Parents at $40k-a-year Newington College erupt at gates: ‘Woke mumbo jumbo’

Furious parents and former students have rallied outside one of Sydney’s most prestigious schools to condemn its decision to start accepting girls.

A barrister whose son attends a prestigious Sydney boys’ school set to go co-ed has labelled the reasoning offered to parents as “woke mumbo jumbo” at a protest held on the first day of class for 2024.

Newington College, a 160-year-old institution at Stanmore in the city’s inner west, announced in November it would start accepting girls into kindergarten and Year 5 from 2026.

The call has sparked anger within the community of old boys and parents, with a few dozen people marching to the Stanmore Rd entrance holding placards on Wednesday morning.

Students walk past signs protesting against Newington College’s decision to start accepting girls from 2026. Picture: Richard Dobson

Uniformed police were on hand to observe the rally, which was held without incident, after a post on a change.org petition promoting the protest had remarked “there’s no need to be peaceful anymore”.

That post has since been deleted.

Headmaster Michael Parker wrote to parents on Tuesday night saying the school had increased staff presence at the gates in light of the planned protest.

“While we acknowledge people’s right to share their opinions, the first day of the school year is all about the current students,” he wrote.

Parents at Newington pay fees of between $24,000 and $42,000 for each child to attend between kindergarten and Year 12.

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Steven Bend (left) with Dallas Morgan (second left) and other parents at the rally. Picture: Heath Parkes-Hupton

Dallas Morgan, a Sydney barrister, called the process leading to the school’s decision a “sham” and said parents were disappointed by lack of consultation and supporting evidence.

“It’s unnecessary, unjustified and unpopular,” he said.

“All we’ve been given is woke mumbo jumbo.”

Old boy Mr Morgan said the protesters “weren’t against” coeducation as a concept but felt their right to choose had not been respected.

“People want single-sex schools,” he said. “No one is suggesting the girls’ schools to take boys.

“It’s valid but (it’s about) choice. And that voice had been taken away.”

Newington College has been an all boys’ school since opening in 1863. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

In announcing its decision last year, Newington said its college council had an “ongoing responsibility to consider what is best for the long-term future” of the school.

“This decision has been made to ensure the college remains a vibrant, contemporary institution, in step with the society it is part of.”

Newington is not the only boys’ private school in Sydney shifting to coeducation, with Cranbrook in the eastern suburbs welcoming girls from years 7 to 12 from 2026.

Barker College in Sydney’s north completed its transition to full coeducation in 2022.

On Wednesday, several Newington parents claimed the school had “silenced” its students from speaking against the co-ed move.

Year 12 student Edward Phillips.

Cheryl Doyle said she believed parents should be able to choose single-sex schools.

Year 12 student, Edward Phillips said he believed welcoming girls to Newington was a “mistake”, saying it would sour the college’s relationship with sister schools.

He said the protesting parents were supporting children who were “scared to express their opinion”.

Grandmother Cheryl Doyle’s three grandsons have all attended Newington, with two having already graduated.

She said her husband and children had all attended single-sex schools: “I think people have a right to choose.”

“The students have been gagged, they’re too afraid to speak up,” she said.

“I’m so disappointed in the leadership at Newington.

“I don’t think the school is giving parents a fair go.”

Ex-student Tony Retsos graduated in 1977 and wanted his first grandson to attend the school in a family tradition. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Tony Ratsos graduated in the school’s class of 77 and sent his son to Newington.

He came to the protest to draw attention to what he said was 160 years of history being put “down the gurgler”.

“What we’re after is the decision to be reversed and a new consultation process with the actual stakeholders,” Mr Retsos said.

The grandfather of two girls said he couldn’t see them being sent to a co-ed Newington in the future.