Wrekin College students to share space

Wrekin College’s youngest Senior boys and girls will share a House space, thanks to a bright idea by a former Head Girl and Head Boy

Wrekin College in Shropshire will convert Lancaster House to a co-ed setting from September, also moving to a new site at the heart of the campus. This day House for children aged 11-13 is is used by pupils when they are outside of formal lessons and is designed to help them develop and settle gradually into senior school life at Wrekin. The space will be designed to encourage collaboration and friendships.

The co-ed idea was suggested originally by a former Head Boy and Head Girl and Headmaster Toby Spence, together with the school Governors, listened to their feedback.“I think the Lancaster pupils are at a particular stage in their school journey where they will benefit most from being in a completely co-educational setting,” he says. “By doing this, we believe that, by the time our pupils reach Year 9, their mutual understanding and respect for each other will be better developed as they mature. We also think it will lead to more opportunities and enthusiasm for actively collaborating and mixing together outside of timetabled lessons even in the older years.” 

The single-sex house system will continue after Year 9 with Toby Spence adding that at this point older pupils see this as preferable, but that the school is always open to further discussion.

Wrekin College & Old Hall School wrekinoldhall.com

Further reading: Heathfield School Ascot partnership with Mill Hill Education Group