Marking 40 years of co-education

In this year’s social media posts, we've been following the story of the transformation of the once all-male Christ College into a fully inclusive school.

As we near the end of our year of #40 years, it seems timely to reflect on thoughts shared during the year by our current pupils and by some of the pioneers who helped to shape the school we know today.

Following the Head's special assembly at the start of the year, senior pupils were asked what surprised them most about the early days of co-education. Their contemporary perspective emphasises that the step into the unknown forty years ago has become so deeply embedded in the school’s identity that it is now simply taken for granted.

It’s only been co-ed for 40 years

It wasn’t that long ago

There was only one girl at the start: 1:300!

There were so few female teachers

How quickly people adapted

How the girls managed to integrate into a school full of boys

How small the first girls’ boarding house was compared to the boys

That there were so few girls in comparison to boys for so many years

How much has changed

How normal it is now

What struck them most was the bravery and resilience needed to negotiate the gradual shifts that took place in the early years, and on International Women’s Day they chose to celebrate the young women whose courage paved the way for successive generations to gain opportunity, confidence and belonging at Christ College. 

The pioneers who first walked through the gates of Christ College all those years ago are most definitely at the very heart of the story. But they tell us that only looking back do they realise they were trailblazers and they aren’t too sure about the idea of courage. There was little sense at the time of history being made or barriers being broken down; they were too busy making the most of every opportunity the school offered.

They say they simply “got on with it” – and had a lot of fun along the way.

Their standout memories are surprisingly familiar: chatting in the common room, House parties, watching TV together, eating endless slices of toast between lessons and activities. 

That’s not to say the pioneering years were easy. The girls often felt under scrutiny in whatever they did because there were so few of them. Personal resolve and sheer grit were often much needed by all concerned, especially when facing the few peers and teachers who were finding it hard to adjust to a changing society, a changing school, a changing world.

In the face of adversity, pioneers say it was often the smallest moments that got them through: rousing team talks before sporting fixtures; encouragement when facing an almost exclusively male audience; kind words when it all seemed too much.

Some of their strongest memories come from the friendships and House spirit that grew out of the most challenging experiences – whether it was taking on the boys at Sports Day or surpassing all expectations in House competitions. Decades later, many of those friendships are still going strong.

Though most of us had come from co-ed schools to join the Sixth Form, we knew we were doing something different. That was all too obvious day-to-day because there weren’t very many of us. Even so, I don’t think we ever thought we were making history. I am sure it must have been difficult at times, but what I remember most is the way we supported each other and the fun we had. The friendships I made at school are the ones I most value today.

On this side of a different century, it’s been illuminating to see our current pupils discover the way the pioneers’ natural engagement and involvement helped shape the school we know today. Pupils’ genuine interest in our story of co-education was expertly summarised by the Editor, Ella, in the Lent edition of ‘The Breconian’. Her concluding words are worth repeating here.

Ultimately, the story of co-education at our school isn’t just about numbers or timelines. It’s about the people, those who took the first step, those who adapted, and those who helped shape the environment we benefit so much from today. Their experiences remind us that the school we know now didn’t just happen; it was built through courage, openness, and a willingness for change.

The chapters on Sally (the first girl), de Winton (the first girls’ house), Bannau (the first middle school girls), Alway (the first girls in Alway) and Donaldson’s (the second girls’ house) bring one part of our story to a close. But the story is far from over.

Sally Stewart’s arrival forty years ago wasn’t just a milestone; thanks to the pioneers who followed her, it was the beginning of a legacy that continues to define the school today and will do so for generations to come. And that really is worth celebrating.

A verison of this article also appears in the Summer edition of 'The Breconian'. You can read the whole magazine on Issuu or download it from our Publications page. 

Drone photo credit: Samson. Reproduced with his kind permisison.