we are ambitious for our future. Ultimately, we aim to be one of the best coeducational schools in Australia. We are proud of our present and passionate about our vision for the decades ahead. We hope you can feel the energy behind that ambition,” the announcement read.

The college was established by the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1863, beginning with just 16 students, and is part of the Athletics Association of Great Public Schools alongside Sydney Grammar School and Scots College.

Fees for the prestigious private school begin at over $22,000 for Kindergarten students, with Year 11 and 12 student fees rising to just under $39,000 per year.

Newington College’s decision to become coeducational follows a string of schools in Sydney’s inner-west, including Barker College just last year.