Co-ed schools ‘healthy’ for teens asserts Anthony Albanese amid elite private schools’ battle of the sexes

The PM Albanese praised his old boys’ high school for its decision to admit girls from Years 1 to 7, from 2025 amid a battle of the sexes between elite private schools.

The Presbyterian Ladies' College principal Dr Paul Burgis says girls learn better in single-sex schools.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has endorsed coeducational schools as “healthy’’ for teenagers.

Mr Albanese praised his old boys’ high school, St Mary’s Cathedral College in Sydney, for its decision to admit girls from Years 1 to 7, from 2025.

“It’s a good thing they’ve made that decision,’’ he said.

“I think there’s something healthy about boys and girls not being separated until they hit uni is my own personal view.

“My son went to a co-ed school, went through the entire system at Dully and what’s now known as Sydney Secondary College, but to me as Leichardt High and Glebe High.

“From my recollection, I remember that there would be a bit of craziness when we’d have school dances with St Bridget’s at Marrickville or Holy Cross at Woollahra, and that probably wasn’t the ideal.‘’

Mr Albanese’s comments came after two elite private schools began a war of the sexes, over plans for Newington College to become a coeducational school after a girls’ headmaster decreed his students would never play sport with girls from a rival college.

Presbyterian Ladies’ College (PLC) Sydney principal Dr Paul Burgis has cautioned that girls in coeducational schools risk being distracted by boys showing off, or joining in popularity contests to impress male classmates.

In a note to PLC parents this month, Dr Burgis gave an assurance that their daughters would never take part in any sporting, public speaking or musical collaboration with the soon-to-be coeducational Newington College.

“Pubescent girls benefit from being able to practice (sic) and play hard and freely, without an awareness of watching eyes,’’ he wrote.

“No coeducational school is allowed to compete in the sport, speech or cultural programs with IGSA (Independent Girls’ Schools Association) schools.

“I note this because if Newington is to become a coeducational school, it will need to look much further afield than the IGSA schools for its sport, public speaking and musical collaboration.’’

The February 8 email refers parents to a link to a longer missive Dr Burgis wrote in 2022, when Newington College announced its divisive plan to become a coeducational school.

Plans by the 161-year-old Uniting Church boys’ school to admit girls has upset an influential “old boys’’ network.

Some “Old Newingtonians’’ have even withdrawn their bequests to the school in protest.

Pictured in Stanmore outside Newington College as boys arrive for their first day of the new school year, are parents with placards during a silent protest against the proposed switch to Newington College becoming a co-ed school. Picture: Richard Dobson

Dr Burgis’s original missive – which was circulated among Old Newingtonians yesterday – noted that a successful co-ed school “needs to have a majority female population’’.

“I hold this view because in your average group of boys, some will be likely to take on the role of gaining attention by acting counter to what it is the class is trying to achieve,’’ he wrote.

“This may be outwardly disruptive behaviour, or it may be attention-seeking behaviour.

“It could have the purpose of creating laughter or fun.

“Girls are more likely to support the cultural project of the classroom, and would prefer to settle quickly, to be able to listen well, and to talk through any difficulties they might have.

“The needs of girls can easily be set aside in a coeducational setting.’’

The principal of PLC – which charges $42,000 a year in tuition fees for senior students – wrote that “girls learn better in single sex schools’’.

He said the “toughest school for girls’’ is one with a “male-oriented culture’’.

“Is it ethically a good idea to introduce girls because it could benefit boys?’’ he wrote.

“Why … would a highly successful school for boys, with long waiting lists, choose to go coeducational?

“They must have arrived at the belief that something in the culture of the boys is better if girls are about.

“The change is being driven by a perception about boys, rather than the needs of girls.’’

Dr Burgis wrote that “having boys about is an opportunity for distraction’’.

“Interactions between boys and girls easily become the stuff of playground conversations,’’ he wrote.

“Some girls will seek to be ‘popular’ with the boys.

“Others will feel the need to respond to this.’’

Dr Burgis wrote that “it is easy for some of us males, when relaxing, to take up quite a bit of room on the lounge’’.

“On average, we will take up more lounge space more often than our sisters,’’ he wrote.

“The effect is that they will have to accommodate us.

“In a girls school, girls get a comfortable seat on the lounge without even having to ask.’’

Dr Burgis yesterday told The Australian that his memos to parents should not be mistaken for “us seeking to tell a different independent school what they should do’’.

“Of course as a school which believes wholeheartedly in the education of girls in a single sex environment, PLC Sydney will communicate strongly and positively about the advantages of a girls only education to our families and the broader community,’’ he said.

“We will also explain how girls only sporting programs work.’’

A Newington College spokeswoman declined to comment on the rival school’s critique.

The Newington College website shows that it never intended to join the girls’-only IGSA sporting contests, but plans for girls to compete in the Independent Sporting Association (ISA) contests with co-ed schools Barker, Redlands and St Andrews.

Newington College, which charges up to $42,000 a year, will admit the first girls to preparatory and Year 5 students in 2026, but will wait until 2028 to admit the first female high school students to Years 7 and 11 until 2028.