2 September 2024 News Abingdon Renowned for high academic credentials, formidable cocurricular programmes, and a focus on individual care, the Abingdon Foundation continues to be both successful and oversubscribed with the number of pupils having increased by a quarter over the past 15 years. Much of this success is attributed to the delivery of a balanced education, which focuses as much on academics as the development of skills and character. In May 2024, the Abingdon Foundation announced its decision to move to co-education. In this interview, Head Mike Windsor explains more about the rationale behind the decision. Move to co-education changing are our core values: our promotion of intellectual curiosity, our commitment to an education that produces well rounded people with a variety of interests and our outstanding pastoral system that ensures all pupils are known individually and have the level of support and encouragement that will best serve them.” Do you see any challenges to integrating girls and boys? “We take our responsibility for pastoral development very seriously - all our students are treated as individuals and all our staff are committed to ensuring this is the case. It is important to us that all pupils feel at home from day one. Many of my colleagues have taught in a number of different settings so we are fortunate that we have plenty of experience to draw upon. This in turn will help inform and guide our decision making as to what is needed to make this move a success - including a review of our curriculum (both academic and cocurricular), the structure of our day, training, changing rooms etc.” What is the timeline for the move to co-education? “Abingdon Prep School will admit girls to its Pre-Prep from this September; and to Years 3 to 6 from September 2025. Abingdon Senior School will admit girls to its First Year (Year 7) and Sixth Form (Year 12) from September 2026.” Why co-education, why now? “One of our main roles as educators is to ensure our pupils are ready for the world which awaits them. We’ve always worked hard to consider different ways to make sure our pupils are prepared for this. We want the education we deliver to be reflective of today’s modern society - one in which equal opportunity is promoted; and both girls and boys are as ambitious as each other; as well as being in control of their own future success. Our decision to move to co-education has been driven by the belief that the best way to provide diversity of perspective and life skills is to educate our young people alongside one another. “We are really proud of what we offer through an Abingdon education - high academic achievement, formidable Other Half provision and strong individualised pastoral care - and we want to open that up to both girls and boys.” What impact do you believe the move to co-education will have? “We see both girls and boys contributing to all aspects of school life and we do see a stronger, better Abingdon emerging as a result of this move. What we don’t see
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