Stephen Hawking's former school to go fully co-ed

St Albans School in Hertfordshire said from September 2026, it would gradually welcome girls

A 1,000-year-old private school attended by Prof Stephen Hawking is to begin admitting girls for the first time to every year group.

Girls have been accepted in the sixth form at St Albans School in Hertfordshire since 1991.

But it will gradually become fully co-educational, starting at Year 7, from September 2026.

"The transition towards becoming fully co-educational is reflective of a school that never stands still," said head teacher Joe Silvester.

"In fact, the decision allows the school to move from a position of strength with great confidence and ambition."

World renowned physicist Stephen Hawking went to the school for seven years

Neil Osborn, chairman of the board of governors, said: "To thrive in this evolving landscape, our students must develop the interpersonal skills needed to collaborate, communicate, and succeed together."

The decision was unanimous, he added.

St Albans School, which has about 900 pupils, is believed to be one of the oldest private schools in England, with evidence of a school on the site since 948 AD.

Prof Hawking attended from 1952 until 1959 where he "met mathematics teacher Dikran Tahta, who became an inspiration to him," the school said.