LOCAL SCHOOL NEWS

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SES to be co-ed

Stamford Endowed Schools have announced that Stamford will become fully co-educational from September 2023

ORIGINALLY FOUNDED IN 1532, Stamford is currently a ‘diamond model’ school, in which boys and girls are educated separately between the ages of 11 and 16.

Will Phelan, Principal of the Stamford Endowed Schools, said: “The diamond model was a sensible step in our evolution when we merged our two single sex senior schools more than two decades ago, but it is clear that the needs of our students have changed. A co-educational environment will transform the experiences and opportunities that our students benefit from.

‘Stamford will retain all of the features that make it such a happy, welcoming and successful school. Our students leave Stamford as rounded and grounded young people, and that’s exactly as it should be. Our strategy – to focus on academic ambition, pastoral excellence, and delivering world-class preparation for the future – is designed to support that vital purpose, and will continue to do so.

‘We want to forge a new culture, that combines the best of both of our senior schools, and draws not just on our heritage, but on the expertise and the vision of our staff, and the ambitions and passions of our students, to create a school which is set up for every child’s future. A school which really enables our students to become the best version of themselves. This is a journey, and all of us – staff, parents, students and Old Stamfordians – will travel it together, as our school and our students become even better, stronger, and more agile. We are really excited about what this will mean for our students, and the feedback we have from our parents, staff and students shows us that there is real support for making this change.’

The transition will take place over two years. In September 2023, Years 7-10 will become co-educational, and Year 11 will remain in their single sex classes, on their current sites, for the second year of their GCSEs. From September 2024, Year 11 will also be fully co-educational.

Stamford Junior School and Stamford Sixth Form have been co-educational since the schools came together in 2000.

Further information about the transition can be found at

stamfordcoed.org.

Table tennis triumph

Congratulations to Leicester Grammar Junior School pupil Catherine who has won the English Schools Nationals in table tennis U11 girls’ age group. he beat o some tough opposition to become champion. Well done!

20 years of the IB at Oakham

akham is celebrating 20 years of o ering the International Baccalaureate and is exploring what the IB Diploma means to current and former pupils. It was one of the first schools to o er the Diploma to run alongside A levels.

Oundle School welcomes Jordan Jarret-Bryan

During Mental Health Awareness Week pupils from Oundle School and Laxton Junior School had an inspiring visit from Jordan Jarrett-Bryan. The Channel 4 News sports reporter, and former wheelchair basketball professional, visited the Northamptonshire schools in his role as an Ambassador for The Mintridge Foundation, a registered charity dedicated to enhancing life skills in young people through sport.

Pupils at LJS started the day with an inspirational assembly, during which Jordan explained his sporting story as well as his experiences of loneliness. Pupils then had a chance to see a few of his wheelchair basketball moves before getting to try them out themselves. Split into year groups from Year 4 to 6, all pupils received a crash course of coaching before match play.

In the afternoon. Jordan moved on to Oundle School where he spent time with a group of the School’s Sport Scholars. These L6 pupils enjoyed both an informative and thought provoking Q&A session with Jordan, before embarking on the challenge of playing wheelchair basketball. It was both hugely enjoyable and competitive in equal measure.