A NEW era began at The Armidale School on Tuesday as the school's first females students began year 12 classes.
The school, the only Greater Public School (GPS) school outside of Sydney, has been a boys-only school for more than 120 years.
The decision to adopt full co-educational schooling in the senior school was made in March after extensive consultation with parents, old boys, staff and students.
Four local girls are starting in Year 12 - Holly Tearle, Maddy Dennis, Emily Blackbourne and Elssya Rogers-Ellis.
The students are already familiar with the school.
Holly, Elyssa and and Maddy have all had older brothers attend TAS, while Elyssa, Maddy and Emily have been studying some subjects at TAS since the start of Year 11, as part of a combined subjects arrangement TAS has had with other Armidale secondary schools for many years.
Holly was the first female student to enrol at TAS, but it's really a return to her first school.
Holly and her three siblings - Jane, Jack and Dimity - went to the TAS junior school which finishes at year 5, but only Jack was able to continue as a secondary student, until now.
She said Dimity will start year 10 next year at TAS.
"It's almost liked we've returned home," Holly said.
"I've been able to see the workings of TAS because Jack finished his schooling here in 2013 and had a marvellous time.
"The teachers have good relationships with the students and I knew I'd be able to benefit from how they teach and how passionate they are."
Holly said she hoped going to TAS would improve career opportunities.
"I'm hoping to go to university and thinking about studying medicine at Sydney or Brisbane, and being a more well-known school, TAS can open me up to so many more opportunities that I wouldn't have been exposed to."
TAS headmaster Murray Guest welcomed the school's newest students.
"We admire their courage and enthusiasm as they take this historic step, but will also be supporting them every step of the way to ensure their time at TAS is an enjoyable and fruitful one," he said.
Girls from Years 6-11, including boarders, will commence at TAS in Term 1.
