Harpur Trust admits there was no formal consultation on decision to welcome girls to Bedford School
The Harpur Trust has admitted that although there was no formal consultation on its co-ed move, it will engage with parents, pupils, staff and alumni.
Yesterday (Tuesday), the Harpur Trust revealed Bedford School will become co-educational from September 2027.
It’s part of a raft of other changes across the trust’s estate including a new music centre at Bedford Girls' School and a new multi-faith prayer room at Bedford Modern School.
But it’s the decision to welcome girls at Bedford School which has galvanised some.
It said: “This change affects pupils, parents, alumni and staff across the school community in Bedford. Many of us feel surprised and upset that such a fundamental shift was announced without a clear consultation. The move impacts traditions, teaching approaches and the identity that generations of families expected.”
But the Harpur Trust has today (Wednesday) responded to the appeal, saying it will engage with parents, pupils, staff and alumni.
A Harpur Trust spokesperson said: “We recognise that Bedford School's change is significant. The response has been generally very positive, although we know and respect that members of our school community hold a range of views including those who have signed a petition.
"While some parents were understandably surprised by the decision, many recognise that it has been taken with the long-term interests of our pupils, schools and wider community in mind.
"Although there was no formal consultation on specific proposals before decisions were made, the decision was taken following extensive research conducted by an education consultancy, including insights from parents about what they value in education, how expectations are evolving, and the factors that influence school choice.
"The school has emphasised that the announcement begins an ongoing period of engagement with parents, pupils, staff and alumni. We remain committed to investing in the long-term future of our schools and will continue to engage with all our stakeholders as our plans progress."
> This article was updated on September 3. A previous version of this article was headlined ‘Bedford School admits there was no formal consultation on decision to welcome girls’. However, the decision and the subsequent admission came from the Harpur Trust. Bedford School and the Harpur Trust are two distinct entities. We are happy to make this clarification.