A Bromley school will be making the change to becoming co-educational this year, introducing girls to its classrooms.

Bickley Park School has previously been an all-boys school, but from September 2024, places will be offered to girls and boys in its reception classes.

This is building on the co-education nursery the school also runs.

The school has said that this decision comes now because of the growing demand from prospective parents to meet the needs of modern family life.

Tom Quilter, headmaster of Bickley Park School, said: “We are delighted to have made this exciting decision which gives more families the opportunity to send all their children to Bickley Park and benefit from our high-quality all-round education and excellent pastoral care. 

“We are extremely proud of our reputation as an outstanding Prep School and are committed to strengthening our offer whilst staying true to the values and ethos of the School’s history.

“To this end it is important that we remain reflective, forward-thinking and in line with current market demands.

“We are ambitious for the next chapter in the fine history of Bickley Park and with the introduction of girls, we are taking the opportunity to enhance our strong family ethos by creating a fully co-educational community.”

Back in March 2023, the school rated as “excellent” by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), which the school has said comes as a result of its “firm commitment to all-round success”.

Bickley Park School was also named Prep School of the Year in 2021 because of its “well-articulated, coherent and holistic Four Quadrants of Learning programme”.

Leaders at this school have said that a development and refurbishment programme is in progress to make sure pupils have “excellent facilities”.

These developments will include an on-site swimming pool, a large indoors sports hall, a climbing wall, three astroturf pitches, a theatre and state-of-the-art science labs.

Tom Quilter added: “We are thrilled to be extending our school community to welcome girls and I look forward to meeting many new families over the coming months.”

The school, which takes on pupils aged two-and-a-half through to 13, is holding an open morning on Friday, April 26 for any prospective parents with questions.