Purpose

Millais is a Local Authority maintained single
sex girls’ secondary school in Horsham for pupils aged
11-16.  Demand for places at the school
has been declining in recent years, evidenced by a reduction in the
overall number of families applying for a place at the school as
first preference.  Reduced pupil numbers
impact upon the finances available to schools and thereby on how
the school can deliver opportunities for both staff and
pupils. 
 
In addition, there has been a shortage of
secondary pupil places for boys in the Horsham area and
consequently some boys have had to be allocated places in schools
outside the District.  It is the responsibility of the Local Authority to
provide sufficient places for all children in the area.
 
To address these issues it is proposed that an initial consultation
takes place to seek views on changing the status of Millais School
from a single sex girls’ school to a co-educational school
with the first co-educational cohort admitted from September
2026.  Approval is now sought to proceed
with launching the initial consultation process. 

Decision

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young
People, Learning and Skills has:-

(1)Approved the launch
of a public consultation, in accordance with the Department for
Education’s
Making significant changes ('prescribed alterations') to maintained
schools, to seek views on the proposals to: change the status
of Millais School from a single sex girls’ school to a
co-educational boys’ and girls’ school from September
2026.