In short, we will have one outstanding school which will retain single-sex teaching from 11 to 16 whilst allowing pupils to work fully together at the beginning and end of their school life. 

• In the primary section (i.e. from ages 3 to 11), girls and boys will be in a fully co-educational setting.
• In the senior section (i.e. from ages 11 to 16), girls and boys will have separate academic lessons, in recognition of their different needs during this important period of development. Both girls and boys will be offered the same facilities and curriculum. Pastoral care, co-curricular activities, PSHE and social time will be co-educational, allowing all pupils to collaborate and learn from each other. 
• From ages 16 to 18, our pupils will come together for a fully co-educational Sixth Form, ensuring that they are ready for the world beyond the school gates. 

The decision to embrace a diamond model of education has been positively received by the Foundation’s three schools: Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield Girls’ High School, and Wakefield Grammar Pre-Preparatory School. Our schools already overlap considerably,  sharing subjects, teachers, and facilities, and this integration aims to enhance our educational offerings while retaining affordability.

Under the diamond model, our school will offer more choice and further ensure equality throughout the school. Girls and boys will be offered exactly the same curriculum, enrichment opportunities and facilities. The diamond model offers a unique blend of single-sex and co-educational learning:

• Primary Section (Ages 3-10): Girls and boys will learn together in a new co-educational environment.
• Senior Section (Ages 11-16): Students will experience single-sex academic classes while benefiting from co-educational pastoral care, social time, and co-curricular activities.
• Sixth Form (Ages 16-18): Co-educational classes will prepare students for higher education and beyond.

This approach provides students with a balanced education ensuring excellent academic and personal development.

The decision to unite our schools follows months of careful consideration, due diligence and collaboration by the governors and senior leadership teams. We are dedicated to maintaining our tradition of academic excellence while adapting to modern educational needs and taking sensible account of societal changes. Women and men are working alongside each other in Higher Education and the workplace, and it is important that education prepares girls and boys for that.

We will continue:

• Our Commitment to Excellence – our school will remain a highly academic, best-in-class institution. We are dedicated to providing inspirational learning environments that nurture the distinctive needs of both boys and girls. Our aim is to develop students’ abilities to engage with the modern world, foster lifelong friendships, and cultivate outward-looking, caring and confident individuals.

• Preserving Traditions, Embracing the Future – while we honour our rich traditions and values, we are also preparing our pupils and school for the future. We promote both individual and institutional excellence in an atmosphere of open-minded inquiry, free from dogma, prejudice, or unthinking conformity.

• A Unified Vision – The fundamental strength and excellence of our education, and the opportunities it creates, stem from being part of Wakefield Grammar School Foundation. It is this unified environment where girls and boys truly thrive and flourish.

Your children are our top priority. We are committed to taking great care of them during this transition, ensuring a seamless educational experience.

The transition will be gradual, with full implementation by September 2026.  For now, everything remains the same. Pupils will be taught by the same teachers in the same place.  We will keep abreast of the best research and professional development to ensure we are providing the best education possible.  

Much work is already in progress, in readiness for diamond model teaching and new primary and senior sections. We are working hard to develop an Estates Masterplan that meets the needs of our students and staff in the new Wakefield Grammar School. We look forward to engaging with all our stakeholders over the coming months. Both sections will focus on classroom teaching, sport, the arts, the co-curriculum, personal development and pastoral care to ensure the most suitable provision in all areas. 

We are excited about the future and look forward to building on our strong foundation and preparing our students for a bright future.