Eltham College to Welcome Girls from 2020
14 Aug 2018
In September 2020 Eltham College will become co-educational welcoming its first cohort of girls in Year 3 and 7, in addition to the existing entry point at Sixth Form. A change which will lead to the school becoming entirely co-educational by 2024.
The College in Mottingham, South East London has been educating boys since 1842 when it began as the School for Sons of Missionaries and from 1980 girls; when it opened its doors for girls to join in the Sixth Form.
Although there are some very good single sex schools in South East London and Kent, there is an awareness in the education market of an ever-increasing demand from parents for first-rate co-educational independent schools.
As an academically selective school, Eltham seeks to find the right balance between offering academic excellence with an invigorating all-round education. With the inclusion of girls, from the Junior School upwards, soon both girls and boys will be able to experience everything that Eltham College has to offer. Furthermore, it means that families will soon be able to send both their sons and daughters to the College.
Eltham College posted the strongest ever GSCE results in five years and currently hold County titles in Netball, Rugby and Hockey. The school is also on schedule to deliver two new buildings at the start of 2019, one a home to Modern Foreign Languages and Maths, as well as a new Sixth Form Centre, the other a Medical and Well-being Centre which will further support their high level commitment to excellent pastoral care.
The school currently has just over 900 students on its roll and the introduction of girls will not see this number rise significantly, as the College is committed to ensuring that the school remains small enough so that every student is known and cared for as an individual.
Headmaster Guy Sanderson says “As a school we believe that co-education makes sense in today’s society. We think that we have a significant role to play in equipping our students with the necessary tools to not only successfully fulfil their academic potential but also learn how to work and play happily alongside each other. We are delighted that we will now be able to offer the same excellent academic education to girls who wish to join Eltham College. There is already a positive momentum in the school with a thriving Sixth Form, we have significant staff with experience of co-educational teaching and girls’ educational settings and the school has the opportunity to invest in appropriate facilities”.
Families who wish to visit the school are welcome to visit the College at our next open day that will take place on Saturday 29 September 2018. Families can book a place now www.elthamcollege.london/book