Development planned for co-ed change

AN independent school which has focused on the education of boys has announced that from September next year it will go fully co-educational.

Milton Abbey has been accepting girls into its sixth form since 2005 and has decided that from 2012 they will be accepted across the school’s 13-18 age range.

Chairman of governors James Barnes said: “The beneficial effect we have seen of girls in the sixth form will now be reflected throughout the school.

“With the great majority of preparatory schools now being co-educational and girls already in the sixth form, becoming fully co-educational is an entirely logical and appropriate step for us to take.”

Coinciding with the announcement about intake are plans for the redevelopment of the school’s accommodation with planning permission being sought for three new boarding houses.

In 2008 the school was granted permission to redevelop and extend the old headmaster’s house. This will go ahead and be used to house a medical centre and staff accommodation.

Three existing staff houses and a maintenance department will be redeveloped as new boarding houses.

Gareth Doodes, who in September succeeded Jonathan Hughes-D’Aeth as head, said: “These plans are without a doubt the most significant development in the school’s 60 year history, and have been made a reality as a result of the current fundraising appeal to former pupils and former and current parents.

“The redevelopment will provide up-to-date accommodation with each boarding house having a resident house master, assistant house master and tutor.”

Mr Doodes, who at 33, became the youngest senior independent school headmaster in the country, said each house would be able to accommodate 60 pupils with a common room, television room, boot room and kitchen.

He continued: “Education is about developing the whole person, instilling confidence, raising expectations and finding a spark that will light a passion for life

“The plan is centred on giving every pupil at Milton Abbey the very best possible experience. To enable Milton Abbey to grow, develop and strengthen, it is crucial to have these improved facilities.”

He said the school would not be seeking to have more than 300 pupils so a high level of care can be maintained.

The independent school was founded in 1954 in the former mansion home of Joseph Damer, Lord Milton, built next to the 10th-century Benedictine Abbey in grounds between Blandford and Dorchester landscaped by Capability Brown.

It fared badly in recent league tables on the performance of students taking traditional subjects at GCSE, but the school prides itself more on bringing out the best in pupils through sport, the arts, agriculture and an outdoor life. All pupils are encouraged to join the ACF.

Last year Ofsted welcomed improvements at the school after its previous inspection in 2004 found fault with the boarding accommodation, health facilities and management of risk.

An Independent Schools Inspection in November concluded the quality of the pupils’ overall achievement was good, their attainment in external examinations and the progress made were satisfactory and they achieved a high level of success in extra-curricular and sporting activities.

Patrick McGrath, who chairs the fundraising campaign to raise money for the developments, said: “There are boys and girls, often easily overlooked in a larger school, who need a smaller school to develop their potential.”

He said over the last 18 months £850,000 had been raised towards the £1.5 million target.