Decision details

In October 2010 Oldfield School in Bath published a Statutory Notice to change from a single sex girls school to a co-educational school to commence in September 2012 with the admission of boys to Year 7. The six week notice period has ended and a decision is now required.

The Cabinet Member agrees that:

(1) The statutory notice is approved so that the school can become co-educational from 1st September 2012.

(2) A Transitional Exemption Order in relation to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 is granted for a period of four years from the date of implementation of the proposal to allow for the gradual change from single sex to co-educational to be phased in over this period as set out in the school’s published proposals.

(1) No responses were received during the representation period, indicating that this proposal is not opposed and has the support of stakeholders, as expressed in the consultation exercise.

(2) Parental surveys and recent consultation exercises have identified the need for more co-educational places in the city, particularly in North West Bath. If Oldfield was a co-educational school this would provide equality of access for pupils of both sexes who live in this area of the city, as boys currently have to travel out of the Weston and Newbridge areas to attend other schools in Bath. If boys who live in this area were able to access their local school, travel distances for this group of pupils would be reduced.

(3) The proposal by Oldfield school meets the Cabinet’s request that the school become co-educational in line with the plan for Bath.

The option of not approving the proposal so that the school remains as a single sex girls school was rejected as this would not meet parental demand and the school as proposer fully supports becoming coeducational.