Daisy Turnbull, Director of Coeducation
Coeducation – Student Coeducation Committee Update
This week Slade Keating, Max Scales, and I spoke at Senior School assembly on the coeducation transition. I spoke very briefly about the questions students are often asking and confirmed some details you have all read and heard before:
- We will have around 30% girls in Year 7 2026
- There will be girls in all the day houses from 2026
- The boys will continue to compete in the CAS competitions, and girls will be part of the ISA competition
Below are the speeches Slade and Max gave, which I think speak far more importantly to the culture the students are leading towards coeducation. Please remind your sons that if they have any questions regarding coeducation they can ask their mentors, Heads of Houses, myself, or attend the Student Coeducation Committee on Monday Week A lunchtimes on Level 5 of the Senior building (Year 11 College).
Slade Keating’s Speech:
My name is Slade Keating, and I am a representative of the Coed Committee…
What is the Coed Committee? – put simply:
Ms. Turnbull, and a handful of dedicated committee members regularly engage in the topic of next year’s coeducation and what we can do to make the transition as seamless as possible.
We’re at a significant moment in our school’s history. In just two terms, Cranbrook will welcome girls for the first time since our founding. Naturally, a lot of questions have come up: What’s it going to be like? How Many girls are allocated per house? What will sport and co-curricular look like? Can boys play netball as well? And so much more…
These are valid questions. So lets keep asking. Let’s talk about these things now, so by the time, next year rolls around, we’re not caught off guard. We’re ready, ready not just to welcome new students, but to show who we are by how we keep traditions, and how we are going to build new ones.
I understand the nerves and the initial concern that school life might change. but let me offer you this perspective: Cranbrook’s strength has never come from staying the same – it’s come from evolving, while keeping our core values at heart. Not letting facility changes, media interruptions or any other external factors affect what makes our school special.
Before I came to Cranbrook – I went to a coed school in London. And what I learned is this…the nerves fade pretty quickly. In just a few days you come to realise…
Fellowship doesn’t divide – it multiplies.
Friendships aren’t limited by gender – they grow.
And soon, it just feels normal.
There is so much to look forward to, not just next year but the terms to come. I invite you all to get involved and come along to the coed committee on Monday Lunch in S5 . Make your voice part of this new chapter and share your ideas, hopes and proposals.
Because the future of Cranbrook isn’t going to be led by a few prefects or year 12s – it’s about all of us, together.
Keep what’s great, build what’s missing.
Thank you.
Max Scales’ Speech:
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Max, and I’ve been part of the Co-Ed Committee this year. As Slade had already touched on, we have been working quietly in the background helping prepare the school for this shift next year, and today, I just wanted to share a few thoughts of mine and offer a perspective as we get closer to this new chapter, in the hopes that some of you will want to share your thoughts with us as well.
Change is something that we have been focusing very heavily on, and one of our biggest realisations – and this may sound obvious – is that change can sometimes not come naturally to people, and I want all of you to know that that is completely okay. Sometimes we may find ourselves opposing change because it’s far easier to want to remain where we are and in what is comfortable for us.
As I’m sure all of you know, that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it. If we cling too tightly to what we know, we risk missing out on who we could become. I hope that you will see this exciting opportunity for a chance to evolve, to adapt, and to move forward.
I spent time at a co-ed school on exchange last year, and what stood out to me the most wasn’t how different it was, but rather how normal it felt and learning alongside new and different people didn’t divide us but actually brought us closer together.
There is a philosophy that I think we can all gain something from by implementing it into our lives, which goes far beyond just the change next year. And that is to be like water. But why am I using such a basic element of our life to explain to you how to go about navigating change?
It is for one simple reason. Water does not resist; it adapts. It flows around obstacles and it takes the shape of whatever container it’s in — not because it’s weak, but because it’s flexible and strong in its own way.
In life and especially with this change, I encourage you to be open, responsive, and unafraid to shift. Do not fight or resist obstacles, but rather be fluid, adaptable and have that unique but powerful ability to change no matter the time or the situation, just like water does.
If you have any questions or comments, please approach us;. Or come to S5 on Monday, week A, at lunch if you feel like having a chat with us – we would love to hear your thoughts.
Daisy Turnbull
Director of Coeducation and Academy