St. Edmund’s, a truly Co-Educational experience by Jess Weetman Deputy Head (Senior Pastoral)
We are a vibrant, nurturing, and forward-thinking school where the co-educational experience is not simply offered, it is championed.
Since becoming fully co-educational in 2008, we now enjoy a near-perfect gender balance from Nursery to Form 11. This has shaped a culture of equality, collaboration, and mutual respect that sets us apart from other schools. Boys and girls grow and learn side by side from the earliest years, developing strong, healthy relationships rooted in shared experiences and emotional intelligence.
We embrace true co-education in every sense from mixed sports teams where suitable and co-ed outdoor adventures to our integrated curriculum that defies gender stereotypes. For example, Food Tech last year had 70% male participation, while subjects like Further Maths, Design Technology, and Computer Science are equally embraced across the genders, thanks to a culture that dismantles bias and encourages all pupils to "give everything a try.
Our pupils thrive in an environment that celebrates both individuality and unity, from themed evenings like ‘The Great Escape’ to our inclusive and celebrated reward system. What makes St Edmund’s “best in class” is not only our academic success but the way we prepare boys and girls together for the real world ready, equal, and empowered.
Our co-educational approach in 2024–25 continued to evolve through a student-led, inclusive lens. We actively listen to pupil voice and respond with meaningful action this year, that meant introducing girls’ football and rugby to reflect demand, alongside co-ed water polo, badminton and yoga. Our commitment to gender equity extends to public speaking, where boys and girls collaborate in debate streams and regularly tackle topics such as gender parity and discrimination. Our annual divisional debate programme is just about to kick start for this academic year, 2025-2026. Pupils are gearing up for their debates and are busy practising their ‘for and against’ for their given topic.
The Girls on Board programme has provided a supportive framework for friendship dynamics, while PSHE sessions have explored modern masculinity and gender identity with empathy and relevance. Our STEM and CREST project presentations are always co-ed, reinforcing collaboration over competition. Pupils have ‘tutor time’ twice a week, where pupils meet as groups of girls and boys, giving pupils the chance to voice concerns, share experiences all with a dedicated tutor who gets to know the pupils well over the year being a strong point of contact for them.
We also continue to promote mentoring, with older pupils guiding younger ones, and ensure all pupils regardless of gender have access to real-world opportunities. Every year for example older pupils teach the younger pupils valuable road safety lessons with activities the older pupils devise and deliver themselves. It’s this balance of academic challenge, emotional support, and shared experience that makes our co-ed provision exceptional.
