Skipton Ermysted's School set to break with 500-year boys only rule

Ermysted's Grammar School is believed to have been founded sometime between 1468 and 1492

A school which has only admitted male pupils for more than 500 years is considering allowing girls as students on its roll for the first time.

If plans go ahead, girls will be allowed to join the sixth form at Ermysted's Grammar School in Skipton, North Yorkshire, in under two years.

The school, founded in the 1400s, has launched a consultation into the move.

Head teacher Michael Evans said the scheme would "strengthen the sixth form experience for all our pupils".

According to the school's website, the establishment dates back to "at least 1492 and possibly earlier to 1468".

Throughout its long history only boys have been taken on to the roll at Ermysted's, however girls from a neighbouring school do take part in some lessons with boys, the school said.

But, if that tradition were to be broken, girls would sit A-levels alongside boys from September 2025, with the school remaining single-sex for pupils aged 11 to 16 years old.

Mr Evans said: "By offering a limited number of places to male and female pupils from other schools, we hope to increase choice and broaden access to our excellent post-16 provision here at Ermysted's."

The proposal would also allow the school to "strengthen the sixth form experience for all our pupils", he added.

Head teacher Michael Evans (right) said the sixth form "provides subjects and opportunities not found elsewhere locally"

George Barrett, head of sixth form, said the school had looked at the experiences of other single-sex schools around the country which had begun offering a co-educational environment for A-levels, and had found the change to be "overwhelmingly positive".

Meanwhile, chair of governors, Stuart Clarkson, who was a pupil at the school in the 1990s, said girls had at that time played "an important role in school life as members of our music groups and school drama productions - as they continue to do today".

He added: "This proposed move will enable girls and boys who are looking for a mixed sixth form environment to access one of the best in the country, which was judged last year by Ofsted to be outstanding."

A spokesperson for the school said: "Ahead of our final decision, we're keen to hear from as many parents, pupils and local stakeholders as possible as part of our consultation - so please do get in touch and let us know your views."

A decision on whether to break with the long-standing boys only tradition was expected in February next year, the school said.