‘Arrogance’: Mum’s outburst over Newington College’s co-ed plan

A Newington College mother got into a heated debate with a Sky News host when grilled about the parent protest.

A mother got into a heated debate with a Sky News host while being grilled about the protest against a prestigious school’s “woke” decision to start accepting girls.

Newington College mother Victoria Phillips appeared on Sky News on Thursday arguing against the Sydney school’s upcoming changes that will see it start accepting girls into kindergarten and Year 5 from 2026.

Ms Phillips said “coeducation is great, if your child is suited to that”.

However, the mother of two said it was not what she had signed up for.

Host Laura Jayes pointed out that it was her choice to keep her children at the school, which sparked outrage from Ms Phillips.

“It’s still your choice. By the way, you don’t have to keep your boys there,” Ms Jayes said.

“So you want me to pull my kids out?” Ms Phillips asked.

Victoria Phillips, a parent of a student attending Newington College, was among those protesting. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Parents are seen campaigning against Newington College's controversial decision to go co-ed at the prestigious secondary school on the first day of the 2024 academic year today in Stanmore, Sydney. Picture: Gaye Gerard

She said emotional response from parents was due to the lack of consultation.

“What arrogance, to think you signed up to a boys’ school, and then you require it to become a coeducational institution,” Ms Phillips said.

“When lines have been crossed, people get emotional.

“People get angry and I’m afraid the school has just not consulted, not listened and has got no regard for conciliation – that is where we are now.”

The emotional outburst comes as furious parents and former students have rallied outside the school to protest the “woke” decision to start accepting girls.

A 160-year-old institution in Sydney’s inner-west, the exclusive and highly prestigious school initially announced their transition to accept girls in November 2023.

The announcement has ignited deep fury from alumni – but the tearful and emotional response from many has elicited great hilarity and little sympathy online.

“The Newington College “Old Boys” are the worst possible advertisement for the “quality” of the education and personal development that the college has previously provided,” one woman commented.

“I’m so embarrassed for the losers at Newington College who are so afraid to be surrounded by women, strong women,” another wrote.

Anti-coed Newington parents protesting during a silent protest against the proposed switch to Newington becoming a co-ed school. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Seriously, are we living in the 1950s or is it 2024? Shame on these idiots.”

The response from angry alumni and parents has been slammed as deeply misogynistic, suggesting protesters were afraid of what the introduction of women would do to their “precious sons”.

“A mother opposed to Newington College going co-ed just called 702, and among a brief list of reasons”, she said.

“Boys don’t need their results being undermined by girls”,” one person shared online.