Furious parents and alumni have stormed a prestigious Sydney private school over its decision to transition to a co-ed institution.
About attendees arrived at the Newington campus at about 8am on Wednesday morning, carrying placards and signs denouncing the school council’s decision, which would see female students allowed from 2026, and the school to become fully co-ed by 2033.
Messages called on the school to “reverse” the decision, with one sign stating the college had already lost “$5m in bequests”.
Another demanded a new vote on the co-ed policy.
“Demand school council transparency and accountability,” it read.
On Tuesday, the college’s headmaster Michael Parker wrote to parents alerting them of the planned protest, as reported by The Daily Telegraph.
Mr Parker said staff numbers would be increased at the “perimeter of the college” to ensure the safety of students.
“There will be several hundred boys starting their first day at Newington tomorrow and they will be experiencing all sorts of mixed feelings as they walk through the gate at this threshold moment,” the message said.
“So that students are safe on Wednesday morning as they enter the school we will have an increased staff presence at the perimeter of the college.”
Seperate to Wednesday’s planned protest, a change.org petition against the decision has received 2378 signatures over the last two months.
