The Coed Student
“Know thy student.” This guiding principle framed The Coed Student, our recent professional development session at Cranbrook School, as we prepare to welcome coeducational cohorts in Year 7 and Year 11 from 2026.
To open the session, Stuart Meade, Acting Head of School, shared his reflections on the opportunities and challenges of coeducation. He emphasised that this transition is not only an exciting step for Cranbrook but also an incredibly positive one—anchored in our values and our commitment to building a more inclusive and dynamic learning environment.
Building on this foundation, Margaret Nilon led a reflective and practical session focused on supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of our new cohorts. She highlighted three key strategies:
- Recognising possible challenges in peer relationships and addressing concerns proactively,
- Creating safe, inclusive spaces in and around House areas, and
- Encouraging open communication and regular check-ins with students to monitor their experience.
Following this, staff worked in House groups to explore what these strategies could look like in practice—and to identify what they would need to make them successful.
To round out the session, Daisy Turnbull, Director of Coeducation, presented a series of realistic, thought-provoking scenarios. These ranged from uniform expectations and peer dynamics to lunchtime supervision and duty of care in shared spaces. The scenarios generated rich discussion, encouraging staff to think practically and collaboratively about how to ensure all students feel supported, safe, and known in a coeducational setting.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to continue these conversations in Term 3’s session on The Coed Classroom, as we work together to shape a school culture where every student feels a deep sense of belonging.
Hannah Thomas
Director of Professional Learning