It was symbolic and practical in equal measure – the removal of the fence that has long separated Randwick Boys and Randwick Girls high schools.

They called it “Fence Day”.

One thousand boys and girls sat together and cheered, as the newly elected student leadership of the combined co-educational Randwick High School removed two large sections of the metal fence.

Then there was no stopping the students from racing from one side to the other for the first time in the schools’ histories.

School captain Kai Todd spoke at the ceremony.

“When I first heard the fence was coming down, my mind turned to Donald Trump but in reverse,” he told the crowd.

“Instead of saying ‘we’re going to build a wall’, we’re saying ‘we’re going to take it down!’

“Or to look at it another way, it’s a bit like the Berlin Wall coming down but with less Cold War drama. Just awkward year 10 boys wondering how to talk to girls.”

Fellow school captain, Ursela O’Sullivan, said the day marked the start of a future full of possibility.

“As our schools merge to become one, countless opportunities open up – new friendships, new subjects, new facilities,” she said.

The first principal of the combined Randwick High School is Belinda Conway, who has been working tirelessly to make next year’s transition as smooth as possible.

“Throughout this year we have found ways to come together to express our similarities, work through our points of difference and to join to achieve this common goal,” Ms Conway said.

“In creating Randwick High School, we begin the process of moving towards a common future, one full of potential, that unites us in providing our community the best of both worlds.”

And the community has responded enthusiastically - year 7 enrolments at the combined school next year are up nearly 40% compared with the year 7 numbers across both single-sex schools this year.

Ursela O’Sullivan said it was a big change for many, but one the student body was really embracing.

“With any sort of change there’s going to be some adjustment required, but our students are so resilient, and we have such strong support from our teachers to make this transition really easy,” she said.

“I think people are just excited now and there’s a lot in place to make next year really fun.”