Important Update: Co-education Extended into Senior School

There has been a significant shift across the sector with many schools moving to a co-educational model. This change has been carefully considered to ensure the school  remains in the strongest position to provide the very best education for our pupils now and in the future.  Abbot’s Hill is a school that embraces change and growth. Extending co-education throughout our entire school community isn’t just the next logical step; it’s an exciting opportunity to build on our already strong foundations with renewed confidence and ambition.

A truly modern education should mirror the diverse, collaborative environment our students will encounter beyond school gates. When young people learn side by side, they develop the interpersonal skills, empathy, and understanding that will serve them throughout their lives.

We will welcome boys alongside girls into the Senior School from September 2026.

The co-educational provision will be introduced from Year 7, our  main point of entry into our senior school.  It is likely that any new boys will only be in that year group from next year. In most moves to co-education, the change ends up being very gradual, so we anticipate a small number of new joiners next year. It is possible that we may have some interest from brothers of current girls in the other year groups. Although we legally can’t deny access to boys in other years if they meet our admission criteria, we don’t expect any new joiners in the GCSE year groups (Year 10 and 11) next year.

The move to co-education will not compromise the qualities that make Abbot’s Hill School special. We remain fully committed to maintaining our small class sizes and the individual attention that every student currently enjoys.

Our values of providing a holistic and forward-thinking education to all our students remains;

Ever inspiring • Highly ambitious • Big hearted.

Nurturing confident, kind and capable individuals who achieve their full potential, will continue to be our ethos within a broader community.

Our staff have been informed ahead of the announcement, and they are fully supportive of strategic changes to enhance numbers within our school and are excited by the opportunities which will arise from this change.

The vast majority of Abbot’s Hill teachers already have experience working in co-educational settings and they possess the skills to ensure a seamless transition to co-education within the senior school.  We will continue to provide outstanding staff CPD and will adapt our programme to ensure we remain at the forefront in delivering outstanding educational provision for all our students.

We already have a well-established pastoral system that has served our students brilliantly, and this will be extended as we welcome our new boys seamlessly into the community.

Our dedicated staff – almost all of whom have extensive experience teaching boys –  will continue to provide excellent guidance and support.

The transition has been carefully planned to ensure minimal disruption, and we are confident that this change will enhance the school experience for all our children. Being part of the Mill Hill Education Group has been invaluable, providing us with additional expertise gained from successfully guiding other schools through similar transitions.

Our admissions process remains the same, but we are now welcoming applications for boys in all applicable year groups. If you have son interested in joining Year 7,  please email our Admissions Team for guidance: admissions@abbotshill.herts.sch.uk.

Our pastoral system is designed to support all students; the majority of our staff have experience teaching both boys and girls. We are confident that our stimulating and inclusive environment will ensure students will integrate seamlessly; we have seen strong evidence of this from the experience of our other schools within the Group.

We have extensive experience supporting our Year 11 girls in this process. With close links to many local schools and others further afield, both within and outside the Group, we are well-equipped to help families find the right sixth form for their son.

Our admissions approach has always been flexible and responsive. When we find exceptional candidates who would flourish in our community, we’re delighted to welcome them – and if that means offering more places in any given year, we can usually accommodate this.

From September 2026, we won’t be working towards any specific ratio of boys and girls, and we certainly expect that the number of boys in the senior school will start small, and grow gradually What matters to us is finding young people who share our values and will embrace everything our school community offers.

Each application will be considered on its individual merit, and we’ll extend offers to those children who we believe will not only thrive academically with us, but who will also bring their own unique talents and perspectives to enrich our community.

Yes, boys and girls will learn together in most lessons (with the exception of some sports or PDE sessions), fostering collaboration and mutual respect. We will continue to group pupils by ability or interest where appropriate, as we do currently.

Our co-curricular offering will expand to include activities appealing to all students, while maintaining our high-quality provision in areas like sports, arts, and music.

Yes, boys will have a tailored uniform designed with comfort and practicality in mind. Our uniform provider, SchoolBlazer, will offer these alongside our current range for girls.

The new uniform will be available to buy ahead of September 2026. Exact dates and more details, including fitting sessions, will be shared in due course.

Yes, we are making relevant adjustments to ensure all facilities are inclusive and appropriate for a co-educational environment across the respective age groups. These include updates to toilets, changing rooms, and sports provision.

If you have any questions about this exciting development, please contact our Admissions Team on admissions@abbotshill.herts.sch.uk.