Published by Olympus Learning | March 2026
For more than a century, some of Sydney’s most prestigious schools were defined as much by who they excluded as by who they admitted. That era is ending. In 2026, Cranbrook School in Bellevue Hill welcomed its first female students in 108 years, with girls entering Years 7 and 11 of the Senior School. By 2029, the school will be fully co-educational across all year levels. Cranbrook is not alone. Newington College in Stanmore — another of Sydney’s great historic boys’ schools — welcomed 52 girls into its primary school in 2026, with the secondary school to follow from 2028 and full co-education to be complete by 2030.
The shift is part of a broader transformation sweeping through NSW’s independent school sector. Over the past three years, a wave of single-sex schools — both boys’ and girls’ — have announced transitions to co-education, citing changing family expectations, declining enrolments in single-sex settings, and a growing body of research suggesting that mixed-gender learning environments better prepare students for adult life. The trend has not been without controversy: one Newington student mounted a Supreme Court challenge to block the school’s transition, a case that was ultimately dismissed in May 2025 when a judge ruled that the term “youth” in the school’s founding charter was gender-neutral.
Why Are Schools Making the Switch?
The reasons are both philosophical and practical. On the philosophical side, school leaders argue that co-education reflects the world students will actually inhabit — workplaces, universities, and communities are co-educational, and preparing students exclusively in single-sex environments may leave them less equipped for that reality. Dr Anne Johnstone, Head of Cranbrook, described the transition as “an exciting new era” that would “enrich and diversify our student community.”
On the practical side, demographic pressures are real. Birth rates in the catchment areas of many inner-Sydney private schools have declined, and competition for enrolments has intensified. Co-education effectively doubles a school’s potential student pool, a consideration that school boards are increasingly unwilling to ignore.
What Does This Mean for Families Currently at These Schools?
For families with children already enrolled at Cranbrook or Newington, the transition is largely managed and gradual. At Cranbrook, girls are entering at Years 7 and 11 only in 2026, with additional year levels added progressively until full co-education is achieved in 2029. The school has invested significantly in facilities, staffing, and culture to support the change. For boys already enrolled, the school has been explicit that the transition will not diminish the quality or character of their education — rather, it will enhance it.
For families considering enrolment, the transition opens new options. Girls who previously had no pathway to Cranbrook or Newington can now apply, and the schools are actively marketing their programs to a broader audience. Both schools are offering scholarships specifically to attract high-achieving female students in the early years of the transition.
What About the Academic Implications?
The research on co-education versus single-sex schooling is genuinely mixed, and parents are right to look carefully at the evidence rather than accepting either position uncritically. Some studies suggest that girls perform better in single-sex environments in STEM subjects, where they are less likely to be overshadowed by male peers. Others find that co-educational settings produce better social outcomes and more rounded graduates. What the research consistently shows, however, is that the quality of teaching and the level of individual academic support matter far more than the gender composition of the classroom.
This is worth keeping in mind as families navigate these changes. Whether your child attends a newly co-educational school, a long-established mixed school, or a school that remains single-sex, the most important factor in their academic outcomes is the quality of support they receive — both at school and beyond it.
Eastern Suburbs Schools in 2025: How Did They Perform?
For families in Sydney’s east, the 2025 HSC results offered a useful snapshot of how local schools are performing. Among the standout performers, SCEGGS Darlinghurst ranked 21st in NSW with a 39% HSC success rate, St Catherine’s School Waverley ranked 38th with a 33.1% success rate, and Kambala ranked 36th. Kincoppal-Rose Bay made a notable jump, rising to 34th in NSW in 2025 from 68th in 2024. Sydney Grammar School — which borders the eastern suburbs — ranked 3rd in NSW with 763 Band 6 results and a 61% success rate, the highest total number of Band 6 results of any school in the state.
These results reflect the genuine academic strength of eastern suburbs schools. They also reflect the investment that families in this area make in their children’s education — and the expectation that students will perform at the highest level.
At Olympus Learning, we work with students from Years 2 to 12 across NSW, providing one-on-one tutoring from high-achieving mentors who understand the local school landscape. Whether your child attends a newly co-educational school navigating a period of change, or a long-established school with high academic expectations, we can provide the personalised support they need to perform at their best. Find a tutor today.
Sources: Cranbrook School Coeducation Page | ABC News: Supreme Court clears Newington College | SMH: Cranbrook’s first female students | Matrix Education: 2025 High School Rankings