The Armidale School goes co-ed

The school's board made the decision to extend its primary school co-education policy to secondary level including boarders, late yesterday.

The hotly debated move involved a two-month consultative period, including 23 meetings with TAS parents, old boys, staff and students across NSW and in southern Queensland.

The board took note of written submissions and responses to an online survey sent to more than 4500 stakeholders.

TAS, the only Great Public School member based outside Sydney, has been a boys boarding school since it opened its doors in Armidale as the New England Proprietary School in 1894, adopting its current name two years later.

It is one of the oldest independent schools in NSW and one of a few in country NSW not to have switched to co-education enrolments in the past three decades.

TAS has had a co-educational junior school since 1989.

The school's co-ed proposal has triggered significant concerns among some parents and former students about a shift from boys-only education and a perceived loss of some tradition.

However the school's board of directors also noted strong support for the many benefits of co-education to families, including an increased range of opportunities.

Chairman Sebastian Hempel, himself an old boy who attended the school in the 1970s and '80s, said the board had carefully studied feedback and analysis and strongly believed co-education was the best means to grow the institution and secure its long-term future.

The challenging economic environment facing independent schools, particularly in rural areas, was a key argument in favour of broadening TAS's enrolment potential and this point was also recognised by strong majority of survey respondents, submissions and discussions.

"The board acknowledges the level of passion from all sides on the issue, which reflects the strong sense of affection people have for the school and the range of programs it offers," Mr Hempel said.

"Change is not always easy, however in considering the long-term interest of the school, this is all about maintaining what is best about TAS and simply making that available to secondary girl students, as well as boys.

The decision will not impact on the school's membership of the Athletic Association of Great Public Schools (AAGPS), of which it has been a member since 1897.

Headmaster Murray Guest reassured current students their experience at TAS would not be diluted or distracted by the transition.

This would be uppermost in the mind of the school.

"Considerable thought and planning had to be undertaken in the areas of academic curriculum, pastoral care, boarding, our leadership service and adventure programs and our facilities, to ensure the Board had a proposal to consider," he said.

"I look forward to the school being able to move ahead with our families, student body and staff as we work together to ensure the success of an exciting new era for TAS."