I am setting up this petition to help preserve the status of Millais school as a single-sex secondary school. A consultation has been opened by West Sussex County Council with a view to turn Millais secondary school into a co-ed school. The consultation will close on Wednesday 12th June 2024.

Why? People may believe that a single-sex girls’ school is an outdated and old-fashioned concept. However, it is arguable that a single-sex space is essential now more than ever to provide a dedicated learning environment in which girls can thrive. What can be old fashioned about girls being able to fulfil their full potential, excelling at the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects and sports that are more usually dominated by boys?

Millais is a victim of circumstance. With the opening of Bohunt Free School and the recent changes made to the neighbouring Forest Boys’ School to become co-ed in September 2021, the choice for girls in Horsham and the surrounding area changed dramatically. No longer were there two choices for girls (depending on catchment area) but the choice of four secondary schools was now available. This has had a massive impact on choice and where girls wish to go to school. With the introduction of greater choice, girls are now choosing to attend Millais as a single-sex school over the option of a co-ed school. No longer is the intake at Millais just about catchment but CHOICE.

At Millais girls are free to explore each subject without bias. Studies have shown that girls from single-sex schools excel at STEM subjects that are often dominated by boys when taught in a co-ed environment. The girls who attend Millais come from a large radius of the school, travelling from Crawley or as far away as Henfield. They have chosen Millais for the same reasons: a great school with great outcomes.

There is a belief that turning Millais into a co-ed school will “solve” the problem of school places, created by the local authority created problem in school places. However, the contrary is the case, as all four schools in Horsham will be offering the same co-educational environment and the wide choice at present will revert back to catchment schools, with Tanbridge still being the most oversubscribed school in the town. The only achievement will be more children not being allocated their first-choice school, with more children going to schools that weren’t their first choice leading to resentment and poor learning environments for all.

A long-term plan is indeed needed for the pupils of Horsham and the surrounding areas:

turning Millais into a co-ed school is not a long-term solution. It is a short-term fix, that ultimately will lead to poorer provision for ALL the children of Horsham. It is also worth noting that no cost or feasibility study has been undertaken by WSCC in making provision for boys if they were to start in September 2026.

From my own experience, both my daughters (one who is a current pupil and one who will start in September) have both selected Millais specifically because it is a single-sex school. This is a choice they have each made, independent from their parents. They find the single-sex environment best suits their expectations and aspirations for their own schooling, without the distractions and disruptions they have experienced in previous co-educational settings.

Points of note from the Millais consultation paper as written and approved by the board of Governors.

“This loss of opportunity is significant and will be to the detriment not only of the current students but also future generations of girls and women.”

“Our success is much more than academic achievement. Millais leavers and alumni consistently say that one of the biggest benefits of their experience at the school was the opportunity to grow and pursue their interests without feeling the pressure to conform to gender stereotypes. And their experience is backed up by academic research.”

“At Millais we have always sought to challenge rather than reflect and reinforce the gender inequalities which still remain within our society. And our singular focus on creating opportunities for girls to excel within and beyond the classroom.”

By signing this petition, you are saying to the decision-makers that this planned move is not welcomed and that it is in the best interests of all Horsham children that Millais remain a single-sex school. We welcome you to share your comments and experiences in the comment box below.