Barker College becomes Sydney’s first private boys’ school to welcome girls across all grades

BARKER College will become the first traditional private boys’ school on the north shore to have girls throughout its entire high school.

One of Sydney’s oldest private boys schools, Barker College will become fully co-ed

ONE of Sydney’s oldest and most prestigious boys’ schools is set to step into the 21st century and become the first on the north shore to introduce girls across its entire high school.

Independent Anglican school, Barker College in Hornsby is preparing to transition to a fully coeducational school by 2022, introducing female students to each cohort.

Phillip Heath said the scheme will ‘transform education’.

The coeducational scheme is already in place for students from years 10 to 12.

Head of Barker College Phillip Heath said the announcement reflects a future minded approach that recognises the “seismic social changes” that have occurred since the school first began in 1890.

Barker College will transform to a coeducational school by 2022.

AUGUST 24, 1999: Students from Barker College at Hornsby in new school uniform. Pic: Chris Pavlich.

“Life is co-ed,” Mr Heath said.

“After careful consideration of the success of our existing coeducation model and the academic research, it is clear that the rich resources and experiences available at the School should be open to boys and girls in all years.

“Barker College aims to prepare young people much more than an ATAR or even for life at university. The real purpose of a school is to support students to reach their full potential in the workplace and in their communities, and in building strong relationships and families.”

Associate Professor Susanne Gannon from the Centre for Education research of WSU and the editor of Gender in Education research journal said there is a lack of consistent robust evidence stating that there is an advantage of single-sex in comparison to coeducational schooling.

“Gender is only one factor, you need to consider the social context of the school, families and children and things like student ability and attainment, school ethos and leadership of teachers,” Professor Gannon said.

“You must ask, do the teachers already have an assumption about gender and whether they reinforce or challenge gender stereotypes?

“I have assessed research from across the globe and there is no equivocal evidence that single-sex schooling is more advantageous. It is a good move for Barker College, the evidence I can see from research doesn’t show any risks for the future.”

Mr Heath said the decision enables all students and their family full access to the Barker College experience.

“The overwhelming evidence from past and present families is that coeducation provides an outstanding preparation for the real world that lies beyond the School gates. Surely this is the proper concern of any good school,” Mr Heath said.

“The real purpose of a school is to support students to reach their full potential in the workplace and in their communities, and in building strong relationships and families. This is better pursued in a fully coeducational setting.

“A person’s gender is no longer the determining factor in their life choices. We need to work together to make a respectful and inclusive national culture.”

Barker College 1st XI Cricket Team in 1908/09.

BARKER’S HISTORY

In 1890 Reverend Henry Plume founded Barker College after tutoring five local students for their Junior, Senior and Matriculation exams for Sydney University.

Originally located at the foot of the Blue Mountains at Kurrajong Heights, the school was relocated to Hornsby after Rev Plume realised the threat of isolation during an outbreak of scarlet fever in 1894.

Rev Henry Plume, who founded Barker College and brought it to Hornsby in 1896.

According to the College archives, the first acknowledged female student, prior to the college becoming a boy’s only school, was Evelyn Hill. Ms Hill was also recognised as Barker’s first university graduate, completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at Sydney University.

From 1890 to 1894 the school was coeducational, with 17 students enrolled, including the four Bowman sisters.

Successful cricketer and one of the schools female students, Lottie Bowman, described her experiences in letters to the College archives.

“We girls had to play cricket every Sunday afternoon with the boys,” Ms Bowman said.

“Sunday morning we had to translate a chapter of the Bible into French ... We had ten minutes’ recess at 11am but every one of us also had to take the crosscut saw and saw the wood that kept the fuel stoves going.”

Hornsby Shire became home to Barker College in 1896, where it provided education for boys until 1975, when 59 female students were introduced to the Year 11 and 12 senior College.

In 2000, the year 10 cohort became included as part of the senior school, which saw the introduction of more girls to the halls of the Senior College.

For more information contact Sarah Onions on 02 9847 8207 or visit barker.nsw.edu.au.

Barker College in Hornsby will open it’s gates to junior female students by 2022.

Joe Hildebrand goes on a racist roadtrip