Cranbrook School: Elite Sydney institution eyes up major change

For the first time in its history, one of Sydney’s most prestigious and expensive all-boys schools is proposing to break from a 102-year tradition.

For the first time in its 102-year history, one of Sydney’s most prestigious all-boys schools is looking at a proposal to open its doors to female students.

It is understood the plan – which has been supported by Atlassian co-founder and billionaire Scott Farquhar – has been circulated among directors, principal and senior staff members at Cranbrook School in recent months, and is expected to be presented to the board next week.

Several sources told The Sydney Morning Herald say the plans, if approved, would mean that female students could join International Baccalaureate Diploma classes in 2022 and girls would slowly be enrolled to the rest of the school over several years.

It comes after the education sector was this year rocked by a viral petition that exposed thousands of stories of sexual assaults from Australian students.

Students from private, all-boys schools in Sydney were mentioned repeatedly in the early testimonies – bringing scrutiny on the culture at such schools.

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Cranbrook is one of the most expensive schools in Sydney.

The woman behind the petition, Chantel Contos, told news.com.au she believes that splitting up boys and girls for their education is “100 per cent” an aggravating factor in the problem around sexual assaults.

“In Australia, we’re in a very weird position on this because single-sex schools are way more prevalent than in other countries,” Ms Contos, who was educated in an all-girls herself, told news.com.au.

She believes the segregation of genders “is not reflective of real life” and is leading to big problems with sexual encounters between Australia’s teenagers.

“Because they are separated at school, it means the only time they do meet is on weekends – when there is often alcohol and drugs involved,” she said.

Aussie billionaire Scott Farquhar has reportedly thrown his support behind the plan. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

In response to the petition, the headmaster of Cranbrook, Nicholas Sampson said schools “need to take further action”.

“We are aware of the rapidly changing contours of adolescence and the potential for damage brought by a combination of forces such as easily available alcohol, illicit drugs, a lack of supervision at parties and other social events, the premature sexualisation and objectification of girls and boys, precocious consumerism and, perhaps – most pernicious and undermining of all – readily accessible pornography, which displaces love and distorts impressionable views of relationships, respect for others and self-worth,” he said in a statement.

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Nicholas Sampson said schools ‘need to take further action’ to address the problem.

“This generation of young people enjoys many advantages but, equally, faces many new challenges which we all must help them to overcome.”

He said that one of the steps he will be taking will be hosting mixed gender education program with girls from local schools.

“We have commenced conversations with neighbouring schools regarding the formulation of shared programs so that boys and girls can learn alongside, and get to know, each other beyond the pressure-cooker of the party scene and other unhelpful influences,” he said.

Cranbrook, in Bellevue Hill, was founded in 1918. It alumni include billionaire Kerry Packer and his son James Packer and Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes.

Fees are up to $38,862 for years 11 and 12, making it Sydney’s third most expensive boys’ school after The King’s School and Scots College.

news.com.au has reached out to the school for comment on the proposal.