Co-educational schooling: changes in Hornsby-Berowra
The department has received numerous representations from the community to improve access to co-educational settings in this part of Sydney, with travel distance and options posing challenges for many families.
From 2026, Asquith Boys High School and Asquith Girls High School will transition to become two standalone co-educational Years 7–12 high schools accepting Years 7, 9 and 11 from 2026 and all cohorts from 2027.
This follows comprehensive community consultation undertaken by the NSW Department of Education in the Hornsby-Berowra surrounding area school communities to better understand parent and student decision-making regarding high school enrolment choices.
The consultation found strong support for co-educational options, particularly among future parents, where 75% of local primary school communities stated they would prefer to send their child to a co-educational school.
Please see below the answers to some frequently asked questions.
Asquith Boys High School and Asquith Girls High School will change their student intake from single sex to co-educational from Term 1 2026. Both schools will become Years 7–12 with their own intake areas.
The department undertook comprehensive consultation with the Hornsby-Berowra and surrounding area school and pre-school communities. Co-educational schools were preferred by the majority of those surveyed. There was particularly strong support from local public primary and preschool parents, carers and students.
- 75% of primary parents and carers preferred co-educational settings for high school.
- 81% of early childhood parents and carers in the community preferred co-educational settings for their children for high school.
An increase in the student population of a co-educational school will expand the range of curricula and co-curricular options. The wider range of course options available to Years 11 and 12 will support post-school pathways and career options.
A consultation process following departmental guidelines will take place with students, parents and staff, and the local AECG and elders, to determine the name of each co-educational school.
In line with the department’s policy, the school communities will also be consulted on issues such as uniform, logo and other important aspects of each of the schools.
The intake areas will cover the current Asquith Boys and Asquith Girls High School intake area boundaries.
The newly defined enrolment area for each school will appear on School Finder in Term 1, 2025.
All staff will be retained. The schools will be staffed in line with the Staffing Agreement.
Students will complete their HSC at the school site at which they are currently enrolled.
In 2026, Years 7, 9 and 11 will be co-educational as aligned to the school’s new catchment areas.
New students to the school area who would be enrolling in Years 8 and 10 in 2026 would commence at the school based on its current single-sex designation. They would then transfer to the school for which they are local for 2027. Families will be supported to ensure a smooth and cost-free transition in these cases.
In 2027, each school will be fully co-educational for Years 7-12.
The department will invest in upgrading infrastructure at the current sites to make the co-educational high schools the best possible learning environment for students.
Planned works include adjustments to the schools’ IT and administration systems, new signage and specialist classrooms as well as toilet and changeroom facilities at both sites.
Out-of-area enrolment will be considered in line with the department’s current policy. Recent changes to school boundaries and factors such as siblings are considered for out-of-area enrolment applications.
Other single-sex high school options for students include Cheltenham Girls High School and Epping Boys High School. The Selective Schools application process provides an avenue for students to be considered for Hornsby Girls High School and Normanhurst Boys High School.
The transition team and principals will revise all school operations currently in place for their respective schools. Relevant details will be published for students and parents when available.
In line with the department’s enrolment policy, the newly co-educational schools will accommodate all designated intake area students. Where capacity exists, out-of-area students may seek enrolment until the school reaches its designated enrolment cap.