Updates on the consultation to change the status of Millais School from a single sex girls' school to a co-educational (both boys' and girls') school:
Thursday 19th June 2025: – Headteacher’s message to parents
Earlier this week, there was an unexpected announcement in the press about Millais and the consultation. A spokesperson for West Sussex stated that “following a review of the process and advice surrounding a second stage of consultation on the future of Millais School, we decided to cancel that exercise and the decision arising from it”
You may re-call that Millais raised concerns during the course of the consultation itself and that related to the process. West Sussex is now going to undertake “a new consultation seeking the views, again of the public and the stakeholders” on their proposal to change the status of Millais to coeducational. The new consultation begins on Thursday 19th June 2025 and runs for one month until midnight on Friday 18th July 2025, with an outcome by the end of July 2025. Please see full letter that was sent to parents To ‘Have your Say’ please complete the West Sussex online response survey below
To view the original documentation please click on the links on the updates below (Wednesday 8th May)
Tuesday 17th June 2025: – Sudden halt placed on plans to admit boys to Millais
Wednesday 8th May 2024: Initial Public Consultation 8 May 2024 to 12 June 2024
Millais Initial Public Consultation Document
WSCC Initial Public Consultation Document
Give your view:
The proposed change to the status of the school has not been initiated by the Governing Body of Millais who are fully committed to retaining a unique and important status as a single-sex girls’ school for the benefit of the community in Horsham and wider area.
Although we were invited to contribute to the West Sussex document, there was little or no scope to present a positive case of the benefits of a single-sex education. Therefore, the Governing Body of Millais decided that we would create our own consultation paper to distribute to our own and wider community.
Please click on the link above to go to the Millais consultation paper and read more about the reasons why we at Millais want to remain a single sex girls’ school that complements rather than competes with the existing co-educational schools, preserving choice and diversity.
Also click on the link to the West Sussex consultation document which we have agreed to send out to our parent body.
To express your views on the consultation, click on the survey link above. Thank you for taking the time to engage with the process. Please express your views by Wednesday 12th June 2024 when the consultation closes.
Your sincerely,
Alison Lodwick - Headteacher
Friday 3rd May 2024 : Headteacher's message to parents
Dear Parents & Carers,
I am writing to confirm that West Sussex has decided to proceed with a consultation on whether Millais should change its status from a single sex to a co-education school. I have been informed that the consultation period will be launched on Wednesday 8th May 2024 and will be open for 6 weeks, closing on Wednesday 12th June 2024.
The Governors of Millais have decided that they are fundamental at odds with this West Sussex proposal and their consultation document. Therefore, we will be producing our own consultation paper, presenting the case to remain single sex school and this will be sent out alongside the West Sussex consultation information.
You will receive a further update about the consultation and our approach to it on Tuesday 7th May 2024.
Yours sincerely,
Alison Lodwick - Headteacher
Friday 26th April 2024: Headteacher's message to parents
Dear Parents & Carers,
Just for your awareness, I have received no further update from WSCC regarding the launch of a consultation on their proposal to change our status from a singe sex girls school to a co-educational establishment However, during the course of next week, it is anticipated that we will have more information to share with our community.
Yours sincerely,
Alison Lodwick - Headteacher
